Dictionary of Irish Architects 1720 - 1940

Amateur architect, who laid out the new town of Westport, Co. Mayo in 1767(1) and made designs for several houses in Cos. Tipperary and Galway in the last quarter of the eighteenth century. Very little is known of his life. He would appear to be the same person as the William Leeson of Bolingbroke, near Nenagh, Co. Tipperary, whose house was broken into on 19 October 1785, causing him to place a long advertisement describing the attack and listing the stolen objects in the Limerick Chronicle of 27 October 1785.(2) From the list it is evident that he was a man of means who owned property in London and Middlesex, while the arms ('a Lee Sun rising behind a Bloody Cloud') and crest ('a Demi Lyon Rampant, holding the sun in his Paws') on some of the missing items are the same as those of the Leesons who became Earls of Milltown. Leeson also owned lands at Lahinch, Co. Tipperary, and Portumna, Co. Galway. By the turn of the century he was living at New Grove, near Loughrea, Co. Galway. In a communication to the Dublin Society on 11 August 1803, he described his method of planting young trees on his estate with the aid of a plough, illustrating it with two maps of the park. He was still alive at the end of September 1804, when he sent a further communication to the Society about his planting ventures, but died within about a year, probate of his will being granted in 1806.

See WORKS.



References

All information in this entry not otherwise accounted for is from John Mayock, 'William Leeson: Westport's first town planner', Cathair na Mart: Journal of the Westport Historical Society No. 18 (Westport Historical Society, 1998), 135-142.

(1) Faulkner's Dublin Journal, 17-21 Mar 1767.
(2) R. ffolliott, 'The burglary at William Leeson's house, Bolingbroke, Co. Tipperary in 1785', The Irish Ancestor 16 (1984), 118-121; the text of the advertisement is also reproduced in Mayock's article.


9 work entries listed in chronological order for LEESON, WILLIAM


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Building: CO. MAYO, WESTPORT
Date: 1767
Nature: Design of new town.
Refs: Faulkner's Dublin Journal, 17-21 Mar 1767; see also John Maycock, 'William Leeson: Westport's first town planner', Cathair na Mart: Journal of the Westport Historical Society No. 18 (Westport Historical Society, 1998), 135-142.

Building: CO. GALWAY, BROOKLODGE
Date: 1775-76;1786-88
Nature: 2-storey villa with central bow on 2 principal fronts, for Christopher French. Extension, 1786. Final payment to WL made Oct 1794.
Refs: Patricia McCarthy & Kevin V. Mulligan 'Unfulfilled mediocrity: the hapless career of Dominick Madden in the west of Ireland', Irish Architectural and Decorative Studies 9 (2006), 98-149

Building: CO. TIPPERARY, PRIOR PARK (NENAGH)
Date: 1779-1786
Nature: For James Otway.
Refs: Mark Bence-Jones, Burke’s Guide to Country Houses. Volume I, Ireland. (London, 1978), 235

Building: CO. GALWAY, CLONBROCK
Date: 1780-85
Nature: For Robert Dillon.Mr Leeson Archt paid £11-7s-6d for his plan for Clonbrock and £50 P.A. for next 5 years for superintending building.
Refs: Castlegar MSS (IAA, Edward McParland files, Acc. 2008/44); Mark Bence-Jones, Burke’s Guide to Country Houses. Volume I, Ireland. (London, 1978), 86(illus.).

Building: CO. GALWAY, PALLAS (TYNAGH)
Date: 1797
Nature: Designed offices ?and house for Anthony Nugent..
Refs: NLI MS 15,375 (IAA, Edward McParland files, Acc. 2008/44); Mark Bence-Jones, Burke’s Guide to Country Houses. Volume I, Ireland. (London, 1978), 230

Building: CO. MAYO, NEWBROOK (BALLINDINE)
Date: ?
Nature: 'possibly by William Leeson'
Refs: Mark Bence-Jones, Burke’s Guide to Country Houses. Volume I, Ireland. (London, 1978), 223(illus.)

Building: CO. TIPPERARY, JOHNSTOWN
Date: ?
Nature: 'probably designed by William Leeson' for Peter Holmes, MP.
Refs: Mark Bence-Jones, Burke’s Guide to Country Houses. Volume I, Ireland. (London, 1978), 161

Building: CO. TIPPERARY, TRAVERSTON HOUSE (SILVERMINES)
Date: ?
Nature: New house for Robert Going. Similar to Kilboy in plan, but smaller.
Refs: Georgian Society Records (1909-13), V, 103

Building: CO. TIPPERARY, KILBOY HOUSE (NENAGH)
Date: ?
Nature: For Henry Prittie, MP.
Refs: Georgian Society Records (1909-13), V, 102, Pl.xciv; Mark Bence-Jones, Burke’s Guide to Country Houses. Volume I, Ireland. (London, 1978), 164(illus.)