Detached seven-bay two-storey over basement house, built c. 1745. Hipped slate roof with rendered chimneystacks. Ruled-and-lined render to walls, with cut stone cornice and eaves platband. Cut stone block architraves to all windows on ground and first floors of front and south-east side elevations. Timber sash windows, four-over-four pane to upper floors, two-over-two pane to basement at rear. Segmental-headed windows to basement of front elevation. Timber panelled front door having round-headed block architrave with plain fanlight. Cut stone doorcase with pilasters to double-leaf panelled door in south-west elevation. Flight of limestone steps up to main entrance and balustrade to basement level added in 1860s.
Sopwell Hall was built in the mid-eighteenth century by Colonel Francis Sadleir and the house has been attributed to Francis Bindon who had connections with the owner. The roof and part of the interior of Sopwell Hall were remodelled in 1866-68 and extensive outbuildings added. Constructed of fine quality materials, with crisp cut limestone details of particular note, the building is well maintained and in good condition after many years of restoration work carried out by the present owners. Located on extensive landscaped grounds which incorporate a seventeenth-century fortified house, two gate lodges, cut stone outbuildings and a walled garden.
Sopwell hall came into the possession of the Trench family in 1796 when Francis Sadlier's daughter Mary married Fredrick Trench. He was later Lord Ashtown. He left Sopwell to his younger brother Francis Trench, who lived here till his death in 1829. William Stuart Trench, son of Rev Trench dean of Kildare and brother of 1st Lord Ashtown, was living in Sopwell Hall in 1840. He rented it from his cousin. Various Trenches owned and lived in Sopwell Hall untill 1986, when it was sold outside the family.
USKEANE 1837
a parish, in the barony of Lower Ormond, county of Tipperary, and province
of Munster, 2 miles E. by N. from Burris-o'-kane, on the road to Rosecrea and
Parsonstown; containing 1459 inhabitants. This parish comprises 6026 statute
acres, as applotted under the tithe act: the land is principally under tillage,
the soil light but productive, and there is a large proportion of bog. The principal
seats are Sopwell Hall, the residence of F. Trench, Esq,, a very handsome house
situated in an extensive and finely planted demesne; Castle Shephard, of W.
Shephard, Esq.; Uskeane House, of R. Hall, Esq.; and Cooreavan, also the property
of R. Hall, Esq. It is a vicarage, in the diocese of Killaloe, forming part
of the union of Ballingarry; the rectory is impropriate in Marmaduke Thompson,
Esq. The tithes amount to 266.2.6., of which 162.5. is payable to the impropriator,
and 103.17.6. to the vicar. About 150 children are taught in a school at Sopwell
under the National Board, which is aided by Lord Charleville and Mr. Trench;
and there is a private school, in which are about 15 children. On the demesne
of Sopwell Hall are the ruins of an ancient castle, formerly occupied by the
Sadlier family; they consist chiefly of a very massive and lofty tower, forming
an interesting and picturesque object in the landscape.
William Smith O'Brien's trial was expected to be quite lengthy. On 22nd September, 1848 the jury was sworn in before Chief Justice Blackburn of Rathfarnham Castle. The combined petit and grand juries of North and South Ridings of the county of Tipperary were named as: ......Henry Trench, of Sopwell Hall, Esq. ......
1890 Kings Co Directory
Trench, Hon Cosby Godolphin, J.P, Co. Tipperary and Waterford ; high Sheriff ‘86, Sopwell Hall, Lr Ormond, younger son of Frederick Mason, 2nd Lord Ashtown, by Henrietta, daughter of T P Crosbie: born 1844, married, 1873, Maria, eldest daughter of Sir R Musgrave, Bart, and has with other issue Charles Sadleir Musgrave, born 1874. He was educated at Eton and c c c Oxford, and was Captain 1st Royal Dragoons.