Source History Notes
 
Literary and Cultural Heritage
 
Edgeworthstown’s main attraction for visitors lies in the towns rich literary and cultural heritage, through its connection to the Edgeworth Family.
 


In 1619 Francis Edgeworth was granted 600 acres of land near Mostrim by King James I. In 1670, a grandson (John) purchased land where Edgeworthstown now stands and subsequently Edgeworthstown became the main base of the family, the most renowned members of which are:
 
 

1) Richard Lovell Edgeworth (1744 —1817)- Engineer. Educationalist, Inventor and Politician.

2) Maria Edgeworth (1747 —4849) Novelist Author of Letters for Literary Ladies, The parents Assistant, Practical Education, Essay on Irish Bulls and her most famous work Castle Rackrent.  A fine sculpture of Maria Edgeworth has been erected at the Dublin entrance to the new bypass Rd. (opened '06)

3) Admiral Sir Francis Beaufort (1776— 1840) - Explorer. Inventor of Beaufort Wind Scale.

4) Henry Essex Edgeworth, Abbe de Firmont (1745— 1807) - Priest to Louis XVI of France

5) Roger Edgeworth who in the sixteenth century was commissioned by King Henry VII of England to draw up a declaration of the Christian Doctrine. A copy of this “Book of Sermons” is located in trinity College, Dublin.

Over the past number of years, Edgeworthstown has played host to a couple of thousand visitors annually. They are mainly attracted to the town because of its connections with the Edgeworth family. While visitors come from many countries, the majority are Irish, English, French and American.
The main sites of interest are:

1) Edgeworthstown House.

The ancestral home of the Edgeworths. The present house dates from the late 18th century, and is now used as The Manor Nursing Home.

2) The Rectory.

The house, dating from the late 18th Century, was the birthplace of Henry Essex Edgeworth, AbbeDe Firmont.

3) St. John’s Church

This is on the site of an original 6th century church founded by St. Beatan. It was the church of the Edgeworth Family. Inside are memorial tablets of many of the Edgeworth. There is also a table presented to Maria Edgeworth by Sir Walter Scott the famous novelist.

4) Cemetery adjoining St. John’s Church.

The graves include the Edgeworth family vault where Maria Edgeworth is buried and that of a sister of Oscar Wilde, in whose memory he wrote the
poem “Requiescat”.

 
The Town hosts the Edgeworth Literary Festival in March each year.
 
Corboy Presbyterian Church

This Church was established in the middle of 17th Century. It is the oldest Presbyterian Church in continual use outside the Province of Ulster. It was built in 1729.
The graveyard in front of the church is also of historical interest. The interior of the church has been faithfully renovated in recent years.

Happy relations exist in the area among all christians.

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