Calverstown
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Calverstown Baile an Chalbhaigh |
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WGS-84 (GPS) Coordinates:
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| Irish grid reference N802041 |
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| Statistics | ||
| Province: | Leinster | |
| County: | County Kildare | |
| Elevation: | 106 m | |
| Population ( ) | 650 | |
Calverstown (Irish: Baile an Chalbhaigh)is a small village located 6 km (4 mi) south of the town of Kilcullen and approximately 16 km (10 mi) from each of the towns of Athy, Kildare, Naas and Newbridge in County Kildare, Ireland. It is an old settlement located close to the archaeological sites of Dún Áilinn and Old Kilcullen. The village has a stream running through it with another to the south.
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[edit] Population
The village was recorded in the census of population in 2006 as having 650 people. [1]
[edit] History
Calverstown has been in existence as a named location since the early medieval period. An early reference to lands described as 'Terra Philippi Vituli' (Vitulus is the Latin for calf, i.e. Philip of Calfs town) provides an unaudited confirmation in the form of a petition from the Royal Hospitallers of Kilmainham listing their possessions to Pope Innocent III in 1212.
In a note to an edition of Richard de Ledrede's account of the Kyteler Witchcraft trial Wright (1843, 56-7) noted that Walter le Veele, or Calf, of Calfstown was Chancellor of Kildare Cathedral and was made Bishop of Kildare in 1299. He purchased the manor of Norragh, in which Calverstown is situated, from Geoffrey de Norragh before his death in 1332. The barony was inherited by his nephew John Calf, who passed it to his son Sir Robert Calf and to his daughter Elizabeth Calf who married William Wellesley of Baronsrath, whose heirs held the barony after that. The name of the town appears to be derived from the anglicised name of the le Veele family.
It is explicitly mentioned in a Rental of Gerald Earl of Kildare begun in 1518-19 1518 as "In baronia de Norragh. Item, in the barone of the Norragh & may be distraynet at Calfiston: £6" (MacNiocaill 1992, 291); and in the Extents of Irish Monastic Possessions 1540-41. In the former, the name is spelled Calfiston, in the latter Calveston.
The Civil Survey of 1656 noted that in 1641 Calverstown contained 760 Irish acres of land and had one castle and a stone quarry and was held by Sir Robert Dixon (Simington 1952, 98)
The population, street layout and land-use have changed little over the past two and-a-half centuries. A map from 1752 shows a layout very similar to that of today. The natural environment reflects the predominance of well-established enclosed agricultural land. This is presently improved grassland or tillage, some of which is now succumbing to residential development.
[edit] Calverstown today
The village of Calverstown is well presented with a number of attractive buildings and areas including Grove Villa, Rose Cottage, Blackhall Castle and the Forge. Recent housing developments have attempted to continue this trend, enhancing rather than detracting from its appeal. There is a well maintained green at the centre of the village with some seating available at the stream. The sense of community is strong with a Tidy Towns committee, a Golf Society and numerous residents associations. Each of these associations are represented by both new and native dwellers of the village.
[edit] Sport
- St Laurence's GAA is the local Gaelic Athletic Association club.
[edit] References
Dick, William; Vanda Clayton, Rebecca Jeffrey (1999). Calverstown, A baseline review for Calverstown Tidy Towns. Blessington Co. Wicklow, Ireland: duQuesne Environmental Limited.
MacNiocaill, G. (1992). Crown Surveys of Lands 1540-41 With the Kildare Rental Begun in 1518. Dublin: Irish Manuscripts Commission.
Simington, R.C. (1952). Civil Survey Co. Kildare. Dublin: Irish Manuscripts Commission.
Wright, T. (1843). A Contemporary Narrative of the Proceedings Against Dame Alice Kyteler Prosecuted for Sorcery in 1334 by Richard De Ledrede, Bishop Of Ossory. London: The Camden Society.
