1 week Ago By Jerome O'Connell
SITUATED in the townland of Monaclinoe just off the Ballysimon Road, Clino Cottage was a large two storey over basement house reached by a flight of seven granite steps to a door resplendent with a beautiful Georgian fanlight. It was home to Joseph Jones (1776-1858), a successful Limerick hardware merchant. The house was demolished sometime in the 1970s and the site is now occupied by Rosmada Business Park.
Clino Cottage was later known as Mount Salem House and rather confusingly both names continued to be used simultaneously. Joseph Jones was married to Constance, daughter of Standish and Catherine Peppard of Cappagh House near Askeaton. Catherine was the daughter of Robert Hewson of Ballyengland.
She died at ‘the house of her son-in-law, Joseph Jones Esq., William Street’ in June 1829. From about 1815 to 1832, Joseph Jones operated a hardware business at the ‘rere of the new buildings, William Street’.
He retired in 1832 and rented out his shop and town house. Jones disposed of his stock including Welsh slate, plaster of Paris, sheet lead, English ridge tiles, scouring brick and copper piping’. He also offered for rental ‘three new houses at the head of William Street and the building ground for seven houses in the new street opening between High Street and Denmark Street.
’ In addition, he offered 70 tons of hay for sale at Clino Cottage, described as being ‘within 15 minutes’ walk of the Artillery Barracks, on the road leading to Tipperary.’ READ MORE: Time gentlemen please as last pub in Limerick village is sold Similar to the landed class, good marriages often secured a merchant family’s status in local society. John Joseph Jones Esq.
, of Clino Cottage married Catherine, daughter of Andrew Watson, Alderman at Kilquane Church on February 6, 1834. Watson was also the proprietor of the Limerick Chronicle. Jones’ only daughter, Elizabeth Anne married George, eldest son of Francis Jackson Esq.
, of Killavilla House, Co Offaly on November 5, 1836. Joseph Jones was also a member of the grand jury. Joseph Jones made a large fortune from his hardware business, and in 1839 he purchased the estate of William Hammond Esq.
, for the enormous sum of £3,180 (over £220k in today’s values). The early years of the 1840s were unsettled and in November 1844, the Limerick Chronicle reported that ‘Denis Connell, a servant of Mr Jones of Clino Cottage was dragged out of his master’s phaeton (carriage), beaten and robbed of over £1, within a short distance of Blackboy Pike.’ Two years later in August 1846, Connell’s son was not so lucky.
David Connell, also a servant of Jones was returning ‘on horseback from the city to his master’s house when he was stopped by five or six armed fellows on the road close to Blackboy Pike. The ruffians struck him on the head with a club and knocked him off his horse. Connell fell to the ground lifeless and the assailants proceeded to rob him.
He was removed to his father’s house, where he died some time later.’ David Connell’s murder was widely reported in the Irish and British press. Joseph Jones died, aged 82, on February 10, 1858 at Clino Cottage.
His obituary described him as a ‘most respectable and upright citizen, esteemed during his long life by all who knew him, and sincerely regretted by his family and friends.’ Following Joseph’s death, his son, John Joseph Jones offered the lands at Clino and the house for rental. The lands comprised 93 acres on which a large sum had been expended in draining and planting: there are some good sites for building and commanding view of the railways leading to the city.
’ Clino Cottage appears to have been rebuilt and was renamed Mount Salem House. The house contained two large halls, parlour, drawing room, each 22x14 and 11 feet high, housekeeper’s room, 17x10, eight bedrooms, drawing room, two water closets, bathroom, kitchen and servants’ hall, scullery, yard, pantry, two cellars, servants’ apartments with a well-enclosed and flagged yard, lying in the centre is a green house. The pleasure ground is extensive and beautifully planted, not requiring any outlay.
’ At the entrance was an unusual circular gate lodge. John Joseph Jones died November 9, 1869 and left £12,000 in his will. The executors were George Jackson of Laurel Hill, Roscrea, Rev.
Robert Kerr of 63 South Great George’s Street, Dublin, and Rev James Wilson of Hartstonge Street, Limerick. George Jackson was John Joseph’s brother-in-law. Jones made a bequest of £1,000 to the Preachers’ and Widows’ Fund in connection with the Primitive Wesleyan Methodist Society, and a further £200 to their Limerick branch to be ‘invested in the purchase of a house in the city of Limerick to be used as a preacher’s residence.
’ John Joseph Jones’ nephew, George Jackson Jones inherited Mount Salem. He married Susanna, eldest daughter of Samuel Griffin Esq., Mountpleasant Square, Ranelagh in October 1872.
By the time the 1901 census was recorded, George, Susanna, their daughter Lissie EW, her grandfather Samuel Griffin and a female servant, Martha Byrne were still living in no55 Mountpleasant Square. Ten years later, in 1911, the Jackson Jones family were residing at 40 Kenilworth Square, Rathgar, Dublin. The Limerick branch of the Jones family are buried in a large freestanding limestone mausoleum in St Munchin’s Churchyard.
Mount Salem/Clino Cottage was home to the Cunneen family from c.1920s to 1960s when it was acquired by McInerney builders who subsequently demolished it. Dr Paul O’Brien lectures at Mary Immaculate College.
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