Farnham Estate
This Cavan Estate was granted to Sir Richard Waldron of Leicestershire, who called it Farnham after is bride’s familial name. In 1664 Bishop Robert Maxwell purchased Dromellan Castle in County Cavan from the Waldron family who were selling due to gambling debts. This was the beginning of the Maxwell family ties to Farnham that lasted until the start of the 21st century. Their family motto is: Je suis prêt (I am ready).
John Maxwell was ennobled in 1756 raising the status of what had now become the Farnham Estate. Many agricultural improvements were put into effect by Robert, Earl of Farnham from 1761. By 1777 the agricultural scientist Arthur Young said “…upon the whole Farnham is one of the finest places that I have ever seen in Ireland; the water wood and hill are all in great stile and abound in a variety of capabilities.” He also described the lakes as being “uncommonly beautiful; extensive and have a shore extremely varied.” There were around 100 labourers hired by Farnham estate to maintain the landscape. (from http://www.farnhamestate.ie/history)
In the early 20th century, the estate began to sell off some of the 24,000 statute acres of land. In 1921, Lord and Lady Farnham moved to England, taking the furniture to save it from the looting and burning of estate houses occurring due to the rebellion and civil war at that time. In 1923 the Land Act eliminated landlordism in Ireland; Lord Farnham had reduced the estate to the demesne lands which were still farmed intensively to keep finances in check.
Barry Owen Somerset Maxwell, 12th Baron Farnham was the last of the Maxwell family to live at Farnham House. After the Baron’s death in 2001, Farnham estate was sold to the McCabe family who developed it into a spa hotel. There are many amenities available at the hotel, from guest accommodation, day spa, restaurant, cellar bar, walking paths and a golf course.
New View
Roy McCabe employed the Irish architectural practice of Gilroy McMahon to extend Farnham house into a spa hotel. Aside from the 158 bedrooms and suites, there is a restaurant, lobby bar and conference centre. In the original house there is a cellar bar, public reception rooms and guest suites. The Farnham Estate hotel has also established a wellness centre with an infinity pool, designed by the Austrian Heinz Schletterer. On the 1300 acres of parkland there are several newly developed walking trails. These wander through the ancient trees (including redwood, cedar, copper beech, scots pine and yew) and past the Farnham Lake. In the orchard a series of holiday homes were constructed.
From this viewpoint one can see the forest stretching out from the new hotel buildings.
The cache-
There is space to pull in on the side road by GZ. Tweezers will be useful to remove the log.
Bonus Info-
At each cache in the farnham series you can gather numbers, which you can use to find a bonus cache (GC6K5MQ Farnham Series - Bonus Cache)
How many letters are in the first word in the quotation marks on the sign at GZ. Call this C.