Landscape House was built in a beautiful
setting overlooking the River Barrow. Samuel Lewis wrote
in 1837 "Landscape, now the residence of John Ussher
Esq., derives its name from the beautiful view it embraces
of the river and the ornamental grounds of Castle Annaghs
on the opposite bank; it is surrounded with a fine
plantation of fir,sycamore,beech and oak trees."He could write the same today
(2007).
This branch of the Ussher family hailed from Cappagh,
Co.Waterford. The family had as a member James
Ussher, the protestant archbishop of Armagh who was a
famous scholar. The original male of the family is thought
to have acted as an 'usher' to King John-hence the name
Ussher. John Ussher of Landscape married Lucy the daughter
of Rev.William Glascott of Alderton. He died in
1844.
The house was given to
June
Drake by her father Dean Drake of Stokestown as a wedding
gift when she married Major James Stewart. She was his
only daughter. The house was purchased by John Becker in
the 60's and is now the residence of Heidi Becker.
An usual landscape feature found at the front of the house
was known as a ha-ha. This was an eighteenth
century ditch or moat dug at the front to keep farm
animals away from the house. Yet, it didn't block the view
of the surrounding land like a wall or fence would.
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