TRENCH MAUSOLEUM

Trench Mausoleum, sometimes referred to as Ashtown Mausoleum, is one of the largest mausoleums in Ireland and was built by Frederick Trench, whose tomb lies in the circular tower.

Frederick Trench was son of Francis Trench and nephew to Frederick Trench, 1st Baron Ashtown and Irish Politician. Frederick went on to claim his uncle’s title in 1855, becoming the 2nd Baron Ashtown.

He was a prolific developer, building artisan cottages for many of the 300 staff on the Woodlawn estate, as well as a gamekeeper’s lodge, an ice house, the mausoleum, the local Protestant Church and the Gothic-style Woodlawn railway station (1858), which is still in use today.

Trench died, aged 75, at Clonodfoy (otherwise known as Castle Oliver) and was buried at the family’s mausoleum at Woodlawn, a week later.

Restoration work has been carried out on the structure. The mausoleum is a unique structure and still in use as the burial ground of the Trench family.