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 landlord-ism 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.
The Schoolhouse
Along with inspectors of districts, buildings bog and land, a moral agent was also employed in 1823 to inspire the estate tenants to follow Lord Farnham’s principles: keeping the Sabbath, educating their children, and abstaining from evil habits such as swearing and making or drinking alcohol.
Girl's School
Already in 1801 the girls had begun to be educated under the watch of Lady Farnham; their school was located just outside the original gates of the estate (N 53 59.763 W 007 23.604). In 1872 these students were moved to the boy’s school down the road. The premise was then converted to use as a residence. More recently the roof was lifted to add a second story.
Boy's School turned Co-educational
The two-story boy’s school was built in 1830. When the girls were moved into the boy’s school they were still instructed separately with the boys on the ground floor and the girls above.
from Farnham School and Its Community 1801-1996, p.14
A married couple always served as Master and Mistress and were paid a joint salary of IR£25 per annum with an additional IR£15 for religious instruction. Both Catholics and Protestants attended and each group were provided instruction in their own faith. The Pestalozzi system of arithmetic was used. Schoolbooks and school materials (quills etc.) were sold in the school at cost price and below this when necessary. Also there was a lending library attached to the school.
from Farnham School and Its Community 1801-1996, p.18
“Nothing so much obstructs the progress of education as irregular attendance…any children absenting themselves for more than four days in a month, without satisfactory cause assigned, shall be struck off the roll by the moral agent, the schoolmaster having previously visited their houses to ascertain the causes of their absence.” Farnham School and It’s Community 1801-1996, p.16
In 1966 the school was moved to a series of pre-fabricated buildings further up the road to the north. The old school then became a private residence. In 1996 a new purpose built school was constructed at N 54 00.180 W 007 23.034.
The cache-
There is a small pull in spot beside the schoolhouse, across from the cache. Please re-hide the cache carefully to prevent it from being discovered by muggles. 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)
At GZ are two hydrant markers. Each marker has two numbers on it. All these numbers end in the same digit. Call this F.