The Evolution of the Irish Land Agent: The Management of the Blundell Estate in the Eighteenth Century

Abstract

This chapter examines the management of the 14,000 acre Blundell estate in Ireland during the period 1700-80 and in particular the career of father and son combination, Henry and John Hatch, agents between them for over fifty years. Their agency of the Blundell estate offers an insight into the complexities and evolution of the land agency business in eighteenth-century Ireland. In 1786, a somewhat despondent John Hatch requested to be relieved of his duties as land agent of the Blundell estate in King’s County (Offaly) insisting that the town of Edenderry was ‘dwindling into ruin’. In particular, Hatch, who had replaced his father Henry as agent, highlighted that both distress and poverty were endemic at Edenderry and in general there was not much he could do to overturn circumstances. Faced with the unenviable task of managing an Irish landed estate in decline, Hatch was just one of five agents appointed to the Blundell estate throughout the eighteenth century. He remained in this position until his death in 1797, at which time irregularities were found with his management of the estate. However, this was a frequent occurrence and was something which befell many eighteenth-century landed estates (and indeed later). The reason for such dilatory practice was believed to have stemmed from the fact that the nature of the agents duties was largely imprecise and that the role lacked any professionalism.