Boystown: Traces of Prehistory and Quaker History

Boystown brings together traces of prehistory, Quaker history and a distinctive story of a house. On the Poulaphuca Reservoir, the shoreline of a Neolithic house is normally flooded and becomes visible only when the water level falls. A restored Quaker graveyard is one of the stops on the Lakeside Heritage Trail, listed as suitable for walking. Baltiboys House adds architecture from the late 18th century to the history of this place.

Neolithic traces on the King's River

The site of the Neolithic house lies on a gently sloping hillside overlooking the King's River. The excavation uncovered further sherds of Neolithic pottery, a flint axe and other stone tools. These tools include a Bann Flake made of flint. The varied finds give the prehistoric story a tangible form: pottery, an axe and other stone artefacts represent different types of objects found during the excavation.

The shoreline is also part of this place's history. It is normally flooded by the Poulaphuca Reservoir and becomes visible only when the water level falls. Its visibility is therefore subject to a specific condition: at higher water levels, the shoreline remains covered. Anyone interested in the landscape around the Neolithic house can see this change between flooded and visible shoreline as part of the area's character, without assuming a set time when it will become visible.

Quaker history on the Lakeside Heritage Trail

The restored Boystown Quaker Graveyard is located at the entrance to Blessington Lakes Golf Course. The Lakeside Heritage Trail lists the graveyard as stop 4; the trail is considered suitable for walking. This aspect of the area therefore centres on a specific historic site and its place on a walking trail. Anyone wanting to combine exercise with local history can include the trail in their travel plans and visit the graveyard as a stop with Quaker connections.

Baltiboys House and Elisabeth Smith

Baltiboys House was built in the late 18th century as a two-storey late Georgian house with a five-bay façade. In County Wicklow, the house is considered a building of regional importance in Ireland under Ref. No. F26. Its architecture offers a different historical perspective from the prehistoric finds and the Quaker graveyard: here, the focus is on a late Georgian house and its significance in the region.

Baltyboys House, which is privately owned, was the home of Elisabeth Smith. She wrote one of the most comprehensive contemporary accounts of everyday life, as well as domestic, local, national and international events during the famine. Her story thus offers a glimpse of everyday life and events on several levels. Another biographical connection leads to Ninette de Valois, founder of the London Royal Ballet: Elisabeth Smith was her great-grandmother.

Boystown as a focus for your trip

Boystown is one of the places featured in the Blessington Lakeside Heritage Project. This online resource brings together information about nature, history, folklore and cultural heritage in this part of north-west Wicklow. Families and other travellers can choose from different themes to focus on: archaeological finds, a walking-trail stop with Quaker history, or the story of Baltyboys House. These aspects provide a concrete framework for deciding what interests you most on your trip.

If Boystown's local history is to be the focus of your stay, you can choose the area as a search destination for a holiday rental. When planning, you can also consider whether to focus primarily on the archaeological and historical themes or explore the nature and cultural heritage themes of the Blessington Lakeside Heritage Project as well. The shoreline is a distinct feature whose visibility depends on the water level; it should not be confused with the Heritage Trail's specifically designated stops.

More local pages: Blessington, Rathdrum, Avoca, Redcross, Newtownmountkennedy, Baltinglass, Greystones, Kiltegan.

For the broader travel overview: County Wicklow.