When he came from England to Ireland, Richard West was a Lieutenant in the troop of Thomas, Lord Cromwell. Thomas Cromwell, the son of Edward Cromwell, (Baron of Okeham, who purchased the estate of Downpatrick from Lord Mountjoy in about the year 1604) was created Viscount Lecale in 1624 and Earl of Ardglass in 1645. Thomas Cromwell died in 1653 and in his will, references are made to the West family, which show a considerable intimacy between the two families.
On 20th June 1626, Thomas Lord Cromwell granted Richard West the town and townland of Ballydugan (outside Downpatrick), and also 30 acres of land lying to the East, known as Kingsfield. In addition to these lands, Richard West and descendants owned more land around Downpatrick, detailed later in this article.
Richard West was High Sheriff for Down in 1610 and Member of Parliament (Ireland) for Downpatrick in the year 1613. He was also appointed one of the Commissioners in 1617 to ascertain the limits and bounds of Iveagh, and was also, in 1625 one of the Commissioners appointed along with the Bishop of Dromore, Sir Edward Trevor, Sir Henry O'Neill, and Nicholas Ward by the Court of Chancery to inquire into the waste committed at the woods of Slut MacNeale. Slut MacNeale being an area North of Dromore, which is mentioned in the transfer of lands to Viscount Clandeboye and can be seen on a map of North-East Down circa 1580 in the previous issue of the Lecale Review (2005).
The house was not rebuilt for over a century. Ballydugan House, which stands today was built in 1781, on or near the site of the original house, by Captain Henry West (2nd Great Grandson of Richard West), probably using some of the stones from the first house. Ballydugan House remained in the West family until June 1819 when it was purchased by Richard Keown of Downpatrick.
On the lands of Ballydugan, Richard West built a mansion house, which has been described as "a large strong-house with a draw-bridge and turrets for defense". This mansion house was later destroyed in the year 1641 by rebellious servants. A Robert Kinaston of Saul in his evidence said "that Richard West of Balledwgan, in Lecale, in the County of Downe, Esq., had, after good opposition, his house taken, his corne and cattell lost, and his whole estate overrunne".
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| Ballydugan House (2010) |
Richard West died on 2nd July 1644, three years after the destruction of his mansion house. He died intestate, leaving his second son, but heir at law and several daughters.
