Grange Road

Abbey View

Abbey View

Abbey View, Rathfarnham, Dublin 14

Reproduced by kind permission of Duchas

Abbey View
Reproduced by kind permission of Duchas

Abbey View

Abbey View, Rathfarnham, Dublin 14

Reproduced by kind permission of Duchas

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Abbey View was built in the early nineteenth century (about 1820) and stands today as number 23 Grange Road. It appears on the Ordnance Survey of 1843 and is listed in Thom's Directory (1854) as being occupied by Thomas Byrne. It is a detached two-storey house with a small fanlight over the front door. The property includes stables and outbuildings.

Beaufort House

Beaufort House, which stands opposite Loreto Abbey in the townland of Rathfarnham, was originally the property of the Hodgens Family. Lewis's Topographical Dictionary lists the occupant as one R. Hodgens, later; Thom's Directory (1854) names one Henry Hodgens. The Hodgens donated the lands for the Church of the Annunciation, dedicated in 1878. Afterwards Beaufort House was owned by a family called McCabe. It is said that during their occupancy, King George V and Queen Mary visited the house in 1912.

The Loreto nuns purchased the property in 1925 and opened a domestic college and day school for girls. The domestic college ceased to operate in 1981 but the school remains today. Like Loreto Abbey, the original house has been extended over the years.

The Hermitage/St. Enda's

The Hermitage was built in 1780 for Edward Hudson, a dentist. His son William Elliot Hudson was an enthusiastic supported of Thomas Davis and the Young Irelanders and later donated his collection of books and manuscripts to the Royal Irish Academy. Robert Emmet and Sarah Curran were friends of the Hudsons and used to meet secretly in the grounds of the house, as Sarah's father, John Philpot Curran of The Priory (the ruins of which are in the housing estate called 'Hermitage'), did not approve. To this day there is an avenue of trees in the grounds known as 'Emmet's Walk'.

In 1910, Patrick Pearse removed his school in Ranelagh to the Hermitage. It is said that he fell in love with its beautiful gardens and water features. The school was in financial difficulties from the beginning and British Forces occupied it in 1916 after the Rebellion. Pearse, Thomas McDonagh, Joseph Mary Plunkett and fifteen former pupils were executed.

In 1919 Pearse's mother and sister re-opened the school and maintained it until 1935. Mrs. Pearse left the house to her daughter Margaret who remained there until her death in 1969. The house and grounds were acquired by the Office of Public Works and have been converted into the Pearse Museum.

Loreto Abbey

Loreto Abbey

Loreto Abbey (incorporating Rathfarnham House), Rathfarnham, County Dublin

Reproduced by kind permission of Duchas

Loreto Abbey
Reproduced by kind permission of Duchas

Loreto Abbey

Loreto Abbey (incorporating Rathfarnham House), Rathfarnham, County Dublin

Reproduced by kind permission of Duchas

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Loreto Abbey was originally Rathfarnham House, built in 1725 for William Palliser. The Pallisers were very wealthy and entertained the likes of Handel, Dean Swift and Thomas More. In the 1790s it became the home of George Grierson and his wife Constantia. Grierson was the King's Printer in Ireland and his wife was also appointed to the office, being renowned for her classical and linguistic scholarship. In 1801 Palliser's printing business ceased and he removed to Woodtown House where he became a farmer.

In 1821 Archbishop Murray who intended to open a school there under the direction of Frances Ball (Mother Theresa) purchased the house. After it was renovated, she arrived from England with two companions and the house was renamed Loreto, after the order's house in Italy. It was opened as a boarding school for girls. Mother Theresa added an extra storey to the original red brick mansion and extended it. In 1840 a chapel was added which contains the work of Irish sculptor John Hogan (1800-1858). New wings and extensions were added right up until 1970.

Loreto was closed as a school several years ago and has been recently sold for development as houses and apartments.

One of its most famous proteges was Mother Theresa of Calcutta, who came to Ireland to join the order in 1928.

Washington Lodge

Washington Lodge

Washington Lodge, Rathfarnham, South Dublin County

Reproduced by kind permission of Duchas

Washington Lodge
Reproduced by kind permission of Duchas

Washington Lodge

Washington Lodge, Rathfarnham, South Dublin County

Reproduced by kind permission of Duchas

Enlarge image

Washington Lodge still stands today (No. 33, Grange Road). This Georgian style house was built in about 1742. One of its notable features is a four-centred carriage arch in the rear wall of one of the outbuildings. (NIAH)

It appears on the 1843 Ordnance Survey and is listed in Thom's Directory (1854) as being occupied by William Boyle.