User:DubhEire/Fine Houses of Blackrock, Dublin

Frescati House
Frescati House built in 1739, was built a fine example and was the childhood home of Lord Edward FitzGerald at one time. Frescati, after much local protest to save it, was demolished in 1983 and Frascati Shopping Centre now stands in its place.

Blackrock House
In 1774 John Lees (1737-1811) built Blackrock House

Lios an Uisce
This house also known as Lisnaskea, was originally called Peafield Cliff and built by William Medcalf. He sold it in 1754 to Lady Arbella Denny and with the sale two fields were given on the south side of the Rock Road. These fields are where we see Peafield Terrace and further up, Sion Hill Convent. Lady Arbella decided that in order to host successful Georgian parties in the house, it would need to have the required room to do so. She added a large double bow ended extension encompassing a large hall and elaborate stair case. This also included a drawing and large dining room above.

Maretimo House
The house was built in 1770 as a summer residence for Nicholas Lawless, 1st Lord Cloncurry, from his main house in Lyons, Kildare. His son Valentine Lawless, 2nd Lord Cloncurry gave land beside the house for the building of the Roman Catholic Church, St. John the Baptist. At the time of the construction of the Dublin to Kingstown railway, 1834, Lord Cloncurry was compensated amongst other things with a private railway bridge and harbour. Maretimo house was demolished in 1970 and apartments of the same name now sit in its place. The private railway bridge can still be seen today, but is not cared for and it's once elegant walkway has been replaced by a corrugated iron walkway.

Mount Merrion
Brudenell Murphy

Pembroke House (Benincasa)
Built around 1830 and located on the corner of Mount Merrion Avenue and the Rock Road. Johnathon Goodbody lived here in the 1880's and made some fine enhancements including a bow-fronted two-storey extension and a granite doorcase. It is in use today as Benincasa school since the late 1950's, setup by the Dominican Sisters as a school for children with special needs.

Rosefield (Belleville)
Rosefield, previously Belleville, was one of the first seaside villas built on the Fitzwilliam estate around 1750. In 1983, the Rosefield and its gardens were demolished to make way for the Blackrock Clinic.

Vauxhall
The house may have been named after the first train on the Dublin to Kingstown railway of the same name. The old gates to Vauxhall now form the entrance to Blackrock Park and the gardens still remain there too.