Photograph from the funeral service sheet of Dorothea Findlater
Abilene
NAME Abilene
AREA LOCATION Newtownpark Avenue, Blackrock
MAP LOCATION OSI maps of 1838-1845 and 1898-1913 place it in the townland of Galloping
Green North and it is annotated as Abilene on both maps.
GENERAL Built by the Proby estate circa 1790. The house was extended and a gatehouse,
shared with Eversham was added in 1840. Gate pillars appear to be contemporary with house, but
iron gates may be a later addition. The house is a detached three-bay single-storey over part
raised basement villa with an overhanging hipped slate roof. The front door with its oversailing
fanlight is approached by a flight of seven cut-granite steps between cast-iron railings, each of the
front windows have a decorative iron balcony.
Thomas Dixon owned Abilene, Ardlui and Eversham and rented out Abilene and Eversham in the
early 1800s for 'The Season'. These houses were sold through the landed Estate Court in 1865 by
Thomas's son Richard. When the Findlaters moved to the house in 1941 it was described as a
'dilapidated farmhouse'.
YEAR BUILT Abilene was built by the Proby/Carysfort Estate circa 1790 and extended
circa 1840.
VALUATION In 1912 the valuation was 48 pounds.
NUMBER OF
ROOMS On the 1901 census it is noted as having 20 rooms occupied by family.
ARCHITECT Possibly George Papworth or built in his style
SOURCES Thom’s directories, contemporaneous newspapers, Valuation Books, Parish
records, OSI Maps, NAI Census & Wills and John Findlater.
OCCUPANTS
c1790 Proby Estate
1834 - 1849 Thomas Dixon
1851 James Leslie Foster
1856 Henry Hone
1858 - 1862 William Acton Esq
1864 - 1892 Townley William Hardman
1892 - 1897 Mrs Hardman
1898 - 1901 Richard Carey
1901 - 1941 Christopher Thomas Jolley
1941 - 1962 Dermot and Dorothea Findlater
1962 - 2017 Mrs Dorothea Findlater
2018 For Sale on 2.94 acres - In Nov 2018, it was purchased by the Department
of Education for 8 million.
STAFF
1888 James Lovely - gardener
1901 Mary Fagan - Nurse
Maria Mainwaring - Servant
1911 - 1912 Patrick Murphy - Gardener (living at gate lodge)
CURRENT
STATUS Extant and a protected structure, site now under development.
CONTRIBUTOR © June Bow & Karen Poff
DATE April 2018
AREA LOCATION Newtownpark Avenue, Blackrock
MAP LOCATION OSI maps of 1838-1845 and 1898-1913 place it in the townland of Galloping
Green North and it is annotated as Abilene on both maps.
GENERAL Built by the Proby estate circa 1790. The house was extended and a gatehouse,
shared with Eversham was added in 1840. Gate pillars appear to be contemporary with house, but
iron gates may be a later addition. The house is a detached three-bay single-storey over part
raised basement villa with an overhanging hipped slate roof. The front door with its oversailing
fanlight is approached by a flight of seven cut-granite steps between cast-iron railings, each of the
front windows have a decorative iron balcony.
Thomas Dixon owned Abilene, Ardlui and Eversham and rented out Abilene and Eversham in the
early 1800s for 'The Season'. These houses were sold through the landed Estate Court in 1865 by
Thomas's son Richard. When the Findlaters moved to the house in 1941 it was described as a
'dilapidated farmhouse'.
YEAR BUILT Abilene was built by the Proby/Carysfort Estate circa 1790 and extended
circa 1840.
VALUATION In 1912 the valuation was 48 pounds.
NUMBER OF
ROOMS On the 1901 census it is noted as having 20 rooms occupied by family.
ARCHITECT Possibly George Papworth or built in his style
SOURCES Thom’s directories, contemporaneous newspapers, Valuation Books, Parish
records, OSI Maps, NAI Census & Wills and John Findlater.
OCCUPANTS
c1790 Proby Estate
1834 - 1849 Thomas Dixon
1851 James Leslie Foster
1856 Henry Hone
1858 - 1862 William Acton Esq
1864 - 1892 Townley William Hardman
1892 - 1897 Mrs Hardman
1898 - 1901 Richard Carey
1901 - 1941 Christopher Thomas Jolley
1941 - 1962 Dermot and Dorothea Findlater
1962 - 2017 Mrs Dorothea Findlater
2018 For Sale on 2.94 acres - In Nov 2018, it was purchased by the Department
of Education for 8 million.
STAFF
1888 James Lovely - gardener
1901 Mary Fagan - Nurse
Maria Mainwaring - Servant
1911 - 1912 Patrick Murphy - Gardener (living at gate lodge)
CURRENT
STATUS Extant and a protected structure, site now under development.
CONTRIBUTOR © June Bow & Karen Poff
DATE April 2018