ARDLUI
NAME Maesgwyllyd House/Springfield/Ardlui/Ardlinn
AREA LOCATION Newtown Park Avenue
MAP LOCATION OSI maps of 1838-1845 and 1898-1913 place it in the townland of
Galloping Green North and it annotated as Maesgwyllyd and Ardlui
respectively. It does not appear on Taylor's map of 1816.
GENERAL Built circa 1830 and extended circa 1860, a French style château on 8
acres, described as having pleasure gardens, two conservatories and spectacular entrance
gates are mentioned in the 'for sale' advert of 1870. The name of the house was changed
to Springfield in 1854, and renamed Ardlui in 1872. 'For Sale' advert also makes mention
of a gate lodge and round tower (a folly). The house was owned by Thomas Dixon along
with Abilene and Eversham.
It was famous for its garden with rare trees and shrubs and featured in many
gardening magazines. A two storey square house with no basement, it had a balustraded
roof decorated with urns. There were walled orchards, stables and garages with
accommodation above. It had three reception rooms, including a magnificent drawing
room with a superb ceiling. The house was demolished in the 1950's but the folly
(round tower) survives in the garden of a house built on its land. Its gate lodge no longer
survives.
YEAR BUILT circa 1830
VALUATION In 1912 the valuation was 85 pounds and the 1911 census notes
that the family occupy 24 rooms. In 1929 it is noted as having 7
bedrooms and 3 bathrooms.
ARCHITECT Unknown but redesigned by John McCurdy circa 1873.
SOURCES Thom’s directories, contemporaneous newspapers, NAI Census &
Wills, Parish Records, DIA and Land Valuation books.
OCCUPANTS
1836 - 1837 To Let by Thomas Dixon
1838 William Edward Hartpole Lecky
1849 - 1852 Thomas Dixon
1854 - 1871 John Cameron
1872 - 1873 Robinson Gale Perry
1873 - 1892 William James Perry
1885 Mrs J Perry
1890 Ida Florence Perry
1893 - 1925 George Mitchell
1926 - 1931 Mr Le Cesne Byrne (daughter in law is June Ann Fitzpatrick- Irish
Tennis Champion)
1931 House is for sale with James North & Co
1935 William Hewat & Cecil Hewat
1935 House for sale
1940 E Devine
1941 H J W Downey
1943 - 1951 Mrs Evelyn Eliza Henry
1955 Demolished circa 1955
STAFF
1849 John Bourne - Gate porter
1864 Dundas McCree - Gardener
1870 John Kavanagh - Gardener
1865 - 1872 Hugh Elliott - Servant/Coachman
1883 - 1891 Mr William Tobin - Gardener
1901 - 1923 William Baker - Gardener -living on site
1875 George King - Servant/Coachman
1901 Mary Plunkett – Cook
Annie Fitzpatrick - Parlour maid
Ann Murphy - House maid.
1911 Elizabeth Murphy - Lady's maid
Hannah Spellan - Cook
Mary Hait - House maid
Elizabeth Clarke - Kitchen maid
Anna Fitzpatrick - Parlour maid
Patrick Kavanagh - Coachman living in coach house
Joseph Graham - Gardener living in gardener's cottage
CURRENT
STATUS No longer extant
CONTRIBUTOR © June Bow & Karen Poff
DATE September 2017
NAME Maesgwyllyd House/Springfield/Ardlui/Ardlinn
AREA LOCATION Newtown Park Avenue
MAP LOCATION OSI maps of 1838-1845 and 1898-1913 place it in the townland of
Galloping Green North and it annotated as Maesgwyllyd and Ardlui
respectively. It does not appear on Taylor's map of 1816.
GENERAL Built circa 1830 and extended circa 1860, a French style château on 8
acres, described as having pleasure gardens, two conservatories and spectacular entrance
gates are mentioned in the 'for sale' advert of 1870. The name of the house was changed
to Springfield in 1854, and renamed Ardlui in 1872. 'For Sale' advert also makes mention
of a gate lodge and round tower (a folly). The house was owned by Thomas Dixon along
with Abilene and Eversham.
It was famous for its garden with rare trees and shrubs and featured in many
gardening magazines. A two storey square house with no basement, it had a balustraded
roof decorated with urns. There were walled orchards, stables and garages with
accommodation above. It had three reception rooms, including a magnificent drawing
room with a superb ceiling. The house was demolished in the 1950's but the folly
(round tower) survives in the garden of a house built on its land. Its gate lodge no longer
survives.
YEAR BUILT circa 1830
VALUATION In 1912 the valuation was 85 pounds and the 1911 census notes
that the family occupy 24 rooms. In 1929 it is noted as having 7
bedrooms and 3 bathrooms.
ARCHITECT Unknown but redesigned by John McCurdy circa 1873.
SOURCES Thom’s directories, contemporaneous newspapers, NAI Census &
Wills, Parish Records, DIA and Land Valuation books.
OCCUPANTS
1836 - 1837 To Let by Thomas Dixon
1838 William Edward Hartpole Lecky
1849 - 1852 Thomas Dixon
1854 - 1871 John Cameron
1872 - 1873 Robinson Gale Perry
1873 - 1892 William James Perry
1885 Mrs J Perry
1890 Ida Florence Perry
1893 - 1925 George Mitchell
1926 - 1931 Mr Le Cesne Byrne (daughter in law is June Ann Fitzpatrick- Irish
Tennis Champion)
1931 House is for sale with James North & Co
1935 William Hewat & Cecil Hewat
1935 House for sale
1940 E Devine
1941 H J W Downey
1943 - 1951 Mrs Evelyn Eliza Henry
1955 Demolished circa 1955
STAFF
1849 John Bourne - Gate porter
1864 Dundas McCree - Gardener
1870 John Kavanagh - Gardener
1865 - 1872 Hugh Elliott - Servant/Coachman
1883 - 1891 Mr William Tobin - Gardener
1901 - 1923 William Baker - Gardener -living on site
1875 George King - Servant/Coachman
1901 Mary Plunkett – Cook
Annie Fitzpatrick - Parlour maid
Ann Murphy - House maid.
1911 Elizabeth Murphy - Lady's maid
Hannah Spellan - Cook
Mary Hait - House maid
Elizabeth Clarke - Kitchen maid
Anna Fitzpatrick - Parlour maid
Patrick Kavanagh - Coachman living in coach house
Joseph Graham - Gardener living in gardener's cottage
CURRENT
STATUS No longer extant
CONTRIBUTOR © June Bow & Karen Poff
DATE September 2017