For Sale in 1959
Churchtown House
NAME Churchtown House
AREA LOCATION Weston Park, Churchtown, Dublin 14
MAP LOCATION OSI maps of 1838 - 1845 and 1898-1913 place it in the townland of
Churchtown Upper and it is annotated as Churchtown House on both.
GENERAL Five bay Georgian house with basement. It has a pillared portico entrance
(an addition in the 1860s). It was approached by a long avenue with a gatelodge at the entrance.
It also had a gardeners cottage, stables and coach house. It was renowned for its alpine garden
and rose garden, and was opened to the public various years in the 1920s and 1930s in aid of
charity. For sale on 20 acres in 1959 as a two storey non basement residence. Purchased in 1960
for use as the ambassadors residence by the Netherlands Government and sold in 1997 for 700k.
Eight two bed town houses were built in the grounds in 1999.
YEAR BUILT circa 1788
VALUATION In 1889 the valuation was 150 pounds and in the 1901 census it is
noted as having 16 rooms occupied by the family.
ARCHITECT Unknown
SOURCES Thom’s directories, contemporaneous newspapers, NAI Census &
Wills, F E Ball and OSI Maps
OCCUPANTS
1790 - 1837 John Busby
1837 - 1858 Miss Eliza Busby
1858 - 1861 Miss Hannah Busby
1862 - 1863 For sale/To let on 5 acres
1866 - 1874 Philip Joseph Lynch
1875 - 1879 Colonel O'Brien
1880 - 1883 Alderman Edward Purdon
1884 - 1906 David Richard Pigot
1908 - 1919 William Seymour Bird
1919 - 1924 Hubert Moore Bird
1925 - 1930 Miss Charlotte Bird
1933 - 1939 Miss Susan Drought Bird
1939 For sale
1946 Vincent Brittain
1947 For Sale
1954 - 1959 Seymour Heatley
1959 for Sale on 20 acres with a modernised cottage and gatelodge.
1960 - 1997 Royal Netherlands Government
2006 sold for €10.5 million
2015 sold for €2.3 million
2021 For sale through DNG quoting €2.85 million
STAFF
1901 Julia Carroll - Cook
Marsella Lott - Parlour maid
Mary Coffee - Housemaid
Lawrence Brown - Coachman
Jeremiah Hackett - Gardener
1911 Jane Bohen - Cook
Sarah Bell - Housemaid
Edgar John Palmer - Butler/valet
Michael Horan - Gardener
Robert Moore - Groom
1908 - 1911 William Burne - Gardener
1925 - 1930 Mr P Murphy - Gardener
1954 Mr & Mrs Sheridan - living in the gardeners cottage
CURRENT Extant and a protected structure
STATUS
CONTRIBUTOR © June Bow & Karen Poff
DATE February 2025
AREA LOCATION Weston Park, Churchtown, Dublin 14
MAP LOCATION OSI maps of 1838 - 1845 and 1898-1913 place it in the townland of
Churchtown Upper and it is annotated as Churchtown House on both.
GENERAL Five bay Georgian house with basement. It has a pillared portico entrance
(an addition in the 1860s). It was approached by a long avenue with a gatelodge at the entrance.
It also had a gardeners cottage, stables and coach house. It was renowned for its alpine garden
and rose garden, and was opened to the public various years in the 1920s and 1930s in aid of
charity. For sale on 20 acres in 1959 as a two storey non basement residence. Purchased in 1960
for use as the ambassadors residence by the Netherlands Government and sold in 1997 for 700k.
Eight two bed town houses were built in the grounds in 1999.
YEAR BUILT circa 1788
VALUATION In 1889 the valuation was 150 pounds and in the 1901 census it is
noted as having 16 rooms occupied by the family.
ARCHITECT Unknown
SOURCES Thom’s directories, contemporaneous newspapers, NAI Census &
Wills, F E Ball and OSI Maps
OCCUPANTS
1790 - 1837 John Busby
1837 - 1858 Miss Eliza Busby
1858 - 1861 Miss Hannah Busby
1862 - 1863 For sale/To let on 5 acres
1866 - 1874 Philip Joseph Lynch
1875 - 1879 Colonel O'Brien
1880 - 1883 Alderman Edward Purdon
1884 - 1906 David Richard Pigot
1908 - 1919 William Seymour Bird
1919 - 1924 Hubert Moore Bird
1925 - 1930 Miss Charlotte Bird
1933 - 1939 Miss Susan Drought Bird
1939 For sale
1946 Vincent Brittain
1947 For Sale
1954 - 1959 Seymour Heatley
1959 for Sale on 20 acres with a modernised cottage and gatelodge.
1960 - 1997 Royal Netherlands Government
2006 sold for €10.5 million
2015 sold for €2.3 million
2021 For sale through DNG quoting €2.85 million
STAFF
1901 Julia Carroll - Cook
Marsella Lott - Parlour maid
Mary Coffee - Housemaid
Lawrence Brown - Coachman
Jeremiah Hackett - Gardener
1911 Jane Bohen - Cook
Sarah Bell - Housemaid
Edgar John Palmer - Butler/valet
Michael Horan - Gardener
Robert Moore - Groom
1908 - 1911 William Burne - Gardener
1925 - 1930 Mr P Murphy - Gardener
1954 Mr & Mrs Sheridan - living in the gardeners cottage
CURRENT Extant and a protected structure
STATUS
CONTRIBUTOR © June Bow & Karen Poff
DATE February 2025