Cranfield family of Airfield
In 1753, Dr Richard Russell published The Use of Sea Water which recommended the
use of seawater for healing various diseases. Circa 1790 Richard Cranfield opened
sea baths between Sandymount and Irishtown and by 1806 was also offering tepid
baths. Originally called the Cranfield baths it was trading as the Tritonville baths by
1806. Richard Cranfield born circa 1731 died in 1809 at Tritonville Lodge outliving
his wife by four years to whom he had been married for over 60 years. He was a
sculptor and a carver of wood and had a share in the exhibition Hall in William Street
which was put up for sale after his death. He was also the treasurer for the Society of
Artists in Ireland. He worked at Carton House and Trinity College. His son Richard
took over the baths.
Richard Cranfield married Elizabeth Brien
born circa 1731 1748
died 21 Jan 1809 died 1805
buried St Andrews
1 Richard Cranfield late of Tritonville Baths died 24 Dec 1859 (Executors William
Cranfield and Thomas Cranfield of Airfield). In 1828 Richard was advertising
the cleanliness of the baths which had the water changed twice daily. In 1846
there were unusually high tides in Dublin and the seawall at Sandymount was
breached causing huge damage to the coastline and the baths. The same night a
barge moored on the Dodder floated out to sea, houses were flooded and the
inhabitants evacuated.
1 Thomas Cranfield married Anne Keys in 1839. Thomas was a stationer and
printer of 23 Westmorland Street. In 1847 he became the first mezzotint
printer in Ireland producing copies of a works by Irish artists such as
William Brocas. He received an award from the RDS for his print from a
portrait of the Earl of Clarendon. He moved to 115 Grafton Street and
received a Royal Warrant in 1850. The family moved to Airfield in 1854.
Thomas was also an agent for the London Stereoscopic company and
moved into photography. He disposed of his business in 1878 to his son
and his assistant George Nutter. Thomas moved to England in 1882 after
the death of his son Charles. He died on 5 Jun 1891 at Melrose Netherhall
Gardens, Hampstead, London aged 77 with £90 in personal estate.
1 Louisa Grace Cranfield born 25 May 1840 eldest daughter married Harry 2nd son of
the late George Hodges of Mountpellier Parade, Monkstown on 6 Mar 1862 in Taney
Church. Harry Hodges late of Westmoreland Street (Ironmonger) died 17 Jan 1893 at
Belgrave House, Monkstown aged 53 years. Louisa Grace Hodges died on
30 Nov 1915 at Carlton Place, Aberdeen.
2 Richard Keys Cranfield born 8 Sep 1841.
3 Anna Maria Cranfield born 14 Feb 1843, 2nd daughter married Arthur Ackerman
of Eversleigh, Lee in Kent on 4 Sep 1872 at Taney Church. Anna Maria was living at
Lewisham, London in the 1881 census with her sister Florence.
4 Mary Cranfield born 13 Mar 1844 3rd daughter died 3 Sep 1867 after a lingering
illness and was buried at Mount Jerome.
5 Sophia Helena Cranfield born 14 Apr 1845 3rd daughter died 30 Dec 1884 at The
Turrets, FitzJohn’s Avenue, London aged 39 years.
6 Charles Richard Cranfield born circa 1847 died aged 8 buried 29 Jan 1855.
7 George William Cranfield born circa 1849 died 10 Feb 1867 aged 18.
8 Florence Cranfield born 9 Jun 1854 married John Lewis of Pleasaunce, Bedford
Park, Chiswick on 12 Aug 1882 at Christ Church Taney, Dundrum.
9 Charles Christopher Cranfield born 23 Dec 1856 youngest son fell asleep 4 Sep 1882
aged 25 years and was buried at Mount Jerome.
10 Thomas Alfred Cranfield married Catherine (Katie) Janet McKean on 27 Jul 1876 at
Taney Church, Dundrum. Catherine died on 15.12.1878 at 21 Clarinda Park West
aged 26 years. Thomas then married Edith Gertrude Margareta De Jongh Variaghan
a Widow on 8 May 1879 at St Mark’s Church, Dublin. Thomas died 11 Jun 1888 at 44
Harcourt Street, Dublin.
2 Mary Anne Cranfield eldest daughter married Charles Richard Williams on 27 Oct 1851 at
Mary’s Church, Donnybrook.
1 Charles Richard Williams born 16 Dec 1853 of 6 North Frederick Street.
2 George Hoefler Williams born 26 Jan 1855 of 6 North Frederick Street.
3 Margaret Elizabeth (Minnie) Williams only beloved daughter born 22 Sep 1856
of 6 North Frederick Street and died 21 Nov 1860 aged 4 years and 2 months at the
residence of her uncle Thomas Cranfield.
4 Thomas Guiline Bonserede Williams born 21 Jul 1858 of 6 North Frederick Street.
2 John Smith Cranfield born circa 1758 was a carver. He married Elizabeth Darley, daughter of
George Darley on 10 Dec 1789 at St Thomas's Church Dublin. He died in April 1802.
1 Richard Cranfield born Capel Street baptised 15 Nov 1790 at St Mary's.
3 Louisa Cranfield of Church Lane married Thomas Dixon of Cork Hill 10 Jan 1787 at St Andrew's.
4 Emily Cranfield married William Cooley, son of Thomas Cooley, architect in 1794.
1 Thomas Cooley born 1795 (Portrait painter) died 20 Jun 1872 from smallpox and
was buried at Mount Jerome.
2 William Desborough Cooley, a writer, moved to England and died 1883.
5 Thomas Cranfield born circa 1771 graduated Trinity and took Holy orders. He was rector
of Templescobin in the diocese of Ferns died 29 Oct 1853 aged 82.
© June Bow & Karen Poff - November 2017
In 1753, Dr Richard Russell published The Use of Sea Water which recommended the
use of seawater for healing various diseases. Circa 1790 Richard Cranfield opened
sea baths between Sandymount and Irishtown and by 1806 was also offering tepid
baths. Originally called the Cranfield baths it was trading as the Tritonville baths by
1806. Richard Cranfield born circa 1731 died in 1809 at Tritonville Lodge outliving
his wife by four years to whom he had been married for over 60 years. He was a
sculptor and a carver of wood and had a share in the exhibition Hall in William Street
which was put up for sale after his death. He was also the treasurer for the Society of
Artists in Ireland. He worked at Carton House and Trinity College. His son Richard
took over the baths.
Richard Cranfield married Elizabeth Brien
born circa 1731 1748
died 21 Jan 1809 died 1805
buried St Andrews
1 Richard Cranfield late of Tritonville Baths died 24 Dec 1859 (Executors William
Cranfield and Thomas Cranfield of Airfield). In 1828 Richard was advertising
the cleanliness of the baths which had the water changed twice daily. In 1846
there were unusually high tides in Dublin and the seawall at Sandymount was
breached causing huge damage to the coastline and the baths. The same night a
barge moored on the Dodder floated out to sea, houses were flooded and the
inhabitants evacuated.
1 Thomas Cranfield married Anne Keys in 1839. Thomas was a stationer and
printer of 23 Westmorland Street. In 1847 he became the first mezzotint
printer in Ireland producing copies of a works by Irish artists such as
William Brocas. He received an award from the RDS for his print from a
portrait of the Earl of Clarendon. He moved to 115 Grafton Street and
received a Royal Warrant in 1850. The family moved to Airfield in 1854.
Thomas was also an agent for the London Stereoscopic company and
moved into photography. He disposed of his business in 1878 to his son
and his assistant George Nutter. Thomas moved to England in 1882 after
the death of his son Charles. He died on 5 Jun 1891 at Melrose Netherhall
Gardens, Hampstead, London aged 77 with £90 in personal estate.
1 Louisa Grace Cranfield born 25 May 1840 eldest daughter married Harry 2nd son of
the late George Hodges of Mountpellier Parade, Monkstown on 6 Mar 1862 in Taney
Church. Harry Hodges late of Westmoreland Street (Ironmonger) died 17 Jan 1893 at
Belgrave House, Monkstown aged 53 years. Louisa Grace Hodges died on
30 Nov 1915 at Carlton Place, Aberdeen.
2 Richard Keys Cranfield born 8 Sep 1841.
3 Anna Maria Cranfield born 14 Feb 1843, 2nd daughter married Arthur Ackerman
of Eversleigh, Lee in Kent on 4 Sep 1872 at Taney Church. Anna Maria was living at
Lewisham, London in the 1881 census with her sister Florence.
4 Mary Cranfield born 13 Mar 1844 3rd daughter died 3 Sep 1867 after a lingering
illness and was buried at Mount Jerome.
5 Sophia Helena Cranfield born 14 Apr 1845 3rd daughter died 30 Dec 1884 at The
Turrets, FitzJohn’s Avenue, London aged 39 years.
6 Charles Richard Cranfield born circa 1847 died aged 8 buried 29 Jan 1855.
7 George William Cranfield born circa 1849 died 10 Feb 1867 aged 18.
8 Florence Cranfield born 9 Jun 1854 married John Lewis of Pleasaunce, Bedford
Park, Chiswick on 12 Aug 1882 at Christ Church Taney, Dundrum.
9 Charles Christopher Cranfield born 23 Dec 1856 youngest son fell asleep 4 Sep 1882
aged 25 years and was buried at Mount Jerome.
10 Thomas Alfred Cranfield married Catherine (Katie) Janet McKean on 27 Jul 1876 at
Taney Church, Dundrum. Catherine died on 15.12.1878 at 21 Clarinda Park West
aged 26 years. Thomas then married Edith Gertrude Margareta De Jongh Variaghan
a Widow on 8 May 1879 at St Mark’s Church, Dublin. Thomas died 11 Jun 1888 at 44
Harcourt Street, Dublin.
2 Mary Anne Cranfield eldest daughter married Charles Richard Williams on 27 Oct 1851 at
Mary’s Church, Donnybrook.
1 Charles Richard Williams born 16 Dec 1853 of 6 North Frederick Street.
2 George Hoefler Williams born 26 Jan 1855 of 6 North Frederick Street.
3 Margaret Elizabeth (Minnie) Williams only beloved daughter born 22 Sep 1856
of 6 North Frederick Street and died 21 Nov 1860 aged 4 years and 2 months at the
residence of her uncle Thomas Cranfield.
4 Thomas Guiline Bonserede Williams born 21 Jul 1858 of 6 North Frederick Street.
2 John Smith Cranfield born circa 1758 was a carver. He married Elizabeth Darley, daughter of
George Darley on 10 Dec 1789 at St Thomas's Church Dublin. He died in April 1802.
1 Richard Cranfield born Capel Street baptised 15 Nov 1790 at St Mary's.
3 Louisa Cranfield of Church Lane married Thomas Dixon of Cork Hill 10 Jan 1787 at St Andrew's.
4 Emily Cranfield married William Cooley, son of Thomas Cooley, architect in 1794.
1 Thomas Cooley born 1795 (Portrait painter) died 20 Jun 1872 from smallpox and
was buried at Mount Jerome.
2 William Desborough Cooley, a writer, moved to England and died 1883.
5 Thomas Cranfield born circa 1771 graduated Trinity and took Holy orders. He was rector
of Templescobin in the diocese of Ferns died 29 Oct 1853 aged 82.
© June Bow & Karen Poff - November 2017