Drummartin House
NAME Drummartin House/St Stephen's School
AREA
LOCATION Drummartin, located on the Lower Kilmacud Road near its intersection with
Goatstown, Taney and Mount Anville Roads now called Knocknashee.
MAP OSI maps of 1838-1845 and 1898-1913 place it in the townland of Drummartin with
two entrances, one of which was on Roebuck Road. 1820 and 1837 - The name of
Drummartin House and Annemount are swopped on maps but may be an error.
GENERAL In 1890 it was described in the sale notice as ' . . . one of the most charming
residences in Dundrum, standing upon 13 acres . . . the house with 3 fine reception room
approached from a beautifully tiled hall, 8 bed and dressing rooms wc, bath and storeroom and
excellent basement, gas water throughout . . . gdns . . . tennis and bowling green, 4 conservatories
(greenhse, hot hse, peach hse, and fernery) Gate lodge etc. In 1968 the sale notice read ‘absolutely
superb condition. . . 4 reception rooms, 7 Bedrooms, 4 Bathrooms, 7 toilets, newly fitted kitchen,
scullery and a pantry, Radiators in all rooms.’ Prior to this it was St Stephen’s School. J J Jennings seeks
permission to demolish having been so badly damaged after a number of years as a temporary home
for refugees.
*‘My memories of Drummartin [House, from the 1930's] was of a great square building on three
levels. On the ground floor there were two bedrooms, three large reception rooms with floor to ceiling
shuttered windows, which looked out on the various gardens and a fine tennis court. The entrance hall
had double doors, the inner one opening into a mosaic tiled hall in mainly rust and yellow. Concealed
from immediate view was a beautiful mahogany staircase which went right to the top of the house
servicing each floor. On the first of these floors was a small room which was always kept for any visiting
clergy. The room was always out of bounds for us children, so was a constant source of curiosity. On
the next floor there were four large bedrooms and a small room that was fitted out as an oratory. This
small prayer room had a hand carved miniature alter with statues of the saints. There were also kneelers
and seats where you could pray. The next floor up was a replica of the first floor. There was another
unique feature of this house an oval shaped, maple floor ballroom which opened through double doors
to the paddock. In the grounds there was an orchard and alongside it was the tennis court. Steep granite
steps led to the service area. The kitchen area was large with two wooden tables and a great black coal
burning range. The walls were red having been painted with distemper, as were several alcoves and the
pantries. In an outhouse off the kitchen was a well with an old hand pump. My memory was of the pump
making a loud grinding noise’, by Ena Maguire (née Sherry) granddaughter of Margaret Connolly.
BUILT Circa 1800
VALUATION In 1912 the valuation was 224 pounds and in the 1901 census it is noted as having
12 rooms occupied by family.
ARCHITECT Unknown.
SOURCES Thom’s directories, Newspapers, NAI Census & Wills and OSI Maps and more.
OCCUPANTS
1811 Sir Henry Jebb
1824 - 1837 John Curry? (residence of Rev Dr Singer).
1839 - 1846 John Hill Linde
1860 John Doyle
1864 James Doyle
1871 James Doyle
1880 - 1889 James Winstanley
1890 Elizabeth Winstanley
1890 - 1894 John McBride
1896 - 1915 James Herbert Louden Hayes
1921 - 1936 Mrs Margaret Connolly
1932 House up for auction
1939 Auction
1941 Auction
1944 Dixon
1946 - 1948 Reginald M Dixon
1950 - 1963 St Stephen’s School (Hugh M Brodie & his wife Lettice)
1964 House is vandalised.
1968 Bought by J J Jennings and repaired
1971 Permission to demolish sought
1973 Refugees from 'The Troubles' in Northern Ireland living at house
Staff
1849 Patrick Byrne - Gate keeper
1879 Patrick Downes - Gardener
1892 Anne Kenny - Servant
1901 Louisa Smith - Maid
Annabella Brown - Cook
1911 Elizabeth Keegan - Servant
Susanna Mary Careys - Cook
1911 Thomas Ryan - Labourer/dairy
1912 Thomas Holt - Labourer
1921 F Colgan - Gardener/Labourer
1925 Mrs Rooney, probably staff
CURRENT
STATUS Demolished. No 90 Knocknashee has incorporated some of its cellar.
CONTRIBUTOR © Catherine Brugha & Karen Poff
* Courtesy of Mary Cregan, great grand-daughter of Margaret Connelly
DATE March 2018 updated October 2020
AREA
LOCATION Drummartin, located on the Lower Kilmacud Road near its intersection with
Goatstown, Taney and Mount Anville Roads now called Knocknashee.
MAP OSI maps of 1838-1845 and 1898-1913 place it in the townland of Drummartin with
two entrances, one of which was on Roebuck Road. 1820 and 1837 - The name of
Drummartin House and Annemount are swopped on maps but may be an error.
GENERAL In 1890 it was described in the sale notice as ' . . . one of the most charming
residences in Dundrum, standing upon 13 acres . . . the house with 3 fine reception room
approached from a beautifully tiled hall, 8 bed and dressing rooms wc, bath and storeroom and
excellent basement, gas water throughout . . . gdns . . . tennis and bowling green, 4 conservatories
(greenhse, hot hse, peach hse, and fernery) Gate lodge etc. In 1968 the sale notice read ‘absolutely
superb condition. . . 4 reception rooms, 7 Bedrooms, 4 Bathrooms, 7 toilets, newly fitted kitchen,
scullery and a pantry, Radiators in all rooms.’ Prior to this it was St Stephen’s School. J J Jennings seeks
permission to demolish having been so badly damaged after a number of years as a temporary home
for refugees.
*‘My memories of Drummartin [House, from the 1930's] was of a great square building on three
levels. On the ground floor there were two bedrooms, three large reception rooms with floor to ceiling
shuttered windows, which looked out on the various gardens and a fine tennis court. The entrance hall
had double doors, the inner one opening into a mosaic tiled hall in mainly rust and yellow. Concealed
from immediate view was a beautiful mahogany staircase which went right to the top of the house
servicing each floor. On the first of these floors was a small room which was always kept for any visiting
clergy. The room was always out of bounds for us children, so was a constant source of curiosity. On
the next floor there were four large bedrooms and a small room that was fitted out as an oratory. This
small prayer room had a hand carved miniature alter with statues of the saints. There were also kneelers
and seats where you could pray. The next floor up was a replica of the first floor. There was another
unique feature of this house an oval shaped, maple floor ballroom which opened through double doors
to the paddock. In the grounds there was an orchard and alongside it was the tennis court. Steep granite
steps led to the service area. The kitchen area was large with two wooden tables and a great black coal
burning range. The walls were red having been painted with distemper, as were several alcoves and the
pantries. In an outhouse off the kitchen was a well with an old hand pump. My memory was of the pump
making a loud grinding noise’, by Ena Maguire (née Sherry) granddaughter of Margaret Connolly.
BUILT Circa 1800
VALUATION In 1912 the valuation was 224 pounds and in the 1901 census it is noted as having
12 rooms occupied by family.
ARCHITECT Unknown.
SOURCES Thom’s directories, Newspapers, NAI Census & Wills and OSI Maps and more.
OCCUPANTS
1811 Sir Henry Jebb
1824 - 1837 John Curry? (residence of Rev Dr Singer).
1839 - 1846 John Hill Linde
1860 John Doyle
1864 James Doyle
1871 James Doyle
1880 - 1889 James Winstanley
1890 Elizabeth Winstanley
1890 - 1894 John McBride
1896 - 1915 James Herbert Louden Hayes
1921 - 1936 Mrs Margaret Connolly
1932 House up for auction
1939 Auction
1941 Auction
1944 Dixon
1946 - 1948 Reginald M Dixon
1950 - 1963 St Stephen’s School (Hugh M Brodie & his wife Lettice)
1964 House is vandalised.
1968 Bought by J J Jennings and repaired
1971 Permission to demolish sought
1973 Refugees from 'The Troubles' in Northern Ireland living at house
Staff
1849 Patrick Byrne - Gate keeper
1879 Patrick Downes - Gardener
1892 Anne Kenny - Servant
1901 Louisa Smith - Maid
Annabella Brown - Cook
1911 Elizabeth Keegan - Servant
Susanna Mary Careys - Cook
1911 Thomas Ryan - Labourer/dairy
1912 Thomas Holt - Labourer
1921 F Colgan - Gardener/Labourer
1925 Mrs Rooney, probably staff
CURRENT
STATUS Demolished. No 90 Knocknashee has incorporated some of its cellar.
CONTRIBUTOR © Catherine Brugha & Karen Poff
* Courtesy of Mary Cregan, great grand-daughter of Margaret Connelly
DATE March 2018 updated October 2020