Photograph by Norman Ashe courtesy of Patrick Kiersey of The Glebe, Blackrock - Summer 1952
© Patrick Kiersey
FERNEY
NAME Ferney/Beech Park/Setanta School
AREA LOCATION Beechpark, Stillorgan, access via Farmleigh estate on N11
MAP LOCATION OSI maps of 1838-1845 and 1898-1913 place it in the townland of
Galloping Green North on both.
GENERAL Single-storey over basement Georgian villa and two storey to the rear.
Deceptively large, it has double bow projections to front and rear and original Wyatt windows.
The hood moulds above each window are like graceful eyebrows and the bow projections with
their conical slated roofs are most unusual. The leasehold interest of Ferney on 19 acres was
advertised for sale as the property of George Howell deceased in 1845, with a yearly tenant
installed. Howell held the lease from 1829. The house at one time was home to the Howells and
the Colleys, also home to the Scovells who lost two of their children, tragically in the 1868
Abergele rail crash. Rose Mary Anne Barton (1856 - 1929) sketched in the gardens of the house
in 1891. The coach house and stables were destroyed in a fire in 1866.
The Darley family also lived here for over 50 years. John Darley died aged just 47 and left his wife
Cherrie Lees to bring up 10 children aged between 3 and 15. Set a good way back from the road,
its lodge was opposite that of The Grange, where another branch of the Darley family lived. It
was for sale in July 1935 on 17 acres with 800' of road frontage. In 1937 the name of the house was
changed to Beech Park.
Ferney, later Setanta School/Beech Park House is landlocked in the middle of Beechwood
Court Estate. It still retains many beautiful trees including some Monterey Cypress. Planning has
been lodged to convert the house into apartments and build further housing in the grounds. It is
on .7 acres and is not a protected structure.
YEAR BUILT circa 1790
VALUATION In 1910 the valuation was 108 pounds
NUMBER OF
ROOMS In the 1901 census it is noted as having 21 rooms occupied by family.
ARCHITECT Unknown
SOURCES Thom’s directories, Newspapers, NAI Census & Wills, Darley diaries.
OCCUPANTS
1804 Ms Eleanor Taylor
1829 - 1832 Robert Hitchcock
1832 - 1833 George Howell
1835 - 1860 Henry Scovell
1854 - 1859 Whitmore Scovell
1863 Fielding Scovell
1863 - 1880 Hon George F Colley JP
1880 - 1883 John Henry Darley
1884 - 1912 Mrs Darley nee Lees
1912 - 1935 Frederick Digby Darley
1937 - 1952 Thomas J Cullen
1956 - 2016 Daughters of the Cross of Liege
1956 - 1995 Mary Immaculate School for the hearing impaired on site
1995 Setanta College * Saint Loman’s Special School on site.
2008 - 2016 Vacant and for Sale
2016 Purchased by Mm Capital - Planning application - D18A/0334
2022 Permission granted to convert and build further dwellings in the grounds
STAFF
1849 Michael Quigley - Gatekeeper
1881 Richard Tuthill - Gardener
1886 - 1895 James Cruise - Handyman/Painter/Gardener
1890 - 1893 Jim Cruise - Gatekeeper/Gardener
Jane - Cook
Bridget - Kitchenmaid
1890 Miss Knaggs - Tutor
1884 - 1891 Nurse
1890 - 1891 Lizzy - Parlourmaid
1891 Frances Gray - Children's maid
Eliza - Cook age about 45
Miss Harrison - Tutor
Mr Henderson - painter/odd jobs
1901 Catherine Duncan - Domestic Servant
Annie Bogie - Domestic Servant
Mary Murphy - Domestic Servant
Ellen Sheridan - Domestic Servant
Patrick Murphy - Gardener (living in gardener's cottage)
Vincent Grehan - Coachman (living at gatelodge)
1908 - 1909 James Baker - Gardener
1911 Bridget Phelan - Cook
Bridget Kennedy - Parlour maid
Sarah Bandon - House maid
John Reid - Motor car driver (living at gatelodge)
1930 Mr McDermot - Gardener. He and his wife Mary lived in the gatelodge.
CURRENT
STATUS Extant with planning permission D18A/1028 lodged.
CONTRIBUTOR © June Bow & Karen Poff
DATE May 2017
NAME Ferney/Beech Park/Setanta School
AREA LOCATION Beechpark, Stillorgan, access via Farmleigh estate on N11
MAP LOCATION OSI maps of 1838-1845 and 1898-1913 place it in the townland of
Galloping Green North on both.
GENERAL Single-storey over basement Georgian villa and two storey to the rear.
Deceptively large, it has double bow projections to front and rear and original Wyatt windows.
The hood moulds above each window are like graceful eyebrows and the bow projections with
their conical slated roofs are most unusual. The leasehold interest of Ferney on 19 acres was
advertised for sale as the property of George Howell deceased in 1845, with a yearly tenant
installed. Howell held the lease from 1829. The house at one time was home to the Howells and
the Colleys, also home to the Scovells who lost two of their children, tragically in the 1868
Abergele rail crash. Rose Mary Anne Barton (1856 - 1929) sketched in the gardens of the house
in 1891. The coach house and stables were destroyed in a fire in 1866.
The Darley family also lived here for over 50 years. John Darley died aged just 47 and left his wife
Cherrie Lees to bring up 10 children aged between 3 and 15. Set a good way back from the road,
its lodge was opposite that of The Grange, where another branch of the Darley family lived. It
was for sale in July 1935 on 17 acres with 800' of road frontage. In 1937 the name of the house was
changed to Beech Park.
Ferney, later Setanta School/Beech Park House is landlocked in the middle of Beechwood
Court Estate. It still retains many beautiful trees including some Monterey Cypress. Planning has
been lodged to convert the house into apartments and build further housing in the grounds. It is
on .7 acres and is not a protected structure.
YEAR BUILT circa 1790
VALUATION In 1910 the valuation was 108 pounds
NUMBER OF
ROOMS In the 1901 census it is noted as having 21 rooms occupied by family.
ARCHITECT Unknown
SOURCES Thom’s directories, Newspapers, NAI Census & Wills, Darley diaries.
OCCUPANTS
1804 Ms Eleanor Taylor
1829 - 1832 Robert Hitchcock
1832 - 1833 George Howell
1835 - 1860 Henry Scovell
1854 - 1859 Whitmore Scovell
1863 Fielding Scovell
1863 - 1880 Hon George F Colley JP
1880 - 1883 John Henry Darley
1884 - 1912 Mrs Darley nee Lees
1912 - 1935 Frederick Digby Darley
1937 - 1952 Thomas J Cullen
1956 - 2016 Daughters of the Cross of Liege
1956 - 1995 Mary Immaculate School for the hearing impaired on site
1995 Setanta College * Saint Loman’s Special School on site.
2008 - 2016 Vacant and for Sale
2016 Purchased by Mm Capital - Planning application - D18A/0334
2022 Permission granted to convert and build further dwellings in the grounds
STAFF
1849 Michael Quigley - Gatekeeper
1881 Richard Tuthill - Gardener
1886 - 1895 James Cruise - Handyman/Painter/Gardener
1890 - 1893 Jim Cruise - Gatekeeper/Gardener
Jane - Cook
Bridget - Kitchenmaid
1890 Miss Knaggs - Tutor
1884 - 1891 Nurse
1890 - 1891 Lizzy - Parlourmaid
1891 Frances Gray - Children's maid
Eliza - Cook age about 45
Miss Harrison - Tutor
Mr Henderson - painter/odd jobs
1901 Catherine Duncan - Domestic Servant
Annie Bogie - Domestic Servant
Mary Murphy - Domestic Servant
Ellen Sheridan - Domestic Servant
Patrick Murphy - Gardener (living in gardener's cottage)
Vincent Grehan - Coachman (living at gatelodge)
1908 - 1909 James Baker - Gardener
1911 Bridget Phelan - Cook
Bridget Kennedy - Parlour maid
Sarah Bandon - House maid
John Reid - Motor car driver (living at gatelodge)
1930 Mr McDermot - Gardener. He and his wife Mary lived in the gatelodge.
CURRENT
STATUS Extant with planning permission D18A/1028 lodged.
CONTRIBUTOR © June Bow & Karen Poff
DATE May 2017