Glencairn
NAME Glencairn
AREA LOCATION STILLORGAN,
MAP LOCATION OSI map of 1898-1913 place it in the townland of Murphystown and
it is annotated as Glencairn.
GENERAL A quirky Victorian pile which nods to America and Ireland with American
Colonial features and a castellated tower. Built circa 1860 the original owner was wealthy
solicitor George Gresson. When put up for sale in 1877 it was described as a cut granite 6
bedroom house approached from a lodge entrance, it had Oriel windows overlooking the
parterre and it would have had panoramic views of the sea and the mountains. Encaustic
tiles to the halls, a large conservatory, walled fruit gardens, croquet laws, formal garden and
shrubbery were its main selling points. High Court Judge James Murphy became the next
occupier.
In 1904/5 Glencairn was remodelled and extended, by adding the tower and a new wing with
a veranda on three sides supported by Leinster granite pillars for Richard 'the boss' Croker
by James Franklin Fuller who also built stabling on the grounds for 40 horses. Richard
acquired about 500 acres in the area and built a training gallops. It had its own electric supply
which was powered by gas dynamos and a "impregnable strong room" which presumably
was to house the Croker fortune.
Locally is was thought that 75k was expended on the remodelling. Pleasure gardens of 6
acres, a maze and an ornamental pond were added at a cost of 6K completed his country
seat. Originally Church of Ireland, Croker had converted to Roman Catholicism to marry his
first wife Elizabeth and had a chapel/oratory built in bedroom of the house to which locals
were invited to on Christmas morning for Mass. The house fitted with stained glass windows,
a mahogany staircase, polished oak floors throughout. The reception rooms consisted of
the grand hall, the Oriental room, study, library, billiard's room, drawing room and the
'American bar'. This bar hosted a moving in party for Croker to which staff and their
families were invited. It had a horseshoe shaped bar counter with high stools upholstered
in gold and purple.
On the 21 Jul 1976 the house was the scene of the assassination of Christopher Ewart-Biggs,
his car pulled out of the residence onto the Murphystown Road and 200 yards on, it was blown
up by a land-mine. He was 54 years old and only 12 days in office and on his way to a meeting
with Garett Fitzgerald, Irish Foreign Minister at the time. Judith Cook, his secretary was also
killed in the ambush. Brian Cubbon, Britain's Permanent Under Secretary and Brian O'Driscoll,
chauffeur were both injured in the attack.
In 1999 the house was sold for GBP £24 Million when a move of the residence was planned to
Marlay Grange, this however never came to fruition and the house and some of the land was
subsequently repurchased by the British Foreign & Commonwealth Office and is still in use as
the Ambassadors Residence.
On the grounds are the ruins of Murphystown Castle which gives the townland its name.
There are also two small headstones with the names Rhoda, Rhodora and Orby. These
are the names of three of Richard Croker's horses. Orby being the Triple Derby winner in
1907.
YEAR BUILT circa 1860
VALUATION In 1912 the valuation was 315 pounds and in the 1901 census it is noted as
having 15 rooms occupied by family.
ARCHITECT Benjamin Woodward and remodelled in 1904/5 by James Franklin Fuller
SOURCES DIA, Thom’s directories, OSI maps, contemporaneous newspapers, Law library
and NAI Census & Wills
OCCUPANTS
Land 16th Century the Harold family who gave their name to Harold’s Cross
1859 Anne Davis, widow sold to George Gresson
1859 - 1877 George Gresson
1878 House for sale and some acreage sold off
1879 - 1902 Rt Hon James Murphy
1904 - 1922 Richard Welsted 'Boss' Croker
1922 - 1939 Robert Bruce Garrett
1939 - 1956 Michael O’Neill
1938 Land sold 600 acres (not house) to Mr Joe McGrath as Glencairn Stables for 8K
1969 Land sold to Park Properties for development of 'The Gallops' housing estate.
1957 British Government purchase house for use as Ambassador’s residence
1959 Sir Ian Mac Lennon
1964 Sir Geofroy Tory
1967 Sir Andrew Gilchrist
1970 Sir John Peck
1973 Sir Arthur Galsworthy
1976 Mr Christopher Ewart-Biggs
1976 Sir Robert Haydon
1980 Sir Leonard Figg
1983 Sir Alan Goodison
1986 Sir Nicholas Fenn
1991 Mr David Blatherwick
1995 Mrs Veronica Sutherland
1999 Sir Ivor Roberts
2003 Stewart Eldon CMG QBE
2006 David Reddaway
2009 Julian King
2012 Dominick Chilcott CMG
2016 Robin Barnett
2020 Paul Johnston
STAFF
1901 John Casson - Coachman
Edward Hindes - Footman
Mary Millen - Cook
Maria Breslin - Housemaid
Annie Breslin - Housemaid
Bridget Kavanagh - Kitchen maid
1907 - 1908 Constantine Mortimer - Chauffeur/mechanic
Mrs Stella Bowman
1910 - 1939 Kevin Twamley - Coachman/chauffeur
1911 Ada Suckling - Housemaid
Augusta Luckman - Housemaid
1920 Fanny Harmin Cremin - Maid
1921 - 1922 M Gott - Gardener
CURRENT
STATUS Extant and in use as the British Ambassador's residence.
CONTRIBUTORS © June Bow & Karen Poff
DATE April 2017
NAME Glencairn
AREA LOCATION STILLORGAN,
MAP LOCATION OSI map of 1898-1913 place it in the townland of Murphystown and
it is annotated as Glencairn.
GENERAL A quirky Victorian pile which nods to America and Ireland with American
Colonial features and a castellated tower. Built circa 1860 the original owner was wealthy
solicitor George Gresson. When put up for sale in 1877 it was described as a cut granite 6
bedroom house approached from a lodge entrance, it had Oriel windows overlooking the
parterre and it would have had panoramic views of the sea and the mountains. Encaustic
tiles to the halls, a large conservatory, walled fruit gardens, croquet laws, formal garden and
shrubbery were its main selling points. High Court Judge James Murphy became the next
occupier.
In 1904/5 Glencairn was remodelled and extended, by adding the tower and a new wing with
a veranda on three sides supported by Leinster granite pillars for Richard 'the boss' Croker
by James Franklin Fuller who also built stabling on the grounds for 40 horses. Richard
acquired about 500 acres in the area and built a training gallops. It had its own electric supply
which was powered by gas dynamos and a "impregnable strong room" which presumably
was to house the Croker fortune.
Locally is was thought that 75k was expended on the remodelling. Pleasure gardens of 6
acres, a maze and an ornamental pond were added at a cost of 6K completed his country
seat. Originally Church of Ireland, Croker had converted to Roman Catholicism to marry his
first wife Elizabeth and had a chapel/oratory built in bedroom of the house to which locals
were invited to on Christmas morning for Mass. The house fitted with stained glass windows,
a mahogany staircase, polished oak floors throughout. The reception rooms consisted of
the grand hall, the Oriental room, study, library, billiard's room, drawing room and the
'American bar'. This bar hosted a moving in party for Croker to which staff and their
families were invited. It had a horseshoe shaped bar counter with high stools upholstered
in gold and purple.
On the 21 Jul 1976 the house was the scene of the assassination of Christopher Ewart-Biggs,
his car pulled out of the residence onto the Murphystown Road and 200 yards on, it was blown
up by a land-mine. He was 54 years old and only 12 days in office and on his way to a meeting
with Garett Fitzgerald, Irish Foreign Minister at the time. Judith Cook, his secretary was also
killed in the ambush. Brian Cubbon, Britain's Permanent Under Secretary and Brian O'Driscoll,
chauffeur were both injured in the attack.
In 1999 the house was sold for GBP £24 Million when a move of the residence was planned to
Marlay Grange, this however never came to fruition and the house and some of the land was
subsequently repurchased by the British Foreign & Commonwealth Office and is still in use as
the Ambassadors Residence.
On the grounds are the ruins of Murphystown Castle which gives the townland its name.
There are also two small headstones with the names Rhoda, Rhodora and Orby. These
are the names of three of Richard Croker's horses. Orby being the Triple Derby winner in
1907.
YEAR BUILT circa 1860
VALUATION In 1912 the valuation was 315 pounds and in the 1901 census it is noted as
having 15 rooms occupied by family.
ARCHITECT Benjamin Woodward and remodelled in 1904/5 by James Franklin Fuller
SOURCES DIA, Thom’s directories, OSI maps, contemporaneous newspapers, Law library
and NAI Census & Wills
OCCUPANTS
Land 16th Century the Harold family who gave their name to Harold’s Cross
1859 Anne Davis, widow sold to George Gresson
1859 - 1877 George Gresson
1878 House for sale and some acreage sold off
1879 - 1902 Rt Hon James Murphy
1904 - 1922 Richard Welsted 'Boss' Croker
1922 - 1939 Robert Bruce Garrett
1939 - 1956 Michael O’Neill
1938 Land sold 600 acres (not house) to Mr Joe McGrath as Glencairn Stables for 8K
1969 Land sold to Park Properties for development of 'The Gallops' housing estate.
1957 British Government purchase house for use as Ambassador’s residence
1959 Sir Ian Mac Lennon
1964 Sir Geofroy Tory
1967 Sir Andrew Gilchrist
1970 Sir John Peck
1973 Sir Arthur Galsworthy
1976 Mr Christopher Ewart-Biggs
1976 Sir Robert Haydon
1980 Sir Leonard Figg
1983 Sir Alan Goodison
1986 Sir Nicholas Fenn
1991 Mr David Blatherwick
1995 Mrs Veronica Sutherland
1999 Sir Ivor Roberts
2003 Stewart Eldon CMG QBE
2006 David Reddaway
2009 Julian King
2012 Dominick Chilcott CMG
2016 Robin Barnett
2020 Paul Johnston
STAFF
1901 John Casson - Coachman
Edward Hindes - Footman
Mary Millen - Cook
Maria Breslin - Housemaid
Annie Breslin - Housemaid
Bridget Kavanagh - Kitchen maid
1907 - 1908 Constantine Mortimer - Chauffeur/mechanic
Mrs Stella Bowman
1910 - 1939 Kevin Twamley - Coachman/chauffeur
1911 Ada Suckling - Housemaid
Augusta Luckman - Housemaid
1920 Fanny Harmin Cremin - Maid
1921 - 1922 M Gott - Gardener
CURRENT
STATUS Extant and in use as the British Ambassador's residence.
CONTRIBUTORS © June Bow & Karen Poff
DATE April 2017