Sans Souci?

NAME                         Sans Souci

AREA LOCATION      STILLORGAN, Its main entrance was located south off the entrance of
                                     St Helen's (Radisson) on what is now the N11.
 
MAP LOCATION       OSI maps of 1838-1845 and 1898-1913 place it in the townland of
                                     Booterstown and it is annotated as Sans Souci on both.   Entrance from
                                     Stillorgan Road and Booterstown Avenue.
 
GENERAL                This is a possible image of Sans Souci.  The house had two fronts, extensive
stabling, coach houses and a lock up yard. Over 60 outhouses were reported on the 1911
census.  It was the site of the shooting of Kevin O'Higgins who was found lying by a 'lamppost
outside the gates of the house Sans Souci, which directly faces up Cross Avenue'.  In 1836 the
house was 'For sale' on 35 acres, fully furnished enclosed by high walls following the death of
Robert Roe, a Dublin merchant who had declined many offers of being a representative of
Dublin in parliament but remained as honorary treasurer of the Chamber of Council of Dublin.
1781 Peter La Touche was letting it on 30 acres, the lease was held from Lord Fitzwilliam which
had 58 years unexpired.
​
During the hurricane of 1839 many of the ancient elm trees at San Souci were uprooted.  The
garden may have been designed by Gabriel Griffen.

YEAR BUILT            circa 1750
 
VALUATION            In 1912 the valuation was 184 pounds and in the 1911 census it is noted
                                  as having 22 rooms occupied by family.
 
ARCHITECT             Unknown, additional wing added between 1801and 1803 designed by the
                                  architect Richard Morrison.
 
SOURCES                 Thom’s directories, contemporaneous Newspapers, Griffith's valuation, NAI
                                  Census & Wills and OSI Maps.
  
OCCUPANTS

1760 - 1781             Sir Humphrey Butler, 1st Earl of Lanesborough (3rd Viscount Lanesboro married to Elizabeth La Touche)
1789 - 1803             William Digges La Touche
1804 - 1827             James Digges La Touche
1828 - 1836             Robert Roe
1837 - 1838             To be Sold or Let
1839 - 1840             Patrick Sweetman
​1842 - 1870             Richard Pearce O'Reilly, M.D.
1870 - 1920             Joseph Richard O'Reilly
1920 - 1936             Mrs J R O'Reilly (Frances)
1937                        Sale of furniture and acquired by the Irish Christian Brothers.
1941                        Gate lodge demolished.
​1948                        House Demolished
1953                        San Souci Park (Housing Estate built)
                                   
STAFF
1830                        Mr Hessian - Gardener
1849                        Andrew Crigley - Gateporter
1901                        Bridget Bryan - Cook
                                 Julia Byrne - Kitchenmaid
                                 Mary Brady - Housemaid
                                 Florence Cook - Children's maid
                                 James McLoughlin - Butler
                                 Thomas Ryan - Coachman
                                 Denis Fallon - Groom
​
1911                        William Lawless - Butler
                                 Patrick Lawlor - Coachman
                                 Bridget Brien - Cook
                                 Susan Hanohoe - Housemaid
                                 Mary Hughes - Laundress
                                 Mary Bennett - Kitchenmaid
           
CURRENT
STATUS                   No longer extant..

CONTRIBUTOR     ©​ June Bow & Karen Poff
​
DATE                        Updated March 2017