South Hill House
NAME South Hill/South Hill House/Rosaryville
AREA LOCATION Merrion Park, South Hill Avenue
MAP LOCATION OSI maps of 1838-1845 and 1898-1913 place it in the townland of Merrion and is
annotated as South Hill on both.
GENERAL Erected for Samuel Pittar who built South Hill Avenue. For sale through the
Encumbered Estates Courts in 1855 on 11 acres. On 11 acres in 1858, Susan Morphy (wife of Percival
Morphy) owner of lease in 1866. Two story over basement which has been converted into two self
contained apartments). Originally a Georgian build with later additions including a conservatory/
porch accessed by a flight of wide steps with cast iron lamps on pillars. It has a mixture of stained
leaded glazing and sash windows.
YEAR BUILT circa 1830
VALUATION In 1885 the valuation was 110 pounds and in the 1911 census it is noted as
having 15 rooms occupied by family.
ARCHITECT Unknown
SOURCES Thom's, contemporaneous newspapers, NAI Census & Wills, OSI Maps, South
Dublin Historical Mapping and Registry of Deeds.
OCCUPANTS
1803 Richard Lord Viscount Fitzwilliam
1803 Land leased from Sydney Herbert to Michael Farrell (lease signed by John
& Barbara Verschoyle)
1826 - 1844 Samuel John Pittar
1845 - 1849 William Pennefather
1851 - 1854 Charles Hopes
1857 - 1886 Professor James Apjohn
1887 Mrs Apjohn
1888 Vacant
1889 - 1907 Harvey Du Cros
1908 - 1912 John Philip Butler
1913 - 1916 Arthur Hamilton Norway (father of Nevil Shute)
1921 - 1925 Charles Edward Jacob
1929 - 1942 Arthur Henry Huet
1942 - 1963 Leo Hannan family
1965 - 1989 Dominican Nuns - University Hostel (Rosaryville)
1989 For Sale with fpp for nursing home/Sold for 155K
1993 Layden Group property and split into three self contained units
2022/3 For sale quoting 2.5 Million
STAFF
1861 Mr O'Brien - Gardener
1870 - 1876 Joseph Mills Williams - Gardener
1901 Martha Tanner - Mothers Help
Bridget Donaghan - Servant
Daniel Stuart - Gardener living at lodge
1911 Kate Kelly- Cook
Mary Smith - Lady's maid
Agnes Murtagh - Laundress
Annie Hannay - Parlour maid
Aidan Naughter - Gardener living at lodge
CURRENT
STATUS Extant
CONTRIBUTOR © June Bow & Karen Poff
DATE January 2021
AREA LOCATION Merrion Park, South Hill Avenue
MAP LOCATION OSI maps of 1838-1845 and 1898-1913 place it in the townland of Merrion and is
annotated as South Hill on both.
GENERAL Erected for Samuel Pittar who built South Hill Avenue. For sale through the
Encumbered Estates Courts in 1855 on 11 acres. On 11 acres in 1858, Susan Morphy (wife of Percival
Morphy) owner of lease in 1866. Two story over basement which has been converted into two self
contained apartments). Originally a Georgian build with later additions including a conservatory/
porch accessed by a flight of wide steps with cast iron lamps on pillars. It has a mixture of stained
leaded glazing and sash windows.
YEAR BUILT circa 1830
VALUATION In 1885 the valuation was 110 pounds and in the 1911 census it is noted as
having 15 rooms occupied by family.
ARCHITECT Unknown
SOURCES Thom's, contemporaneous newspapers, NAI Census & Wills, OSI Maps, South
Dublin Historical Mapping and Registry of Deeds.
OCCUPANTS
1803 Richard Lord Viscount Fitzwilliam
1803 Land leased from Sydney Herbert to Michael Farrell (lease signed by John
& Barbara Verschoyle)
1826 - 1844 Samuel John Pittar
1845 - 1849 William Pennefather
1851 - 1854 Charles Hopes
1857 - 1886 Professor James Apjohn
1887 Mrs Apjohn
1888 Vacant
1889 - 1907 Harvey Du Cros
1908 - 1912 John Philip Butler
1913 - 1916 Arthur Hamilton Norway (father of Nevil Shute)
1921 - 1925 Charles Edward Jacob
1929 - 1942 Arthur Henry Huet
1942 - 1963 Leo Hannan family
1965 - 1989 Dominican Nuns - University Hostel (Rosaryville)
1989 For Sale with fpp for nursing home/Sold for 155K
1993 Layden Group property and split into three self contained units
2022/3 For sale quoting 2.5 Million
STAFF
1861 Mr O'Brien - Gardener
1870 - 1876 Joseph Mills Williams - Gardener
1901 Martha Tanner - Mothers Help
Bridget Donaghan - Servant
Daniel Stuart - Gardener living at lodge
1911 Kate Kelly- Cook
Mary Smith - Lady's maid
Agnes Murtagh - Laundress
Annie Hannay - Parlour maid
Aidan Naughter - Gardener living at lodge
CURRENT
STATUS Extant
CONTRIBUTOR © June Bow & Karen Poff
DATE January 2021