St Bridgets
NAME Springfield/St Bridgets/St Brigids/Ballintaggart House
AREA LOCATION Off Clonskeagh Road and rear entrance from Embassy Lawn
MAP LOCATION OSI maps of 1838-1845 and 1898-1913 place it in the townland of Roebuck
and it is annotated as Springfield and St Bridget's respectively.
GENERAL House and demesne on 9 acres in 1805 by 1843 it is known as St Bridget's.
In 1832 it was described as 'a three storey over basement house with a two storey extension lately built
connected by a greenhouse.' Stabling and accommodation for 3 coaches. In 1960 Embassy Lawn was
carved from the plot and in 1974 Leinster Homes built a complex consisting of 20 flats close to the
house.
YEAR BUILT circa 1830
VALUATION In 1895 the valuation was 95 pounds and in the 1901 census it is noted as
having 13 rooms occupied by family.
ARCHITECT Unknown
SOURCES Thom's, contemporaneous newspapers, NAI Census & Wills and OSI Maps
OCCUPANTS
1788 Lord Trimleston
1804 - 1805 Nathaniel Creed
1806 - 1827 Matthew Franks
1834 Michael Powell
1835 - 1836 John G Schoales, KC
1837 - 1852 Sir John Franks
1853 - 1857 Lady Franks
1858 Sir Richard Dacres
1863 Mrs Bredin
1866 - 1875 John Reilly, Barrister
1875 Francis Crozier
1878 - 1881 John Franks, DL
1882 H W Franks
1883 - 1919 Thomas Cuthbert Franks
1922 - 1923 Miss Sarah Magill
1924 - 1927 Henry Chapman Poulter
1927 - 1936 Trevor B Poulter
1937 - 1942 W T Anthony
1943 - 1947 John Kearney
1946 Merchant M Mahony, CBE - High Commissioner for Canada (RIP six months in)
1948 - 1956 T R A Turgeon, Canadian Ambassador
1957 - 1958 Alfred Rive, Canadian Ambassador
1958 For sale by Queen Elizabeth on 5 acres and purchased by PV Doyle for £6770
1960 Embassy Lawn built
1965 St Brigid's Flats built in the grounds by Leinster Homes
1974 - 2005 Registered offices of P V Doyle
1997 application to demolish house
Now the site SIMSIVF
STAFF
1901 - 1905 James Baird - Gardener living at gatelodge
1901 Kate Kennedy - Cook
Bridget Emily Burns - Parlourmaid
Mary Ellen Morton - Sewing maid
Marcella Jane Godfrey - Housemaid
1911 Bridget Mary Lalor - Domestic servant
Rose Mary Lynch - Domestic Servant
Olivia Jane Mee - Domestic Servant
CURRENT
STATUS No longer extant
CONTRIBUTOR © June Bow & Karen Poff
DATE November 2021