House - 16th/17th century

The National Monuments Service's description

St Catherine's derives its name from a priory of the Canons of St Victor which was established soon after the Anglo-Norman invasion, located each side of a small stream at a ford of the Liffey. At Dissolution it was granted to Thomas Allen, Chamberlain of the Exchequer. It passed through a variety of owners, until in 1666 it was purchased by a William Davys. The Down Survey (1655-6) map shows a gabled house on the north bank of the River Liffey. This was incorporated into a mansion in the 18th-century (Ball 1906, 33-34; Joyce (1912, 338-359). It became an agricultural rather than residential holding. In 1754 a visitor described it as ‘downright ugly, enclosed in high walls with terraces supported by walls one above another as formal as bad taste could make it’. About this time it was purchased by Robert 3rd Earl of Lanesborough and subsequently became the residence of the La Touches, when it was completely destroyed by fire. Not visible at ground level.

Compiled by: Geraldine Stout

Updated by: Christine Baker

Date of upload: 29 January 2015

References

Joyce, W. St. John, 1912 (1988 ed.) Neighbourhood of Dublin. Monkstown.

Ball, E.F. 1902-20 (Reprint 1979) A history of the County Dublin, 6 vols. Dublin. Gill and Macmillan.

Joyce, W. St. John 1912 (Reprint 1995) The neighbourhood of Dublin by Weston St. John Joyce. Dublin. Hughes and Hughes.