Survey Data
Reg No
50030308
Rating
Regional
Categories of Special Interest
Architectural, Technical
Previous Name
Donnycarney House
Original Use
Walled garden
In Use As
Sports ground
Date
1840 - 1860
Coordinates
318588, 237247
Date Recorded
23/11/2014
Date Updated
--/--/--
Description
Rectangular-plan walled garden, built c. 1850, in grounds of Donnycarney House. Roughly coursed squared limestone calp to exterior walls, with roughly dressed quoins and render capping. Yellow brick, laid in English garden wall bond, to interior of walls, with recent yellow brick buttresses to interior of north elevation. Square-headed door opening to west wall, with yellow brick surround and timber battened door. Recent opening and partially rebuilt wall to east wall. Situated to rear (east) of house.
Appraisal
The retention of this walled garden to the rear of Donnycarney House lends contextual interest to the country house that was built for Robert Carroll, proprietor of Donnycarney Quarries. It was later the residence of Alex Thom, who apparently employed J.S. Mulvaney to remodel the house around 1850. The walled garden may have been constructed at this time. The house was taken over in 1921 by Clontarf Golf Club, and the walled garden is now used as a practice area. The robust rubble stone boundary walls survive in good condition and would have provided shelter for soft fruits and delicate plants. English garden wall bond was commonly used for the construction of the interiors of walled gardens as the brick retained heat. Originally used to provide a range of produce for consumption in the house, this structure is a reminder of the past horticultural traditions associated with demesne houses.