Genealogy research by Mark Humphrys.
Genealogy research by Mark Humphrys.
This medieval castle survives inside an 18th century house.
Booterstown Castle is special because of all the Fitzwilliam buildings - Dundrum Castle, Wicklow Castle, Merrion Castle, Thorn Castle, Baggotrath Castle, Simmonscourt Castle, Mount Merrion House - Booterstown Castle is the only one still lived in today.
It was
held by
Sir Thomas Fitzwilliam, Kt
in late 1500s.
It was held by
2nd Viscount Fitzwilliam
as at 1666.
The Fitzwilliams did not normally live there but rented it out.
One source identifies the small Wesley house of the early 1700s with Booterstown Castle.
[Ball, vol.2, 1903]
says of Booterstown Castle:
"vaults belonging to it
are said to be incorporated in the house which stands upon its site".
No "vaults" are apparent today,
but the N block of the house has 4 foot thick walls
and is clearly the old medieval block, renovated in the 18th century.
See
item
in
Freemans Journal,
December 2, 1826.
George Hamilton, merchant, of Townsend St,
is putting up for sale
"the Castle House of Booterstown".
Though he must not have sold it because
item
in
Freemans Journal,
January 21, 1830,
lists George Hamilton
at "Booterstown Castle".
1829 to 1842 map
shows "Booterstown Castle".
Booterstown Castle became the parish priest's house in the time of Rev. Ennis (1838 to 1862).
It was the priest's house by 1840.
[Lyng, 2000]
says this is why the name changed to "St.Mary's".
The old name for the Booterstown RC church was "St.Mary's".
[Pettigrew & Oulton] 1840 to 1847 editions,
when cross-referenced with the map, show
Rev. Ennis at
Booterstown Castle
(beside Sweetman at Booterstown House).
See
listing
in
[Griffiths Valuation, 1849].
This
shows Rev. Ennis at
"Booterstown Castle".
Rev. Forde was parish priest 1862 to 1873.
Freemans Journal,
June 24, 1863,
prints a
letter
(and p.2)
from Rev. Forde from
"St.Mary's, Booterstown",
which may be the house or the church.
[Thom's, 1868]
shows Rev. Forde living on Booterstown Ave, though does not identify what house.
Rev. Forde started a plan for a new presbytery in 1872.
He died 1873.
The new presbytery was built later in 1873, on Booterstown Ave, on same side as church.
[Thom's, 1877]
lists
William Patrick McEvoy (not clergy)
at "St.Mary's", 50 Booterstown Ave.
St.Mary's survives today
(the 18th century house with the castle built into it),
re-numbered
as 54 Booterstown Ave.
St.Mary's was for sale as at 2012-13.
See Irish Times,
25 Oct 2012.
Booterstown on map by Jonathan Barker, 1762.
Shows the old Catholic chapel.
Booterstown Castle is the small block opposite the chapel, a bit to the left.
To the S of it (to the left) Booterstown House clearly exists, opposite the lane.
There is a large gap between the two.
Detail of Pat Roe's map of 1774.
Booterstown Castle is the small block opposite the church.
Booterstown House exists to its left, opposite the lane.
There is a large gap between the two.
It is clear that only the medieval N block of Booterstown Castle exists.
The S block (left side here) was built after 1774.
The two wings of Booterstown House were clearly also built after 1774.
See full map.
From Mount Merrion 300.
Used with permission.
Detail of John Roe's map of the Fitzwilliam estate, 1794, showing Booterstown.
Booterstown Castle apparently marked (93).
Booterstown House not marked (94), though we know it exists.
"The Castle House of Booterstown" for sale.
Freemans Journal,
December 2, 1826.
Booterstown Castle on
1829 to 1842 map.
Booterstown House is to the S of Booterstown Castle.
The S wing of Booterstown Castle
and the two wings of Booterstown House
have all been built by this time.
[Pettigrew & Oulton, 1845]
lists occupants of Booterstown in a line of houses.
When cross-referenced with the map, it can be clearly seen that
Rev. Ennis is at
Booterstown Castle.
Sweetman is at Booterstown House next door.
Rev. Byrne is in a house across the road, beside the church.
([McGahon, 2013]
says a parochial house beside the old church existed by 1787.)
[Griffiths Valuation, 1849]
shows the parish priest Rev. Ennis at
Booterstown Castle.
Sweetman is at Booterstown House next door.
|
|
St.Mary's, Booterstown, rear.
The N part of the house (the RHS here) is the medieval castle block, renovated in 18th century.
The S part (LHS here) is an 18th century addition.
There is a lovely round window in the 18th century wall at the back.
Photo 2013.
See full size.
See other shot.
St.Mary's, Booterstown, rear.
For sale in 2012.
From myhome.ie.
Pat Roe's map of 1774 shows the medieval block was refurbished first, and only later (after 1774) was a S wing added. The medieval block by itself would have been a rather small house. It may be that the Wesley house was the small renovated medieval block alone, without any additional wing.
Mary Delany
visited the Wesley house at Booterstown in 1732.
See
p.345
of
Vol.1
of
Autobiography And Correspondence Of Mary Granville
(pub 1861).
She describes the Wesley house as:
"a little house about three miles out of town called Butlers Town".
The Freemans Journal,
October 18, 1822,
identifies the Wesley house with Booterstown Castle.
They also
have a story that the
1st Duke of Wellington
(born 1769)
was born there (i.e. at Booterstown Castle).
It is generally thought that he was born in
Mornington House,
on Merrion St, Dublin
(now a hotel).
The article is written after a speech in Dublin by Wellington's brother the
1st Marquess Wellesley
(born 1760).
Note their aged mother
Anne Hill
was still alive at this point.
Return to Booterstown.
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