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The stables, Mount Merrion House

The stables at Mount Merrion House, Mount Merrion, Co.Dublin.
The stables were built along with the main block in 1711. They have the same late 17th century - early 18th century style.
[Wilkinson, 1925] describes "the great range of stabling, which cover an area greater than that of the house itself".

In the 1930s-1950s, the RHS stable block was used for dances and as a parish hall.
In 1960 the RHS block was declared unsafe and was abandoned.
It was damaged or destroyed in a fire in the 1970s.
It was demolished, must be in 1975 or 1976.

The rest of the stables (the main block and the LHS block) survived.
They were used for many years as offices. Access from The Rise.
Around 2018 they were re-built as housing. See the stables today.
The front side was restored beautifully. But the old rear was wiped out and modernised.

The stables, Mount Merrion, 1806, by William Ashford.
Used here with the kind permission of the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge.
The RHS stable block seen here is now gone.
The rest of the stables survive, pointed roof at both front and back, though the spire seen here is now gone.
Also here.

Sketch of Mount Merrion House, 1762.
Drawn in corner of Barker's map.
From Mount Merrion 300. Used with permission.
See black and white scan.

Mount Merrion House, must be c.1800, by William Ashford.
From the W (the park), looking E down the avenue.
(Left to Right): The main block, the lodge, the avenue, the stables.
Used here with the kind permission of the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge.

Mount Merrion House, must be c.1800, by William Ashford.
From the W (the park).
Peeking out between the trees (Left to Right): The lodge, the gap at the top of the avenue, the stables.
Used here with the kind permission of the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge.

20th century pictures

The now demolished block of the stables (the RHS stable block if you look from the front of the stables).
Photo 1936.
[O'Kelly, 1989] says "The Ballroom" (the RHS stable block) had a glass section of roof (facing N).
The glass section in the centre of the roof on the N side of the RHS stable block is visible here.
O'Kelly wonders if this was put in by Sir Nevile Wilkinson in 1903-14 for light to work on his doll's house and miniatures here.
This picture is of the famous motorcycle rider Stanley Woods.
From Mount Merrion 300. Used with permission.

The now demolished block of the stables (left) and the Lodge (right).
Photo in the snow, c.1955 (while new church being built in the centre).
From Mount Merrion 300. Used with permission.

The RHS stable block, perhaps just before church finished 1956.
From Mount Merrion 300 exhibition. Used with permission.
See full size.

1950s videos

Videos by Paddy Kilroy. From Mount Merrion Historical Society. Used with permission.

Video of building of new church, in the snow, c.1955.
Cover shot shows the Lodge and the now demolished block of the stables (the RHS stable block if you look from the front of the stables).
The glass section in the centre of the roof on the N side of the RHS stable block is visible here.
See original FLV. Converted to MP4.

Video of making blocks for new church, c.1955.
Includes a copy of the snow scene with the stables above.
See original FLV. Converted to MP4.

Video of the new bell, during the building of the new church, c.1955.
Cover shot shows the now demolished block of the stables.
See original FLV. Converted to MP4.

The now demolished block of the stables, c.1955.
Another screenshot from the above.

1990s pictures

The LHS block (S block) of the stables.
Photo 1999.
See street view of entrance.

The main block of the stables.
The RHS block is gone, though a side of its wall remains, attached to the main block, as can be seen here.
The new scout hall was built 1976 on the site of the RHS block.
The ornate spire in the background is the new RC church.
Photo 1999.

The remaining wall of the lost RHS block, showing the windows were at the same height as the rest of the stables.
Photo 1999.

The remaining wall of the lost RHS block.
Photo 1999.

The back of the stables

The back of the stables before re-development.
Unfortunately the back has been modernised. See the back of the stables today.

The main block of the stables from the green area at the back (to the W, the site of some of the former gardens).
Photo 2012. See full size and other shot.

The back of the stables.
Photo 2012. See full size and other shot.

The back of the stables.
Photo 2012. See full size and close-up and close-up.

The gardens

The gardens of Mount Merrion House were behind the stables to the W and S (rather than near the house).
[Ball, vol.2, 1903] says: "Across the gravel sweep before the hall door, which faces the south, stand the great stables forming three sides of a square, and behind them lie the gardens entered through gates which recall the father of the present owner, the lamented Lord Herbert of Lea, whose monogram they bear."

The W area behind the stables is still a green area today.
See the back of the stables today.

Close-up of map of 1762.
From Mount Merrion 300. Used with permission.

The kitchen garden, Mount Merrion, 1806, by William Ashford.
Used here with the kind permission of the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge.

"Mount Merrion: view from the rear of the kitchen garden", 1806, by William Ashford.
Used here with the kind permission of the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge.

The stables (top L) and garden wall (heading off to top R), from the air, post-1976.
The new church is bottom C, the new school is bottom R.
See full size.
Formerly at Chapters of Dublin History by Ken Finlay.

The old garden wall. Beside the stables.
Photo 2012. See full size.

More of the old garden wall survives, as the back garden wall of houses on Trees Ave and The Rise (see satellite view).
This is the house on Trees Ave beside the stables.
Photo 1999.