My wife's ancestors - Fitzwilliam - Contents
Simmonscourt Castle, Dublin
- References:
- Sources yet to be consulted:
- SIMMONSCOURT in [Dix, 1897], p.65
Simmonscourt Castle is off what is now Simmonscourt Rd, Ballsbridge, Co.Dublin.
The old castle was built prob. temp Edward III,
then later building perhaps 16th century.
It is first mentioned in time of Sir Thomas Fitzwilliam, Kt, mid-1500s.
It was church property, rented to the Fitzwilliams.
The last of them in Simmonscourt was William Fitzwilliam, 3rd Viscount Fitzwilliam post-1660.
By 1700 it was a ruin.
By 1792 the ruin looked pretty much as it does today.
Today a small ruined block (possibly only the gate house) of the medieval castle survives.
The ruin today is
close to the Victorian "Simmonscourt Castle".
The entrance
is near the Anglesea Rd end of Simmonscourt Rd
(at the far end from the RDS)
and is marked "Simmonscourt Castle" on the gate.
The medieval block is down the avenue on the RHS.
Beyond it are a modern block of flats, and the Victorian building.
Detail of John Rocque's map of Dublin, 1756.
Green spot in middle is Baggotrath Castle.
On RHS are the villages of Ballsbridge and Donnybrook.
Green spot on RHS is Simmonscourt Castle.
Simmonscourt Castle,
detail from Rocque's map 1756.
Note the "road to Merrion".
Simmonscourt Castle on
1829 to 1842 map.
Simmonscourt Castle on
1887 to 1913 map.
Location of Simmonscourt Castle today.
Click to toggle map/satellite view.
Click to zoom in/out.
Drag to move.
From
Google Maps.
Close-up of the above.
The green-covered block at the start of the avenue
is the old Simmonscourt Castle.
To the SE of it are a modern block of flats, and the Victorian "Simmonscourt Castle".
Simmonscourt Castle.
Street view of entrance.
Click to rotate.
From Google Street View.
See also
1999 photo.
Simmonscourt Castle - front view
Simmonscourt Castle, 1792.
From [Grose, 1794]. Scan from South Dublin Libraries.
See larger and full size.
This looks pretty much like the front of the ruin looks today.
However Gabriel Beranger's views in the 1760s look entirely different.
[Harbison, 1998] suggests
the present ruin might represent only
the gate house for the now-vanished main block seen in Beranger's views.
Simmonscourt Castle was also described by Austin Cooper 1780,
and that description is also like this gate house.
So that would mean the main block vanished some time around 1770.
Simmonscourt Castle.
Photo 1977.
See full size.
From South Dublin Libraries.
Patrick Healy collection.
See terms of use.
Simmonscourt Castle.
See full size.
From South Dublin Libraries.
Patrick Healy collection.
See terms of use.
Simmonscourt Castle.
Note modern block of flats in background LHS.
Photo 1982.
See full size.
From South Dublin Libraries.
Patrick Healy collection.
See terms of use.
Simmonscourt Castle.
Photo 1999.
See full size.
See the Victorian building in background LHS.
Simmonscourt Castle.
Photo 1999.
Note modern block of flats in background LHS.
Light adjusted digitally.
See original.
Simmonscourt Castle - rear view
Simmonscourt Castle.
Photo 1977. See full size.
From South Dublin Libraries. Patrick Healy collection. See terms of use.
Simmonscourt Castle.
Photo 1982.
See full size.
From South Dublin Libraries.
Patrick Healy collection.
See terms of use.
