My ancestors - Humphrys - Contents

Sandymount Park, Sandymount, Co.Dublin

On Newgrove Ave, near the coast road (Strand Rd, or Beach Rd), Sandymount, Co.Dublin.
Also known as 28 Newgrove Ave, Sandymount.
Home of Dick Humphreys 1929-33.

References:

The case "Ashford v. Ashford" (1843), in Reports of cases in the Court of Prerogative in Ireland, and in the Consistory Court of Dublin, during the time of the Late Right Hon. John Radcliff, Dublin, 1847, pp.53-55.

The life of James Gandon by (his son) James Gandon and Thomas J. Mulvany, 1846.

ROSLYN PARK in [Irish Country Houses].
"From Scallet Hill to Brickfield Town". Kevin P. O'Rorke. Dublin Historical Record, Vol. 39, No. 1 (Dec 1985), pp. 13-23.
"Gandon house restored", Irish Times, July 2, 1991.
Sources yet to be consulted:
- 1969 reprinting of [Gandon and Mulvany, 1846], with notes by Maurice Craig, [NLI] 92 GA n 3.

1887 to 1913 map shows that Sandymount Park and Roslyn Park are two different buildings.
Humphreys lived in Sandymount Park.

Location of Sandymount Park and Roslyn Park.
Click to toggle map/satellite view. Click to zoom in/out. Drag to move.
From Google Maps.

What we now call Sandymount Park (the smaller building to the S, with an entrance on Newgrove Ave) and Roslyn Park (the larger building to the N, with an entrance on the Strand Rd) are two different buildings.
Roslyn Park survives today, nicely restored.
Sandymount Park is either demolished or (possibly) hidden under a newer building.

My theory: Sandymount Park used to mean both buildings

The definition and history of Sandymount Park and Roslyn Park are very confusing.
This page corrects earlier versions by me.

My theory is that "Sandymount Park" used to refer to both Sandymount Park and Roslyn Park.
The main building was the one we now call Roslyn Park. It was designed by the famous James Gandon.
In 1845, we see two Sandymount Park's, with two separate families, and two separate entrances (one on each road).
Sometime before 1868, the main Gandon building was re-named Park House.
Then, sometime during 1868 to 1877, the main Gandon building was re-named Roslyn Park.
The smaller building kept the name Sandymount Park.
This seems to be the only theory that accounts for all the facts.

The Gandon building was called Sandymount Park

Sandymount Park was designed around 1790 by the great architect of Dublin, James Gandon, for his friend, the landscape painter William Ashford.
Ashford lived there from around 1790.
He was living there when he painted Mount Merrion House 1806.
Ashford died there 1824.

The Gandon building was always called "Sandymount Park" before 1868, not "Park House" or "Roslyn Park".
My theory, however, is that this is the building we now call Roslyn Park.
The Humphreys building is definitely the building we call Sandymount Park, not Roslyn Park.

Tracking Sandymount Park and Park House and Roslyn Park:

Source Newgrove Ave entrance Strand Road entrance Notes

SANDYMOUNT in [Lewis, 1837] Sandymount Park
(residence of Capt. W. Dillon)

Alphabetic list in [Dublin Almanac, 1838] Algernon Preston, Sandymount Park Sandymount Park.
Capt. Dillon.
M.J. Dillon.

[Case, 1843] Makes it clear that the house of William Ashford is Sandymount Park, now held by Capt. Dillon. See extract.

SANDYMOUNT in [Pettigrew & Oulton, 1845] Algernon Preston, Sandymount Park, Newgrove Ave. Sandymount Park, Strand.
Three people listed there:
Captain William Dillon, Michael Dillon, Francis Dillon. There are two Sandymount Park's, on different roads, with two separate families, and two separate entrances (one on each road).

[Gandon and Mulvany, 1846] Says the Gandon house is Sandymount Park. See extract part 1 and part 2.

Alphabetic list in [Slater's directory, 1846] Algernon Preston, Sandymount Park

Sandymount townland in Donnybrook parish in [Griffiths Valuation, 1847] Algernon Preston at building no.182 on Newgrove Ave. Leasing from Dr. William Ashford. Michael Dillon at building no.113 on the Strand. Leasing from Dr. William Ashford. (todo) See detailed map with these building numbers.
Neither origins.net nor askaboutireland.ie have this map.

Sandymount townland in Donnybrook parish in [Griffiths Valuation, 1848] Algernon Preston at building no.182 on Newgrove Ave. Michael Dillon at building no.113 on the Strand. (todo) See detailed map with these building numbers.

Sandymount townland in Donnybrook parish in [Griffiths Valuation, 1849] Algernon Preston at building no.182 on Newgrove Ave. Leasing from Dr. William Ashford. Michael Dillon at building no.113 on the Strand. Leasing from Dr. William Ashford. (todo) See detailed map with these building numbers.

SANDYMOUNT in [Thom's, 1850] Sandymount Park.
Francis Dillon, Captain William Dillon and Michael Dillon. Gives Sandymount Park its own separate entry, as if it were an estate of three buildings.

SANDYMOUNT in [Thom's, 1852] John Robinson, Sandymount Park, no street given. No house name given.
On the Strand:
Francis Dillon, Major William Dillon and Michael Dillon.
Alphabetic list of people also lists just "Strand" for all three.

Undated map linked to Griffiths Valuation of Dublin, 1848-51 (but may be of a slightly later date). Sandymount Park Park House

Cavan Observer, October 10, 1857 Refers to Michael James Dillon, late of Sandymount Park, Co.Dublin, and previously of Park House, Sandymount, Co.Dublin.

SANDYMOUNT in [Thom's, 1868] Joseph Martin, Sandymount Park.
"26" Newgrove Ave. John Walsh, Park House.

SANDYMOUNT in [Thom's, 1877] Joseph Martin, Sandymount Park.
28 Newgrove Ave. James A. King, "Roslin park".

Report of 48th meeting of British Association for the Advancement of Science, pub 1879 (meeting held in Dublin, 1878). List of members for 1878 includes:
James H. Owen, Park House, Sandymount (joined 1857). Address might be slightly out of date.

1887 to 1913 map Sandymount Park Roslyn Park

[Thom's, 1910] shows 28 Newgrove Ave as "Pugh, Miss, Sandymount park".
It has a separate entry on Sandymount Strand for "Dunn, Joseph, Roslyn park".

The entry for Sandymount Park (28 Newgrove Ave) in [Census, 1911] says it has 9 rooms, 5 windows in front of house, has 1 stable and no other out-buildings. (The census number 28 is confirmed as the real street number 28 by cross-referencing with Thom's.) This is clearly the Humphreys house, which is now lost or buried.
The entry for Roslyn Park in [Census, 1911] says it has 14 rooms, 4 windows in front of house, has 1 stable, 1 coach house, 1 harness room, 1 cow house and 1 fowl house. This is clearly the fine, restored house today.

Eithne said that she and Dick lived in the Gandon building, which she identified as Sandymount Park (28 Newgrove Ave), not as Roslyn Park.
My theory is that Roslyn Park was the main Gandon building, but it is possible that the smaller building was by Gandon too. (Indeed this is likely if they were part of the same estate from the start.) This would mean there is a lost Gandon building on the site.

1829 to 1842 map clearly shows both Roslyn Park and Sandymount Park existing at this time.
My theory is that Roslyn Park is the main building of "Sandymount Park" at this time.
Its name changed later to "Park House" and finally to "Roslyn Park".
Note that Roslyn Park is a more impressive house than Sandymount Park, with a gate lodge, a longer drive, and more outbuildings.

Note that Laburnum Lodge (residence of Segrave) does not refer to our building. It is clearly listed in [Pettigrew & Oulton, 1845] as a different place to both buildings of Sandymount Park.

Map which is linked by askaboutireland.ie to [Griffiths Valuation of Dublin, 1848-51].
However, the exact date of the map is not given.
Roslyn Park exists and is called "Park House".
Sandymount Park refers to the smaller house only.

(Left) Sandymount Strand in [Thom's, 1868].
(Right) Sandymount Strand in [Thom's, 1877].
Park House gets re-named to Roslyn Park.

Sandymount Park

Sandymount Park (28 Newgrove Ave) was acquired by Dick Humphreys and his wife Eithne after their marriage, late 1929.
They left Aug 1933.

28 Newgrove Ave is still listed as "Sandymount Park" in [Thom's, 1949].
It is listed as vacant in [Thom's, 1950].

The Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Mary set up a convent and school over the sites of both Sandymount Park and Roslyn Park.
The school was called "Roslyn Park" secondary girls school.
28 Newgrove Ave is listed as Convent of the Sacred Heart of Mary in [Thom's, 1951] onwards.
Roslyn Park school, Strand Rd, is listed in [Thom's, 1951] onwards.
Other school buildings were erected in the grounds.
Roslyn Park school closed 1982.

The buildings (the sites of both Sandymount Park and Roslyn Park) re-opened 1983 as HQ of the Rehab charity.
The complex includes Roslyn Park College.
The commercial wing of the Rehab Group was called "Gandon Enterprises" but is now called Rehab Enterprises.

Eithne at Sandymount Park, 1930.
This would be the S side.
The layout (no window in bottom left) somewhat matches later pictures.

Eithne, Sandymount Park, 1930.
Would be SE corner.
Unidentified car, ZI 4844.

Sandymount Park.
Must be Eoige, 1930-31.

An ad for Sandymount Park (28 Newgrove Ave).
Note 5 windows in front and no basement (clearly different to Roslyn Park).
View from SE. The side of the building here is clearly the side shown in the photos above (see the right-angled change in height of the roof at the corner).
See larger.
A note attached to this ad says: "1931 ?"

Sandymount Park (as part of Roslyn Park school and convent).
Photo 1979. See larger and full size.
View from SE. It has been heavily modified. Only the high chimneys and the vague layout of the windows remain to reflect the old building.
From here in Patrick Healy Collection.
From South Dublin Libraries, Local Studies Collection See terms of use.
Also here.

See extract of review in the Irish Times, February 28, 1970, of [Craig, 1969].
Craig says the Gandon house is "lost" inside Roslyn Park school. He seems to imply that the Gandon house was Sandymount Park (by this time buried inside other buildings) rather than Roslyn Park (standing alone).
But maybe he was just looking for "Sandymount Park" and assumed "Roslyn Park" was not relevant.

Sandymount Park (as part of Roslyn Park school and convent).
Photo 1981. See larger and full size.
From here in Patrick Healy Collection.
From South Dublin Libraries, Local Studies Collection See terms of use.
Also here.

Sandymount Park.
Photo 1982. See larger and full size.
From here in Patrick Healy Collection.
From South Dublin Libraries, Local Studies Collection See terms of use.
Also here.

Sandymount Park (or site of) today.
It is hidden in a complex of buildings on the grounds. (See Roslyn Park behind it.)
The old Sandymount Park building has either been completely demolished or (possibly) remains hidden under a newer building.
Click to rotate.
From Google Street View.

Roslyn Park

My theory says this is the main Gandon building, originally called "Sandymount Park".
My theory says there were two buildings on the "Sandymount Park" estate.
This (the main one) got re-named to Park House and finally to Roslyn Park.
The smaller building kept the name Sandymount Park.

When Roslyn Park was restored, it was claimed that this was the Gandon building.
It is clearly a more spectacular and interesting building than Sandymount Park.
It certainly looks like the main Gandon building, in a way Sandymount Park does not.
[Article, 1991] says Roslyn Park was recently "rebuilt according to Gandon's plans of 200 years ago."

The building is now called the "Gandon Villa".
It is the HQ of Access Ability (try here) (part of Rehab).
Dublin City Council lists "Roslyn Park House" in its Record of Protected Structures.

See extract from [Hussey, 1971], which notes both buildings, but says Roslyn Park is the Gandon building.
See extract from [O'Rorke, 1985].

Roslyn Park, 1983.
See full size.

Roslyn Park.
Photo 1984. See larger and full size.
From here in Patrick Healy Collection.
From South Dublin Libraries, Local Studies Collection See terms of use.
Also here.
It was restored (re-built), starting 1988, completed 1991.
[Article, 1991] says: "It remained derelict until 1988 when it was effectively demolished and rebuilt according to Gandon's plans of 200 years ago."

Roslyn Park.
Photo 2007. See full size.
See similar shot and other angle.

Roslyn Park.
Photo 2007. See full size.
See other shot.