"Dunlica", College Rd, Dulwich, London

Now called "St.John's Wood House".
A tall, old-looking detached house on College Rd (pleasant road which runs between Dulwich College and a park), Dulwich (the S end, this location also described as in "South Dulwich"), SC London (London SE21).
Heading S down the bottom of College Rd, the house is located just past the Parish Church of St.Stephen, just past Sydenham Hill station. The house is on the RHS (same side as the church), just past the church, on the bend in the road. See map.

"Dunlica", 1913.
Front side.
See larger and original.

"Dunlica", front side, 2006.
See full size.

St Stephen's Church (C of E), "South Dulwich", was built 1867-75,
designed by Charles Barry, Jr (NOT by his father Sir Charles Barry, who died 1860).
The house that was later called "Dunlica" built 1867 as the vicar's house.
"1867" is displayed in a stone on the side of the house farthest from the church.
At some point the vicarage moved to a smaller house nearby.

The house was the home of James O'Mara and family 1907 to 1914.
They named it "Dunlica" after Dunlica Castle, Co.Clare, where he had proposed to her (probably in the summer of 1892).
They pronounced it "Dun-lick-a", NOT "Dun-leek-a".
They left 1914 to go back to Ireland (after more than 20 years).

The house was a hotel, "Dulwich Court Hotel", in the 1920s (certainly had that name as at 1927).
Later it became a home for unmarried mothers,
then it was a Barnardo's children's home,
derelict for a number of years,
finally purchased 1992 and restored again as a family home.
Now called "St.John's Wood House", 100 College Rd, a Grade 2 listed building.

St Stephen's Church, showing "Dunlica" beside it (on left).
Photo 2006. See full size and alternate shot.

Entrance to "Dunlica", prob. 1913.
See full size.

Entrance gate to "Dunlica". Detail from above.

Entrance gate, 2006. Old gateposts still there.
See full size and alternate shot.

"Dunlica", prob. 1913.
Rear side.
St Stephen's Church in background.
See larger and original.

"Dunlica", rear side, 2006. St Stephen's Church in background.
See full size.
See alternate shot and alternate shot.

The side farthest away from the church, 2006.
Light-adjusted detail of the above. See full size.

James O'Mara and his family, "Dunlica", London, 1912.
Same side as above (rear side).
(Left to Right): Una, James O'Mara, Pat, Eithne, Agnes Cashel, Sheila, Steen, Maureen, Eileen.
The garden looks here to be on the same level as the house, but the photo below shows this is an illusion. The garden is actually down a slope from the house.
See larger and full size.
See other scan.

"Dunlica", rear side, Feb 1908.
Shows that the garden is down a slope from the house.
Note croquet hoops.
See larger and full size.

"Dunlica", rear side, 2006.
The lawn was derelict and overgrown for many years, but has now been restored.
The level of the garden has not changed since the older photos above.
See full size and alternate shot.

Movie showing "Dunlica" from the back, 2006.
From here. Hosted at my YouTube account.
Download AVI file.

Still from above.
St Stephen's Church in background.

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