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Title:	South Dublin Village Walks - Templeogue Step 10: Templeogue House
Authors:	South Dublin Libraries - Local Studies Photography: Rocshot.com/Rob O'Connor.
Keywords:	South Dublin Village Walks Templeogue House
Issue Date:	27-Sep-2013
Description:	South Dublin Village Walks - Templeogue Step 10: Templeogue House. In the 14th century, the lands of Templeogue were occupied by the Harolds, but passed to the Talbots in the 16th century who held them for about 200 years. The landowner of Templeogue had the duty of maintaining the City Watercourse for which he received a tribute of corn from mills using the water. In 1655 there was a castle here, a tuck mill and a house, as well as a number of cottages. The population was 40 and Theobald Harold was steward of the town. Henry Talbot was ordered to transplant to Connaught, but was later restored to his ancestral home at Templeogue. In 1686 the lands were mortgaged for £3,000 to Sir Thomas Domville. Sir James Talbot supported the cause of James II in 1688 and was attainted, and Sir Thomas Domville got possession of Templeogue. Domville erected a brick mansion on the site of the castle, incorporating the vaulted undercroft and two circular towers. It had an immense window across the front and a number of gables. His son, Sir Compton Domville, laid out the grounds and used the City Watercourse as one of the main features. The course was in a direct line with the front door of the house and the water was made to flow over a series of steps, on each of which stood a statue. In one of the fields was a large earthen mound surmounted by a circular temple. The Domvilles claimed the same rights over the watercourse as were formerly held by the Talbots, and in addition to the tribute of corn from the mills, received rents from the Chapter of St. Patrick’s Cathedral and from the Earl of Meath who held the lands of St. Thomas Abbey. The importance of the watercourse as a source of water to the citizens of Dublin can be gauged from an incident in 1738. Sir Compton Domville, then resident at Templeogue House, was able to have his nephew, Lord Santry, a member of the Hell Fire Club, saved from execution for the murder of one of his servants by threatening to block off the watercourse. The threat was successful as the citizens had no other supply. In 1751, Sir Compton Domville inherited Santry Court, but continued to occupy Templeogue House until his death in 1768. His nephew, Charles Pocklington, inherited his property and took the name of Domville. He lived in Templeogue until 1780 but when the house was in a bad state of repair, he moved to Santry, taking many ornamental features, including the circular temple, with him. The house was taken by a Mr. Gogerty around 1820, who was permitted to cut down timber on condition that he repaired the house. He did this by demolishing it and building the existing structure into which he reincorporated the original medieval vaulted undercroft and the two circular towers. The house was occupied from 1842 to 1845 by Charles Lever, the novelist. The old house has been extended but the dry channel of the ancient City Watercourse still survives, in line with the front door. Mature trees are now planted along each side. The fields have been built on and the last traces of lakes and monuments have been cleared away. When the large mound, upon which the temple stood, was being removed in 1972 it was examined by an archaeologist from the National Museum in case it should prove to be an ancient burial mound, but no ancient features were found. . . Next In the 14th century, the lands of Templeogue were occupied by the Harolds, but passed to the Talbots in the 16th century who held them for about 200 years. The landowner of Templeogue had the duty of maintaining the City Watercourse for which he received a tribute of corn from mills using the water. In 1655 there was a castle here, a tuck mill and a house, as well as a number of cottages. The population was 40 and Theobald Harold was steward of the town. Henry Talbot was ordered to transplant to Connaught, but was later restored to his ancestral home at Templeogue. In 1686 the lands were mortgaged for £3,000 to Sir Thomas Domville. Sir James Talbot supported the cause of James II in 1688 and was attainted, and Sir Thomas Domville got possession of Templeogue. Domville erected a brick mansion on the site of the castle, incorporating the vaulted undercroft and two circular towers. It had an immense window across the front and a number of gables. His son, Sir Compton Domville, laid out the grounds and used the City Watercourse as one of the main features. The course was in a direct line with the front door of the house and the water was made to flow over a series of steps, on each of which stood a statue. In one of the fields was a large earthen mound surmounted by a circular temple. The Domvilles claimed the same rights over the watercourse as were formerly held by the Talbots, and in addition to the tribute of corn from the mills, received rents from the Chapter of St. Patrick’s Cathedral and from the Earl of Meath who held the lands of St. Thomas Abbey. The importance of the watercourse as a source of water to the citizens of Dublin can be gauged from an incident in 1738. Sir Compton Domville, then resident at Templeogue House, was able to have his nephew, Lord Santry, a member of the Hell Fire Club, saved from execution for the murder of one of his servants by threatening to block off the watercourse. The threat was successful as the citizens had no other supply. In 1751, Sir Compton Domville inherited Santry Court, but continued to occupy Templeogue House until his death in 1768. His nephew, Charles Pocklington, inherited his property and took the name of Domville. He lived in Templeogue until 1780 but when the house was in a bad state of repair, he moved to Santry, taking many ornamental features, including the circular temple, with him. The house was taken by a Mr. Gogerty around 1820, who was permitted to cut down timber on condition that he repaired the house. He did this by demolishing it and building the existing structure into which he reincorporated the original medieval vaulted undercroft and the two circular towers. The house was occupied from 1842 to 1845 by Charles Lever, the novelist. The old house has been extended but the dry channel of the ancient City Watercourse still survives, in line with the front door. Mature trees are now planted along each side. The fields have been built on and the last traces of lakes and monuments have been cleared away. When the large mound, upon which the temple stood, was being removed in 1972 it was examined by an archaeologist from the National Museum in case it should prove to be an ancient burial mound, but no ancient features were found.
URI:	https://hdl.handle.net/10599/10787
Copyright:	South Dublin Libraries - Local Studies
Location:	Click here to view the location in Google Maps
Appears in Collections:	Published Items South Dublin Heritage Walks Collection

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