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A manor established by Archbishop Comyn in 1181 appears to have been on the present site of the convent which on the 1st edition OS 6-inch map (1843) is called Springmount, later known as Fortwilliam. In 1228 Archbishop Luke established an episcopal residence on the site. During the period that Alexander de Bicknor held the See of Dublin 1317-1319, this residence became known as the Court. It was a substantial mansion. There are references to stone walls, leaden gutters, iron bars, kitchen, brewhouse and furnaces (Ball 1920, 85). The Civil survey (1654-6) mentions a 'stone house' at Oldcourt on the church farm at Finglas (Simington 1945, 140). Excavations in 1992 failed to reveal any traces of the site (O'Flanagan 1993, 27). Further excavations in 1995 revealed the walls of a rectangular, two-roomed structure (L 20m, Wth 4.5m) associated with 16th-17th century material. This has been interpreted as an out-building associated with Fortwilliam (Halpin 1996, 24-25).
Compiled by: Geraldine Stout
Date of upload: 26 August 2011
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