House — 16th/17th century in St. Catherine's Park

St Catherine's derives its name from a priory of the Canons of St Victor which was established soon after the Anglo-Norman invasion, located each side of a small stream at a ford of the Liffey. At Dissolution it was granted to Thomas Allen, Chamberlain of the Exchequer. It passed through a variety of owners, until in 1666 it was purchased by a William Davys. The Down Survey (1655-6) map shows a gabled house on the north bank of the River Liffey. This was incorporated into a mansion in the 18th-century (Ball 1906, 33-34; Joyce (1912, 338-359). It became an agricultural rather than residential holding. In 1754 a visitor described it as ‘downright ugly, enclosed in high walls with terraces supported by walls one above another as formal as bad taste could make it’. About this time it was purchased by Robert 3rd Earl of Lanesborough and subsequently became the residence of the La Touches, when it was completely destroyed by fire. Not visible at ground level. Compiled by: Geraldine Stout Updated by: Christine Baker Date of upload: 29 January 2015