If Walls Could Talk! Welcome to Mill Road Manor

THE large manor houses dotted on and around the Mill Road in Corbally date from about 1796 when wealthy merchants, members of the clergy, army officers and the professional classes began to seek homes at a distance from the city.

The lands at Corbally were frequently described as occupying a ‘delightful situation with access to fine salmon and trout fishing, the area has been the most favourite retreat for many years for the wealthy inhabitants of the city.’

A sale notice of 1851 noted that ‘an excellent road intersects Corbally, and the splendid Athlunkard Bridge, connecting the counties of Limerick and Clare was erected at a cost of £16,000.’ By 1840, the following houses had been completed: Rose Villa, India Villa, Geraldine, Albert Villa, River View, Corbally Cottage, Corbally (The Palace) Prospect Villa, Prospect Cottage, Roseneath Cottage, Corbally House, and Willow Bank Cottage. Other houses in the area included Janemount (Park Cottage), Park View, Park House and Clare Cottage.

The suburban demesnes of Corbally developed in tandem with Castletroy and the North Circular Road.

One of the largest houses was Lanahrone (originally known as Albert Villa). In 1856, it was described as an ‘excellent dwelling house and out offices producing a yearly rent of just under £17 and situated among equally beautiful mansions and ornamental improvements.’

Lanahrone occupied about five acres of prime land. John C. Drysdale disposed of the lease which was dated March 1854. The notice described the house as ‘modern with every accommodation for a respectable family, the lawn slopes down to the river, and the situation is splendid.’

By 1862, the lands at the house had increased to 37 acres.

If Walls Could Talk: Long-forgotten family left their mark on Limerick

Ten years later John Barry and family were living at the house. Barry was a grocer and spirit dealer of Patrick Street whose family had been in business since about 1805.

He was prominent in local society and served as Secretary of the Parish of St. Michael. Barry was declared bankrupt in 1870 and his house and business were sold to meet his debts.

A few years earlier, Barry possessed considerable property in and around Limerick.

The house was acquired by the St. Clair Hobson family who changed the name of this fine mansion to Lanahrone. The house contained nineteen rooms. Its gate lodge was on the Corbally Road near the former constabulary barracks which were erected in 1840. J. A. O’B.

Hobson joined the Imperial Yeomanry and saw action in the Boer War in 1900. Frederick St. Clair Hobson married May Vandeleur Westropp of Mellon House, Co. Limerick in 1903.

Frederick’s niece, Maude E. St. Clair Hobson married Chaloner F. T. Chute Blennerhassett of Chute Hall, Co. Kerry in 1911. The society journal, the Gentlewoman reported that ‘the bride’s aunt held a large reception at Lanahrone where the band of the Royal Munster Fusiliers played on the lawn. The bride went away in a pretty silk coat, skirt, and large brown hat with roses.

The wedding presents were very handsome and numbered about two hundred.’ As was common for the time, the full list of presents was printed in the local newspaper and included bridegroom to bride, diamond pendant and ring, bride to bridegroom, suitcase and field case.

The gifts from the guests included silver flower vases, gold mounted blotter, diamond clock, silver candlesticks, mother or pearl ink stand, Venetian glass grape stand, and from their servants, a travelling clock and silver knife rests.

Frederick St. Clair Hobson died young and his widow, May married in 1912, Michael Joseph Gibson, M.D. of 74 Merrion Square Dublin. Lanahrone was sold in 1913.

Coláiste Mhichíl wins first Limerick schools second level cricket championship

The extensive sale notice included items such as Chippendale chairs, richly inlaid Sheraton sideboards, old Irish silver cutlery, an old Waterford glass chandelier, and a full-length portrait by the Regency artist Adam Buck (1759-1833).

Lanahrone was next acquired by Patrick Vaughan, a farmer. The Vaughan family lived at the house until sometime in the mid-1940s when ‘Mr Vaughan’s lands at Corbally’ were identified by Limerick Corporation as a suitable location in which to house the city’s emerging middle class.

The site was purchased by Irish Life who embarked on the construction of the Irish Estates.

According to architectural historian, and Corbally native, Emma Gilleece ‘the scheme referenced the historical geography of their setting being named Plassey, Lanahrone, Abbey, Shannon, and Rhebogue.

Lanahrone Avenue, comprising of sixty houses was constructed between 1947 and 1948. The contractors, O'Sullivan Bros subsequently acquired a section of the site and built a further seventy-four houses. The estate was eventually completed in 1953.’

No image of Lanahrone had surfaced until Karen Ievers of Mount Ievers Court, Sixmilebridge acquired a photo album that includes six images of the St. Clair Hobson family at Lanahrone in 1908.

One of the photographs shows the family seated under the large, front porch framed by four stone columns, with their three dogs.

Another photo captures a group standing in the front garden with a small dog on a bright summer’s day. Their ivy-clad mansion can be clearly seen in the background. Karen recently donated the photo album to Limerick Museum.