NEWBRIDGE HOUSE
Given a fresh lease of life
Step into a world of Downton Abbey-esque grace, splendour and beauty at Newbridge House & Farm in north County Dublin.
The setting is a stunning example of 18th century architecture and one of the last intact Georgian mansions in Ireland outside of the cities.
Recently acquired by Shannon Heritage, one of country’s leading tourism and heritage companies, the house has been renewed so that it sparkles with fresh new life and visitors can truly “live” the history.
Built in 1747 for the then Archbishop of Dublin, Charles Cobbe, Newbridge House and Farm remained in Cobbe family hands until 1985 when it was bought by the local council. The house’s original architect, James Gibbs, was one of the most influential of his time and also designed the church of St Martin in the Fields in London (which became a prototype for many churches in New England) and the extraordinary Radcliffe Camera in Oxford.
Three hundred years of Cobbe family history can be traced through exploring the house and its exhibits, including the intriguing Cabinet of Curiosities and the extensive art collection to be found in the Red Drawing Room. Cabinets of Curiosities, also known as ‘wonder rooms’, were small collections of extraordinary objects which attempted to categorise and tell stories about the wonders and oddities of the natural world. They were a particular feature of the Georgian period, when Britain’s explorer-traders were expanding their reach throughout the world, and the one at Newbridge is one of the only ones to be found in Ireland.
Earlier this year, the nearby Donabate Historical Society decided to house its own collection of historical artefacts in Newbridge House, which will be housed in a permanent display area.
“We have so much to see here, it’s clear how it will appeal to people from all over the world,” said Niall O’Callaghan, managing director of Shannon Heritage. “You can really feel how life was lived when the house was first occupied. It was a very ‘upstairs-downstairs’ world and Newbridge House is the only intact Georgian mansion in Ireland outside of the big towns. To me, the interiors and its history are mind-blowing. It’s like walking on to a set of Downton Abbey, really quite a unique feeling.”
Outside of the main house and its exhibits, visitors will find all of the working buildings that would have attended the life of a traditional grand Georgian household. “Everything is as close to how it would have been as possible,” said Mr O’Callaghan. “The landscaping is Georgian and around the courtyard you’ll find the blacksmith’s forge, stables, the threshing barn, weigh house, hay barn and the chicken house; all the various buildings that you would expect to find on a Georgian farm are arranged around the main house.”
Moving slightly further afield, visitors can take in meandering woodland walks, a play area for kids, and a gorgeous farm populated by many rare pig and pony breeds as well as donkeys, sheep, Irish draught horses, Kerry cows, birds, goats and deer.
If visitors want to combine an 18th century state house experience with a 15th century castle experience, they could spend several hours at Newbridge House & Farm before wandering down to Malahide Castle & Gardens, just a ten-minute drive away. One of the oldest castles standing in Ireland, Malahide Castle can be traced all the way back to the 12th century, though the towers and main hall were around between 1600 and 1650. This is another member of the Shannon Heritage property family, so keep an eye out for special deals on combined tickets.