DiCamillo Companion
Ireland

Summerhill

Enfield

Co. Meath

Ireland

Circa Date: 1731

Status: Destroyed

House damaged by fire in the 19th century and rebuilt; burned circa 1922 during the Troubles and left as ruin until circa 1957, when the remains were demolished.

House Open to Public: No

Country House: Yes

  • Built / Designed For: Hercules Rowley, MP

    House & Family History: Hercules Rowley inherited the Summerhill Estate from his mother, the daughter of Sir Hercules Langford. The House was damaged by fire in the 19th century and rebuilt. During the Troubles Summerhill was burned (circa 1922) and stood as a grand ruin until circa 1957, when the ruins were demolished. In 1879 and 1880 the Empress Elisabeth of Austria let Summerhill for the hunting season.

    Comments: Mark Bence-Jones, writing in "A Guide to Irish Country Houses," calls Summerhill "The most dramatic of the great Irish Palladian houses…"

  • Architect: Edward Lovett Pearce

    Date: Circa 1731
    Designed: House for Hercules Rowley
    (Attribution of this work is uncertain)
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    Architect: Richard Castle (Cassels)

    Date: Circa 1731
    Designed: House for Hercules Rowley
    (Attribution of this work is uncertain)
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  • Title: Public Architecture in Ireland, 1680-1760
    Author: McParland, Edward
    Year Published: 2001
    Reference: pg. 200
    Publisher: New Haven: Yale University Press
    ISBN: 0300090641
    Book Type: Hardback

    Title: Guide to Irish Country Houses, A
    Author: Bence-Jones, Mark
    Year Published: 1988
    Reference: pg. 268
    Publisher: London: Constable and Company
    ISBN: 0094699909
    Book Type: Hardback

  • House Listed: Demolished

    Park Listed: Destroyed

  • Past Seat / Home of: Hercules Rowley, MP, 18th century.

    Current Ownership Type: Demolished

    Primary Current Ownership Use: Demolished

  • House Open to Public: No

    Historic Houses Member: No

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