Newbridge Estate
Encyclopedia
Newbridge Estate is an early 18th century Georgian
estate and mansion
situated outside Dublin, Ireland
. It was built by Archbishop
Charles Cobbe
in 1736 and remained the family home of the Irish
Cobbe family
until 1985 when it was acquired by the Dublin County Council in a unique arrangement with the family.
Set within the 400 acre partially wooded estate, Newbridge House is one of the finest surviving examples of Georgian architecture.
The Archbishop was succeeded by his son, Thomas, who in 1751 married Lady EkuzabethBeresford, daughter of the Earl of Tyrone. She brought a wealth with her, thus enabling major improvements to be made to the house. In the Red Drawing Room, added by them, they lavishly entertained and hung many of their superb pictures purchased on their behalf by the incumbent of Donabate Church, the Rev. Matther Pilkington, who was well qualified to do the buying, as it was he who composed the first major English Dictionary of Painters.
Their eldest son Charles died in 1970 and the eldest grandson, also Charles became heir apparent. He joined the army, served in India and returned to Bath in 1805. Four years later he married Frances Conway and immediately went to live at Newbridge where he carried out much refurbishing with the aid of his wife's wealth. It appears that during the family's absence in Bath the Estate had become run down. Charles' considerable energies were used to build it up again. He threw down the "wretched mud cabins" occupied by his tenants and built new houses on his estate which were paid for be the sale of some of the family's most prized paintings, i.e., The Gastor Poussin and a Hobbema. Charles Cobbe died in 1857 and was succeeded by his son, another Charles. He, in turn died in 1886 leaving no male issue - his estate passing to his wife for her lifetime. Prior to her death she had persuaded Thomas Maherby Cobbe, a grandnephew of her late husband, to return to Newbridge from America to take over the estate. He died young in 1914 leaving two infant children, namely Thomas and Francis, the latter dying in 1949. Thomas did not marry and on his death in 1985 was succeeded by Francis' family, Hugh, Alec and Mary. While the property has now been acquired by the County Council, the Cobbe family will continue to reside at Newbridge House from time to time, due to a unique arrangement which had been entered into between the family and the County Council.
. Newbridge is extremely rare in that it still contains most of its original furniture. The interiors include the Red Drawing Room (one of the finest Georgian interiors in Ireland), the Museum of Curiosities (one of the few family museums in Ireland or Britain) and the ornate plasterwork found throughout the house.
painted from life, believed by some to be the only surviving painting of Shakespeare. Support for this theory is drawn from the inheritance of the portrait by the Cobbe family from Shakespeare's patron, Henry Wriothesley, 3rd Earl of Southampton
, and its resemblance to the Janssen portrait, a long-standing candidate to be a portrait of Shakespeare. Scientific examination has dated the panel and paint used to Shakespeare's lifetime, but the claim that it is of Shakespeare has been regarded with scepticism.
.
The estate still maintains a small farm, including a fine, square cobbled courtyard adjoining the house that was designed by Robert Mack, and built about 1790 after the completion of the main house.
Georgian architecture
Georgian architecture is the name given in most English-speaking countries to the set of architectural styles current between 1720 and 1840. It is eponymous for the first four British monarchs of the House of Hanover—George I of Great Britain, George II of Great Britain, George III of the United...
estate and mansion
Mansion
A mansion is a very large dwelling house. U.S. real estate brokers define a mansion as a dwelling of over . A traditional European mansion was defined as a house which contained a ballroom and tens of bedrooms...
situated outside Dublin, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. It was built by Archbishop
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
Charles Cobbe
Charles Cobbe
Charles Cobbe was Archbishop of Dublin from 1743 to 1765. He was the second son of Thomas and Veriana Cobbe of Winchester in Hampshire, England....
in 1736 and remained the family home of the Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
Cobbe family
Cobbe family
The Cobbe family is an Irish landed family. The family has an ancient and eminent history, and has produced many prominent Irish politicians, clergymen, writers, activists and soldiers, such as writer and social reformer Frances Power Cobbe, General Alexander Cobbe and Primate of Ireland Charles...
until 1985 when it was acquired by the Dublin County Council in a unique arrangement with the family.
Set within the 400 acre partially wooded estate, Newbridge House is one of the finest surviving examples of Georgian architecture.
Background
On June 19, 1736, Charles Cobbe, then Bishop of Kildare, paid £5,526.5.6 for the townlands of Donabate, Lainstown, Haggardstown and Newbridge, containing 490 acres. However Bishop Cobbe had a prior interest in these lands, having come to the financial assistance of the Weyms family (port owners) some years earlier. when they had difficulty in repaying a mortgage taken out on the lands. On 21 July 1742 Bishop Cobbe made his second purchase of lands in the parish. These consisted of the townlands of Kilcreagh, Corballis and Baltra,containing in all 510 acres. Purchase price was £6,425.00. As with the first purchase the Cobbe interest came into being through the owner (Maurice Keating) having difficulty in repaying a martgage. The final purchase of land by the Cobbe family was made in 1811, when Charles purchased the fields north of Newbridge Demesne and bordering on Turvey Avenue.The Archbishop was succeeded by his son, Thomas, who in 1751 married Lady EkuzabethBeresford, daughter of the Earl of Tyrone. She brought a wealth with her, thus enabling major improvements to be made to the house. In the Red Drawing Room, added by them, they lavishly entertained and hung many of their superb pictures purchased on their behalf by the incumbent of Donabate Church, the Rev. Matther Pilkington, who was well qualified to do the buying, as it was he who composed the first major English Dictionary of Painters.
Their eldest son Charles died in 1970 and the eldest grandson, also Charles became heir apparent. He joined the army, served in India and returned to Bath in 1805. Four years later he married Frances Conway and immediately went to live at Newbridge where he carried out much refurbishing with the aid of his wife's wealth. It appears that during the family's absence in Bath the Estate had become run down. Charles' considerable energies were used to build it up again. He threw down the "wretched mud cabins" occupied by his tenants and built new houses on his estate which were paid for be the sale of some of the family's most prized paintings, i.e., The Gastor Poussin and a Hobbema. Charles Cobbe died in 1857 and was succeeded by his son, another Charles. He, in turn died in 1886 leaving no male issue - his estate passing to his wife for her lifetime. Prior to her death she had persuaded Thomas Maherby Cobbe, a grandnephew of her late husband, to return to Newbridge from America to take over the estate. He died young in 1914 leaving two infant children, namely Thomas and Francis, the latter dying in 1949. Thomas did not marry and on his death in 1985 was succeeded by Francis' family, Hugh, Alec and Mary. While the property has now been acquired by the County Council, the Cobbe family will continue to reside at Newbridge House from time to time, due to a unique arrangement which had been entered into between the family and the County Council.
Mansion
Newbridge House was built by Archbishop Cobbe between 1747 and 1752 to the design of the renowned architect, James GibbsJames Gibbs
James Gibbs was one of Britain's most influential architects. Born in Scotland, he trained as an architect in Rome, and practised mainly in England...
. Newbridge is extremely rare in that it still contains most of its original furniture. The interiors include the Red Drawing Room (one of the finest Georgian interiors in Ireland), the Museum of Curiosities (one of the few family museums in Ireland or Britain) and the ornate plasterwork found throughout the house.
Shakespeare portrait
The Cobbe Portrait is an unattributed panel painting of William ShakespeareWilliam Shakespeare
William Shakespeare was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon"...
painted from life, believed by some to be the only surviving painting of Shakespeare. Support for this theory is drawn from the inheritance of the portrait by the Cobbe family from Shakespeare's patron, Henry Wriothesley, 3rd Earl of Southampton
Henry Wriothesley, 3rd Earl of Southampton
Henry Wriothesley , 3rd Earl of Southampton , was the second son of Henry Wriothesley, 2nd Earl of Southampton, and his wife Mary Browne, Countess of Southampton, daughter of the 1st Viscount Montagu...
, and its resemblance to the Janssen portrait, a long-standing candidate to be a portrait of Shakespeare. Scientific examination has dated the panel and paint used to Shakespeare's lifetime, but the claim that it is of Shakespeare has been regarded with scepticism.
Family
From 1736 until 1985, Newbridge Estate served as the ancestral home of the Cobbe familyCobbe family
The Cobbe family is an Irish landed family. The family has an ancient and eminent history, and has produced many prominent Irish politicians, clergymen, writers, activists and soldiers, such as writer and social reformer Frances Power Cobbe, General Alexander Cobbe and Primate of Ireland Charles...
.
Estate and farm
Newbridge Demesne opened as a County Dublin Regional Park in 1986. It consists of approximately 400 acres of gently undulating pastureland, woodland, watercourses and pleasure grounds.The estate still maintains a small farm, including a fine, square cobbled courtyard adjoining the house that was designed by Robert Mack, and built about 1790 after the completion of the main house.