The Archbishop’s grand design. That’s what they call Newbridge House. It stands before you magnificent. A testament to Georgian elegance. Newbridge House wasn’t always this impressive. It began humbly.
In 1736 Charles Cobbe then Bishop of Kildare acquired the land. He purchased the townlands of Donabate Lainstown Haggardstown and Newbridge. This comprised 490 acres. He had a prior interest in the land. He had helped the Weyms family. They were port owners facing financial difficulties. They had a mortgage on the land. Cobbe’s help led to this acquisition.
He made a second purchase in 1742. This included Kilcreagh Corballis and Baltra. A total of 510 acres. Again a mortgage was involved. The Cobbe family’s interest stemmed from helping the landowner Maurice Keating. Their final land purchase was in 1811. This expanded Newbridge Demesne northwards. It bordered Turvey Avenue.
The house itself underwent significant changes. The original Newbridge House was built between 1698 and 1705. The current house designed by the Scottish architect James Gibbs was completed in 1752. This is Gibbs’s only executed work in Ireland. Thomas Cobbe’s marriage to Lady Elizabeth Beresford in 1751 brought a substantial dowry. This funded major improvements to Newbridge House. The Red Drawing Room was added. It became a center for lavish entertainment. Many superb paintings were acquired. The Rev Matthew Pilkington the incumbent of Donabate Church oversaw the purchases. He was an expert on painters. He compiled a major English Dictionary of Painters.
The Cobbe family occupied Newbridge House for generations. Charles Cobbe’s grandson Charles served in the army in India. He returned to Newbridge in 1809. He and his wife Frances Conway refurbished the house. The estate had fallen into disrepair during their absence in Bath. Charles replaced wretched mud cabins for his tenants. He built new houses. He funded this with the sale of prized paintings. This included works by Poussin and Hobbema.
The last Cobbe family member Thomas died in 1985. The property then passed to Fingal County Council. The Cobbe family retained the right to reside at Newbridge House occasionally. This was part of a special agreement with the County Council. Newbridge House stands as a captivating blend of history architecture and family legacy. It’s one of the finest surviving examples of Georgian architecture in Ireland. A place where history continues to unfold before our eyes.