Mount Down House/Mill

Mount Down House/Mill

The Mount Down Mill and House was located on the Poddle River close to the location where the Poddle and City Watercourse met.
Both waterways combined on land situated between what is now Glendown Grove and Wellington Lane.

Mountdown house stood on forty-seven acres of land adjoining Kimmage Manor and Orwell House. it was occupied by the Cullen family from 1916 until 1969, when it was sold for development.

Mount Down House sketch – “The Story of Templeogue” 1992.

Previous residents included Anna Danford (1886 to 1888); Anna Herron and Sir Robert Herron (1888 to 1895) and Thomas Franks and John Kean (1895 to 1916). There were four cottages on the land – one in the yard and three on the roadside opposite Willington cottages. Two small rivers flowed through the property, the Tymon and the Poddle, and the electricity for the house was supplied by a generator powered by these rivers. While the Cullens lived there they engaged in farming, mainly dairy farming and cattle, with some tillage. Mountdown Mill adjoined the house, but was not operated by the Cullen family. The house was demolished in 1973 to make way for Glendown Estate and St. Marys Rugby Club. All that now remains are two chestnut trees which stood on the Avenue leading up to the house, and these are still to be seen in Glendown.
– Extract from “the Story of Templeogue” 1992.

In 1952, Peter Cullen sued Dublin Corporation for £20,000 and an injunction, claiming interference with an ancient water supply from 1244 that fed his property, Mount Down House in Templeogue. Cullen asserted that the water, which had historically powered a mill on his land, began to diminish in 1938. The Corporation denied reducing the supply and disputed Cullen’s right to it. Evidence included Cullen’s complaints from 1936 and 1937, and a worsening of the situation in 1944. Unable to afford legal action earlier, Cullen had his property valued at £10,000 with water and £7,000 without.

 

Association with Poddle

As the river flows from Tymon Park eastwards behind houses on Limekiln Road, it passes under a bridge at Wellington Road. It then continues east and turns north toward Templeville Road. Before it meets the Templeville Road the Mount Down Mill and House where located.
The location of where the the City Watercourse and Tymon River becomes the Poddle is just over the Templeville Road Tymon River.

Mount Down Bridge – 1982.
Copyright -Patrick Healy: https://hdl.handle.net/10599/3660

What the Newspapers Say

  • An article from 1952, Peter Cullen – the owner of Mount Down House Templeogue, in his action claiming £20,000 damages and injunction against Dublin Corporation for an alleged interference with an ancient water-supply to his premises. The claim was subsequently dismissed.
Related newspaper articles
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£20,000 claim against corporation
29 Oct 1952

Evidence was given before Mr Justice Budd, in the High Court, by Peter Cullen, Mount Down House Templeogue, in his action claiming £20,000 damages and injunction against Dublin Corporation for…

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The watercourse
1 May 1972

THERE has been much useful representation about preservation of national monuments, street facades, canals, open spaces, etc., in relation to urban life. What prompts this letter is the first blow…

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