Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 4 August 1947-December 1948 (Creation)
Level of description
File
Extent and medium
34 items
Context area
Name of creator
Administrative history
The community house at Manresa was originally known as Granby Hall and then as Baymount Castle, being at one time the residence of Dr. Traill, a northern Church of Ireland Bishop. Renovated in 1838 by Robert Warren, it was later owned by the Irish Loreto Sisters who had a school there. Gutted by fire in 1851, the Sisters had it renovated again, sold it, and moved to Balbriggan.
In 1898 it became the property of Lord Ardilaun, a member of the Guinness family and owner of the adjoining St. Anne’s estate. About the beginning of the First World War, William Lucas Scott opened a preparatory school for boys which continued until 1936, when it was acquired by John T. Gwynn, of the well-known literary family (relative of Jesuit Aubrey Gwynn).
In 1948 the Archbishop of Dublin asked the Jesuits to establish a northside retreat house, and Baymount Castle, with its 17 acres, was bought by them.
Retreats began in 1949. Construction of a new retreat house began in 1966 to the design of architect Andrew Devane of the firm Robinson, Keefe and Devane; it was opened in 1967. In 1969, the Irish Jesuit novitiate moved from St Mary's, Emo Court, Laois to Manresa, where it was situated until 1991.
Name of creator
Biographical history
Baymount Castle
Repository
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Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Purchase of Baymount Castle, Dollymount. Letters from Mr J T Gwynn, Baymount Castle, Dollymount to Frs Sean McCarron and John Coyne, regarding the sale of Baymount to the Jesuits which refers to sale price, dates in which they can occupy the house, solicitors details and queries (boundary wall, rates), items for sale at Baymount which the Jesuits intend to buy (278 lbs of jam), discounts on items. Includes lists of items bought from Mr J T Gwynn, Baymount Castle by the Jesuits which include items from basement pantry, kitchen, dining room, drawing room, etc (August 1948) and items required (December 1948). Mr J T Gwynn was the uncle of Fr Aubrey Gwynn SJ and had been headmaster of the Protestant Preparatory School at Baymount. His daughter made an unsuccessful effort to carry on the school with a small mixed infants class (See letter from Fr Aubrey Gwynn SJ to Father Provincial, 16 February 1948). See CM/MAN/55.
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Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
The Irish Jesuit Archives are open only to bona fide researchers. Access by advance appointment. Further details: [email protected]
Conditions governing reproduction
No material may be reproduced without the written permission of the Archivist. Copyright restrictions apply. Photocopying is not available. Digital photography is at the discretion of the Archivist.
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Place access points
Name access points
- Manresa House, Dollymount, Dublin (Subject)
- Gwynn, J T (Subject)
- McCarron, Seán J, 1907-1975, Jesuit priest (Subject)
- Coyne, John J, 1889-1978, Jesuit priest (Subject)
- Gwynn, Aubrey, 1892-1983, Jesuit priest and academic (Subject)
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Dates of creation revision deletion
2016