The Walled Garden and Stewarts House at Corkagh

Opposite the baseball pitch, on the north side of the Camac, lie the ruins of a house that was once home to the Stewart of Corkagh. The Stewart was responsible for the day to day running of Corkagh Demesne. This house was built in the early 19th century and had a kitchen, sitting room and office downstairs with three bedrooms upstairs. It was lived in until 1975!

stewarts house at corkagh, once rented by Karstal family
The ruins of the Stewarts house.

The area is closed off by an outer wall and hedgerow.  This 'outer' garden is now used as something of a dump by the council but was formerly an orchard.  The inner garden is surrounded by a high wall and is usually inaccessible to the public. This garden was designed by the Finlays of Corkagh around 1820 and replaced an earlier walled garden which may have been located on the southern side of the main house.

 High walls along with Yew and Beech hedges sheltered the garden and created a microclimate where fruit and vegetables could be grown for the 'big house' table. 

Beech hedge

 At the rear of the garden there was a double wall within which a fire was kept burning.  This provided heat for the greenhouses which were built up against the inner section of the wall. 

Side of the Stewarts house from inside the Walled Garden

Until recent years, when the council decided to fell them, a notable feature of the walled garden was the avenue of Yew trees that stood at its centre.  There is also a pond which may have provided fish for the house at one time.

The gable wall of the Stewards House now covered in ivy

In the 1950s the house and gardens were rented by a Dutch couple, the Karstals, who cultivated flowers for the Dublin Markets. According to the late great local historian Joe Devine:
'..By 1958 Mr. Karstel had 1500 sq. yards covered with glass and had been praised at the famous Dublin Flower Show for the quality of his carnations..' 

An interesting feature of the old house is this 'bull' window.

By the 1970s the Karsels, who had raised their children in the house, were coming under increasing pressure from the then owner, Sir John Galvin, to give up their tenancy. The family had built a new home on the Naas Road but had yet to move all their belongings, when, while on holiday 
in 1975, a fire destroyed the old house. They continued, despite the pressure, to retain their lease until 1980!

Some repairs to the outer wall of the gardens were completed several years ago. This charming Milestone was added at that time by a talented craftsman, Noel Cavanagh, who also built the new bridge near Fairview Mills and the lovely hen house (now sadly unused) at the pet farm.



Entrance from outer yard to inner garden

The outer yard was once full of Apple and Pear trees.

Inside the walled garden some traces remain of its former heyday.  Wooden laths high up on the inner walls show where the greenhouses were located. There is a lovely old pear tree not far from the gates and I was lucky enough to be able to pick some fruit in recent years when the gates were usually open.   
This avenue of Beech trees (originally planted as hedging) is a striking feature of the garden.

Inside the Walled Garden

The local kids used to call this area 'The Devils Passage' and swore it was haunted!  Indeed many years ago a Council worker told me that they hated having to work alone in the old garden as they felt 'watched'!!!  

Walled garden from Camac bridge

Corkagh Snapshots

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