Kildrought House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kildrought House |
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Teach Chill Droichid
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Facade
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| Former names | Celbridge Academy |
| Etymology | "Kildrought", former name of Celbridge |
| General information | |
| Status | Museum |
| Type | House |
| Architectural style | Georgian |
| Address | Main Street |
| Town or city | Celbridge |
| Country | Ireland |
| Coordinates | 53°20′25″N 6°32′15″W / 53.340204°N 6.537514°W |
| Elevation | 52 m (171 ft) |
| Groundbreaking | 1719 |
| Renovated | 1985–95 |
| Owner | June Stuart |
| Technical details | |
| Material | stone, red clay, mortar, red brick, timber |
| Floor count | 2 at front, 3 at rear |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Thomas Burgh |
| Renovating team | |
| Architect | Howley Hayes |
Kildrought House is a really old and interesting building in Celbridge, Ireland. It's a great example of a Georgian house, and today it's even a museum you can visit!
Contents
Where is Kildrought House?
You can find Kildrought House right on the main street of Celbridge. It's on the side of the River Liffey, which is a famous river in Ireland. The house is also not far from another big, old building called Castletown House.
A Look Back in Time
Who Built It?
Kildrought House was built a long, long time ago, between 1719 and 1720. A famous architect named Thomas Burgh designed it. It was built for a man named Robert Baillie. He was an upholsterer (someone who makes furniture comfy) and a tapestry weaver. His amazing tapestries, which show important battles like the Siege of Derry and the Battle of the Boyne, are still displayed in the Irish House of Lords chamber.
What Was It Used For?
Over the years, Kildrought House has had many different jobs!
- A School: From 1782 to 1814, it was known as John Begnall's Celbridge Academy. Many students learned there, including John Jebb, who later became a bishop.
- A Hospital: At different times, it was used as a fever hospital for people who were sick, like during a cholera outbreak.
- Other Uses: It also served as a vicarage (a home for a priest) and a dispensary (a place where medicine was given out). For a while, from 1831 to 1841, it was even a police station for the Irish Constabulary.
Restoring the House
The inside of Kildrought House was carefully fixed up and made new again between 1985 and 1995. The Stuart family, who owned the house, did this important work. In 2003, they even received some money from the Irish Georgian Society to help with more restoration.
What Does Kildrought House Look Like?
Kildrought House is a very interesting building to look at.
- Stories: From the front, it looks like it has two floors. But if you go around to the back, you'll see it actually has three floors, including a basement!
- Windows: The front of the house has five sections, and in the middle, there's a special Palladian window. This type of window has three parts, with a tall arch in the middle.
- Walls and Roof: The walls are covered in a special plaster called wet dash, which is made with lime. The roof is covered with slate tiles.
- Gardens: Outside, there's a lovely formal garden with a brick summer house. You might also spot a statue of the famous brewer Arthur Guinness right outside on the street!
