Richard Robinson, Lord Rokeby, Archbishop of Armagh (1708-1794)

Richard Robinson was the sixth son of William Robinson of Rokeby Park in Yorkshire. After coming to Ireland as chaplain to the Duke of Dorset in 1751, he eventually rose through the ranks of the chuch before becoming Archbishop of Armagh in 1765. Prior to Robinson's appointment, most Archbishops had spent little time in Armagh which at the time was a small town featuring many mud huts according to accounts from the period. Primate Robinson is best remembered for transforming the city of Armagh to the beautiful Georgian town it is today. His many contributions to the city include the Armagh Public Library, the Armagh Observatory, the Gaol, the Armagh Infirmary and the Archbishop's Palace, Chapel and Palace Stables.

He was created the 1st Baron Rokeby in 1777, choosing the title "Rokeby" as his elder brother Sir Thomas Robinson had by then sold the family estate of Rokeby Park. He purchased land at Marlay in Co. Louth from the Earl of Darby to create a new "Rokeby" estate. On his death, his titles passed to a cousin but he left the Rokeby estate in Louth to the son of his sister Grace. The Reverend John Freind changed his name to his maternal surname "Robinson" and moved from England to Rokeby Hall in 1794.

 

Thomas Cooley (1740-1784)

Thomas Cooley was an English architect who moved to Ireland after winning a competition in 1769 to design a new Royal Exchange in Dublin. The Royal Exchange, completed is 1779, is now Dublin's City Hall. In 1775 he was appointed chief architect to the Board of Works. He was employed by Richard Robinson to design and build many of the new buildings in Armagh and was also responsible for the initial design of Rokeby Hall before his death.

 

Francis Johnston (1760-1829)

Francis Johnston was born in Armagh in 1760 and was sent to Thomas Cooley in Dublin as an apprentice by Richard Robinson in 1778. Following Cooley's death in 1784, Johnston succeeded him as the Archbishop's architect. Johnston lived in the Drogheda area from 1784 to 1794 where he took over work on the various projects associated with the Archibishop's new estate in Louth. This included the final designs for Rokeby Hall and the overseeing of the building work for the house and estate.

He designed a number of other buildings in the area during that period and received the Freedom of Drogheda in 1787. After the Archbishop's death in 1794, he moved to Dublin where he continued to design and build primarily in Dublin and North Leinster. His most well-known building is of course the General Post Office in Dublin while Townley Hall in Louth is considered to be his masterpiece.

 

Rokeby Hall History

After the Archibishop's death, his nephew the Reverend Archdeacon John Robinson (created 1st Baronet in 1819) moved from England to Rokeby Hall. However his stay was shortlived as he chose to remove his family to England following the murder of his father-in-law during the 1798 Rising.

The house was subsequently leased to a number of tenants - including Henry Coddington Esq., Count Jerome de Salis and Lord Southwell. The Robinson family eventually returned when John's eldest son Sir Richard Robinson once again took up residence sometime around 1840.

Sir Richard died in 1847 and was succeeded by his eldest son Sir John Stephen Robinson. Sir John and his wife were responsible for two significant additions to Rokeby Hall - the Turner conservatory added c.1870 and the armorial window showing the Robinson family history in the main stair hall.

Sir John died in 1895 and the estate passed to his son Sir Gerald Robinson (4th bart.) who died in 1903. The estate then passed to Sir Gerald's sister Maud who had earlier married Richard Montgomery, the owner of Beaulieu House in Co. Louth.

With the Robinsons no longer in residence, the estate was gradually sold off, the house contents moved to Beaulieu or auctioned and the house and remaining lands leased and eventually sold. The estate was leased and eventually purchased by the Clinton family from Richard Montgomery. Since then the ownership of the house has changed a number of times. The current owners purchased the house in 1995.

It is significant that the house has been used solely as a family home throughout its history and as a result the original design and detailing has remained largely unchanged. Many of the original demesne structures now in separate ownership - including the stable complex, two sets of gates, two gatelodges and the estate manager's house - are still in use and are being maintained or restored. And despite the continual division and re-use for agriculture of the original demesne surrounding the house, the layout of that demesne is still discernible in the modern landscape.

 

May 1st - 31st
Monday to Saturday	10.00am to 2.00pm
Sunday	CLOSED
August 17th to 25th (Heritage Week)
Monday to Sunday	10.00am to 2.00pm
September 1st - 30th
Monday to Saturday	10.00am to 2.00pm
Sunday	CLOSED

 

National Inventory of Architectural Heritage NIAH record for Rokeby Hall NIAH Places to See in Louth The National Inventory of Architectural Heritage (NIAH) is a state initiative under the administration of the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht whose purpose is to identify, record, and evaluate the post-1700 architectural heritage of Ireland as an aid in the protection and conservation of the built heritage. It is also hoped that this work will increase public awareness and appreciation of Ireland's architectural heritage.

Irish Architectural Archive - Dictionary of Architects Francis Johnston Thomas Cooley The Dictionary of Irish Architects contains biographical and bibliographical information on architects, builders and craftsmen born or working in Ireland during the period 1720 to 1940, and information on the buildings on which they worked.

An Taisce The National Trust for Ireland An Taisce is Ireland's oldest charity and works to protect the built and natural heritage.

Irish Georgian Society "The Society aims to encourage an interest in and to promote the conservation of distinguished examples of architecture and the allied arts of all periods in Ireland."

Irish Historic Houses Association The IHHA is an organization whose aim is to promote and foster the immediate and long-term future of privately owned historic houses in Ireland for the benefit of the Irish nation and the public at large.

The Irish Aesthete The Irish Aesthete on Rokeby Hall "The Irish Aesthete: dedicated to celebrating all that is beautiful about Ireland's architectural heritage and landscape, and abhorring everything ugly."

Heritage Week An annual week long event in August aimed at promoting awareness of the built natural and cultural heritage thereby encouraging its conservation and preservation.

Heritage Ireland Information about the Historic Properties and National Monuments maintained and managed by the OPW.

Louth Holidays Accommodation, attractions and events in Louth, Meath, and the Boyne Valley.

Drogheda on the Boyne The official website of Drogheda on the Boyne Tourism.