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 in 1759 had been described as 'an ugly, scattered town'. Primate Robinson is credited with much of Armagh's transformation to the beautiful Georgian city it is today. His many contributions to the city include the Armagh Robinson 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 Derby 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 to Rokeby Hall in 1793.

 

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

The house was subsequently leased to a number of tenants - including the Viscount Southwell, Henry Coddington Esq., and Count Jerome de Salis. 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 in the 1850s 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 5th baronet was Sir John's younger brother Richard Harcourt Robinson. After his death in 1910 the estate eventually 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 broken up. The house and demense lands were sold to the Clinton family in 1912. The remaining estate lands were also broken up and sold and the Robinson collection of furniture, art and books were eventually auctioned in 1943. The Clinton family remained at Rokeby until about 1950. 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.

 

June 1st – 30th
Open daily from 10.00am to 2.00pm
July
CLOSED
August 1st – 31st
Open daily (Heritage Week included) from 10.00am to 2.00pm

Entrance fees for tours are €10 for adults and €5 for students/children.

Booking is not required for individuals or small groups at the above times.

Groups of 8 or larger please phone or email in advance to book.

Children are welcome but must be supervised.

Please note that the house is not wheelchair accessible.

 

Visits outside the above dates can be arranged for groups by appointment.
Please email info@rokeby.ie or phone 086 8644228.