Clontarf Castle

THE VERNONS OWNED 751 ACRES IN COUNTY DUBLIN

RICHARD, Lord of Vernon, was one of the barons created by Hugh Lupus, Earl of Chester during the reign of WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR, by the title of Baron of Shipbrook. According to Domesday Book, he was a considerable landed proprietor. 

The Manor of Clontarf was conferred by the Crown on Admiral Vernon and his descendants.

The lineal descendent of Richard,

SIR EDWARD VERNON (1584-1657), of Houndshill, Staffordshire, married, in 1613, his cousin Margaret, daughter and sole heiress of Henry Vernon, of Hilton and Essington, Staffordshire, and had issue, with six daughters,

Henry, of Sudbury;

Edward, of North Aston; had a grant of the castle and lands of Clontarf;

JOHN, of whom we treat.

The youngest son,

JOHN VERNON (c1618-70), of Clontarf, County Dublin, Quartermaster-General of the Army in Ireland, 1655, wedded firstly, Anne, daughter of John Huish, of Sand, Devon, and had a son, John, who died in London, unmarried.

He espoused secondly, Elizabeth, daughter of Fulke Walwyn, of Much Marcle, Herefordshire, and had issue, his son and heir,

THE REV EDWARD VERNON, of Redmile, Leicestershire, who married Lettice, daughter of John Bankes, of Uttoxeter, Staffordshire, and had issue,

JOHN, his heir;

Edward (Rev), Rector of St George's, Bloomsbury;

Catherine.

The elder son,

JOHN VERNON (ante 1693-1753), a Captain in the Army, afterwards of Clontarf Castle, County Dublin, wedded Dorothy, sister of Hans Otto Grahn, a Hanoverian nobleman, by whom he had issue,

GEORGE, his heir;

Edward, of Dublin;

Charlotte.

The elder son,

GEORGE VERNON (1722-87), of Clontarf Castle, a barrister, espoused Elizabeth Hughes, widow, and had issue,

JOHN, his heir;

George, died unmarried 1802;

Frances Dorothy; Diana.

The elder son,

JOHN VERNON (1757-1808), of Clontarf Castle, a barrister, married, in 1780, Elizabeth, daughter of Henry Fletcher, of Newtown Park, County Dublin, and had issue,

GEORGE, his heir;

John Fane, of Erne Hill;

Frances; Elizabeth; Maria.

The eldest son,

GEORGE VERNON, of Clontarf Castle, a barrister, wedded, in 1808, Henrietta Maria, daughter of Wilson Gale-Braddyll, of Conishead Priory, near Ulverston, Lancashire, and died in 1822, having had issue,

GEORGE BRADDYLL, his heir;

JOHN EDWARD VENABLES, succeeded his brother;

Charles Pierce, died unmarried 1838;

Walter Fawkes;

Braddyll Francis;

Henry Townley;

Henrietta Jane; Elizabeth Charlotte; Maria Frances.

The eldest son,

GEORGE BRADDYLL VERNON, of Clontarf Castle, died unmarried, and was succeeded by his next brother,

JOHN EDWARD VENABLES VERNON JP DL (1813-90), of Clontarf Castle, High Sheriff of County Dublin, 1847, married firstly, in 1836, Louisa Catherine (died 1853), only daughter of Charles Proby Bowles, of Park Lane, London, and by her had issue,

EDWARD VENABLES, his heir;

Charles Albert;

Forbes George;

Granville William;

John Francis Henry;

Louisa Emily.

Mr Vernon wedded secondly, in 1856, the Hon Rosa Gertrude Harriet Daly, daughter of James, 1st Baron Dunsandle, which lady dsp 1859.

He was succeeded by his eldest son,

EDWARD VENABLES VERNON JP DL (1838-1912), of Clontarf Castle, High Sheriff of County Dublin, 1904, Lieutenant-Colonel and Honorary Colonel, Royal Dublin Fusiliers, who wedded, in 1862, Jane, daughter of Matthew Brinkley, of Parsonstown, County Meath, son of the Right Rev John Brinkley DD, Lord Bishop of Cloyne, and had issue,

EDWARD KINGSTON, his heir;

Granville;

John Cuthbert Avenal, MC;

Louisa Constance; Edyth Agnes; Kathleen Louisa; Dorothy Mabel; Muriel Maud.

Clontarf Castle (Image: Celtic Castles)

CLONTARF CASTLE, County Dublin, is described by Mark Bence-Jones in his Guide to Country Houses as being 

"A Tudor-Revival house of 1836 by William Vitruvius Morrison, attached to a tall old tower on the site of a medieval commandery of the Knights Templar and afterwards of the Knights Hospitaller of St John of Jerusalem."

He goes on the describe the sombrely rich interior, with heavily moulded ceilings, dark panelling from floor to ceiling, and heraldic stained-glass.

The Castle boasts a lofty hall with a timbered roof and galleries; and a stained-glass window containing portraits of HENRY VII and Elizabeth of York.

Edward Venables Vernon (1838-1912) was the maternal grandfather of Cyril Connolly CBE.

Edward Kingston Vernon (1869-1967) was the last of the family to live at Clontarf, which has been a hotel since 1997.