Sometimes you think you’ve seen it all and then another email comes along to surprise. Here is an absolutely fantastic photograph of the village, from a slightly different perspective than usual. It’s time to get your grandfather’s monocle out as you’ll need to look very closely to see something the contributor has noticed.
At the town clock, we’re used to seeing one tree, but in this one there are two! The land at the town clock almost looks as if it is planted – perhaps a green? Since there was only one tree in the 1880s, that means this photo must be earlier. I had a very close look at the 1860 photo of the village taken by Lewis Wingfield, reproduced in the book, and there are two trees in that! One of them obviously came down in the 1870s – perhaps in a storm?
My only dilemma about all of this is that if we look at the 1840s sketches and earlier, there are no trees marked. The 1840 OS map does indicate a cluster of trees where the town clock would be built in 1843. So perhaps the trees were very small then, or were planted when the clock was built—is it reasonable to consider the trees in this picture to be 30-40 years old?
Have a look – of course there is a lot more in this photo to discuss as well – like the quality of the house in the foreground!
Early photograph of Enniskerry Village (with thanks to contributor Nivrum)
That’s brilliant!. It must be very early, I would have never thought the area in front of the townclock was a green/planted. I love the house in the Bog Meadow.
This description form the United Service Magazine 1846 paints a picture of Enniskerry before the townclock was finished.
“From the Scalp the road leads by a gentle declivity to Enniskerry where a screeching hot mutton chop fresh eggs delicious butter cream and a tolerable cup of tea considering the free trade may be had at Miller’s hotel relished perhaps with double gout from the morning air and jolting for eight Irish miles on a bone setting car While the ever smiling facetious waiter is preparing breakfast a walk to the bridge will be amply repaid by the view of Enniskerry sheltered amidst surrounding hills and of the roaring rambling trout stream which dividing the village winds a long and tortuous course through the neighbouring hills The late Lord Powerscourt commenced erecting a handsome stone fountain and aqueduct to supply the inhabitants of Enniskerry with water but his lamented death delayed the work for a time It has now been resumed and bids fairly to be soon completed”
Love the description of the food. I’ve seen a few references to the journey out from Dublin – doesn’t seem to have been a comfortable one!
Thanks I hadn’t seen this before,
Michael