This intact collection of historic garden features, in the last remaining example of an Irish demesne landscape in the capital city are of national and regional importance in Ireland, and of European importance in terms of their historical connections. The construction of follies at St. Anne’s reflected the trends of the 19th Century, when aristocrats or their sons returned from their ‘Grand Tour of Europe’ visiting the ruins of the Continent, Italy in particular, and desiring to replicate their romantic settings upon their return home, to illustrate their status, education and wealth. All of the surviving features date from 1838-1904, but most were constructed in 1838-1868 by Sir Benjamin Lee Guinness, former MP for Dublin, and son of Sir Arthur Guinness, founder of the Guinness stout and purchaser of St. James’ Gate Brewery in 1759.
In 2009, after decades of neglect, a restoration programme was implemented to repair the follies and remove the unsightly graffiti that covered many of them. By late 2017, only the Herculanean House has yet to be restored.
The starting co-ords will take you to St Anne’s Well. The Park and house were named after the existing holy well there in 1837 by Sir Benjamin Lee Guinness. The house was demolished in 1968, 25 years after a fire destroyed it. The holy well has been dry for many years, but historical accounts state that it was productive until at least 1902.
STAGE 1: N 53° 22.301 W 006° 10.097. The Pompeiian Temple was used as a tea-house. It overlooked what was then a boating lake, which was planted with choice aquatic and bog plants. The exact date of its construction is not yet known.
How many circular motifs can you see above the porch (odd number)? Answer = A
STAGE 2: N 53° 22.313 W 006° 10.097. Up on the hill to the north is the Roman Tower (Tomb of The Julii). Today, the tower is largely obscured by trees. However, it was originally a more prominent feature of St. Anne’s. It was based on the design of the original Tomb of the Julii in St. Remy, France. It was originally located on top of the main house.
How many windows (blocked or covered) are there in total? Do not count doors or the ‘temple’ at the top of the tower. Answer = B
STAGE 3: N 53° 22.247 W 006° 10.170. Come back down the hill and continue along the path south west and up the steps to your right to the Rustic Grotto, which was a feature to link the main house down the slope from the grand terrace walk to the seafront. It provided a viewing point at an intersection of paths. It is comprised of several types of local stone, including Howth stone, and porphyry stone.
How many arches in total can you see here? Answer = C
STAGE 4: N 53° 22.277 W 006° 10.169. The Yew Circle. Just outside the original walled garden was a circular yew hedge with alcoves and arches in which stood allegorical Italian statues representing the five continents. These statues were reflected in a great circular marble basin which also had a central statue. Just to the east you will see a Rockwork Feature, another folly in the style of a bridge/tunnel.
Count all the capstones surrounding the circular basin and take 18 from this total. Answer = D (odd number)
STAGE 5: N 53° 22.295 W 6° 10.172. From the Yew Circle head directly north, go around the corner of the wall and down the slope to the Nanekin River and the Cave & Bridge.
Stand facing the back wall of the cave. In the central alcove some of the stones have been painted. What colour is the stone on the lower left hand side? If you can't quite make it out, the lowest stone in the middle of the same alcove is a similar colour. Answer = E (count letters, odd number)
STAGE 6: N 53° 22.314 W 006° 10.249. Continue west along the path to The Herculanean House, situated near what was originally the northwestern corner of the walled garden near the house. It was a perfect replica in the classical Roman style, with a courtyard and interior paved with tiles copied from a design found during the excavations of the original Herculaneum. The interior of the Herculaneum was entered through a wide doorway, defined by pillars. The windows of the little house were of stained glass, and it even had its own Roman soldier, a bronze figure which stood in the centre of the courtyard. Also in the river valley, there is an unfinished bridge in the Roman Composite Order, in the form of a temple approach. There were aslo several grottoes and bowers through the Naniken valley, and a Druidic circle of basaltic rocks taken from the Giant’s Causeway.
How many cylindrical columns support the roof? Answer = F
STAGE 7: N 53° 22.324 W 006° 10.374. Further along the path is another ornamental bridge, this one containing a Hermits Cell in the Gothic style.
How many open windows are there into the hermits cell? Answer = G
STAGE 8: N 53° 22.294 W 6° 10.505. Continue along the path, passing under the (very low) Rustic Bridge, another ornamental bridge, you will come to the Clock Tower. Built in 1850, the tower has three floors and access to the first floor was via an external staircase (now removed) with internal ladders to the other floors. There is no enclosed ground floor as the tower forms the entrance to the former walled gardens. The clock has one dial facing eastwards towards the old house.
Waist high on the gate. How many gold painted 'arrowheads' are there? Answer = H
If you are visiting during weekday working hours I recommend going around the corner and through the gate into the walled garden (if open) to see the physic garden, Suzhou garden and look through the fence at The Shell House at N 53° 22.314 W 006° 10.531. Shellwork was a popular and socially approved hobby for refined ladies in the 18th and 19th Centuries. A shell house might be a purpose-built, rustic style pavilion, or a conversion of an existing garden building. A complex shell house or grotto could take decades for an obsessive owner to create. During the 18th Century, a passion for shell-collecting resulted in inflated prices for rare and imported shells from dealers sold at auction to wealthy collectors. Many shell houses cost their owners small fortunes to create, and they were a source of competition amongst gentry, who kept lists of specimens in their grottoes.
STAGE 9: N 53° 22.133 W 6° 10.329. Head across the avenue and over to the Annie Lee Tower Bridge. Benjamin Lee Guinness built the Sham Ruin in the form of a bridge and tower in 1838 on the birth of his first child, Annie Lee. The bridge arches over what was originally the main entrance drive into St. Anne’s, with access from the main road just beside the gate lodge 100m to the southeast. It was the first folly built on the estate, and the starting point of a formal walk along the ‘Grand Terrace’ a 700 ft long walk overlooking Dublin Bay and to the main house. This walk was lined on both sides by a yew hedge, with clipped alcoves for statuary and arched openings with alternating views toward the house and sea. Sadly all that remains is the wall to the seaward side. Annie Lee’s Tower was driven under by Queen Victoria on her last state visit to Ireland in 1900.
Look at the commemorative plaque on the wall. What is the first number/digit on the date on the second line? Answer = I
Go up the steps inside the tower.
Cache is hidden a short walk away at N53 (A+D+E+H).(F-E)(D+G)(B-F) W006 (H+I).(D-C)(E+G)(H-B)
