Marlay House, Dublin 16

Marlay House, in the grounds of Marlay Park was built by Thomas Taylor and was known as ‘The Grange’.

David La Touche, first governor of the newly established Bank of Ireland acquired and extended the house in 1764 and renamed it for his wife Elizabeth. The house, which is a fine example of Georgian architecture, has many elaborate features including plasterwork by Michael Stapleton.

Marlay was sold in 1864 to Robert Tedcastle, a well known Dublin coal merchant, whose family lived there until 1925 when Philip Love bought the house for £8,325. Love, a market gardener who was once Ireland's largest tomato producer, was also a racehorse breeder whose famous horse Larkspur won the 1962 Epsom Derby. He lived there until 1972 when it was donated the house the Dublin County Council.

A large walled garden was built near the house around 1794, and consists of a restored regency ornamental and kitchen gardens. The ornamental garden boasts an extensive display of period plants, ranging from herbaceous borders to shrub beds. Located just over the wall, the kitchen garden houses a fine collection of regency fruit trees, vegetables and associated bothys.

Daily tours of the gardens are available in the summer months and by appointment at other times. Tea, coffee and other refreshments are available, year round, in the former gardener’s house.