Vernon Mount

Vernon Mount (sometimes Vernon Mount House or Mount Vernon) is a Georgian manor house in Cork, Ireland.[1] It was built between the 1780s and early 1790s[2] to designs attributed to Abraham Hargrave.[3][4] Originally built for the merchant Hayes family, the house was named for Mount Vernon, the home of US president George Washington.[5] Passing through several owners, the house remained largely disused and subject to deterioration from the late 20th century. In 2016 a significant fire largely gutted the house, leading to speculation as to its future.

Vernon Mount
Rear of Vernon Mount following 2016 fire
Location within Ireland
General information
TypeManor house
Architectural styleGeorgian
LocationCork, Ireland
CountryIreland
Coordinates51°52′20″N 8°27′28″W
Construction started1780s
Technical details
Floor count3 (2 over basement)
Design and construction
ArchitectAbraham Hargrave (attrib)

Construction and design

Some sources imply that Vernon Mount was built in 1784,[6] while others suggest it was completed after 1789 following the arrival of Abraham Hargrave in Cork.[3] Hargrave designed a number of buildings in the city at this time, including Cork's military barracks.[7] The house was built for and by Atwell Hayes (d.1799) a wealthy brewer and miller.[8][9] Following the death of his wife, Atwell Hayes did not take up occupancy, but instead leased the estate to his son, Henry Browne Hayes (1762–1832).[10] Browne Hayes reputedly spent significant sums on the interior of the house, including murals and other artworks by artist Nathaniel Grogan (1740–1807). Several of Grogan's works adorned doorways and other internal architectural elements, including a work depicting Minerva on a large curved ceiling.[10] The curved elevations, staircase, oval atrium, and interior decorations made Vernon Mount, according to the Irish Georgian Society "unique in the history of the Irish villa and [..] a building of national importance".[11]

History and ownership

Following the death of his own wife, Henry Browne Hayes abducted a local heiress named Mary Pike, and in 1797 reputedly forced her into a marriage ceremony at the estate.[12][11] Hayes was later convicted of kidnap, but had a death sentence commuted to penal transportation to Australia.[13]

Passing through several owners,[8] by the late 20th century the Vernon Mount estate was owned for a period by the Cork and Munster Motorcycle and Car Club.[14] The club used the demesne for motocross and similar events.[15] The house was sold to a private investor in the 1990s,[16][17] though a planning application for redevelopment as apartments and a hotel was not successful.[18]

Today

The Irish Georgian Society, World Monuments Fund, An Taisce and other stakeholder groups listed the building as a risk,[19][20] and attempts were made to slow the effects of deterioration, roof damage, water issues and vandalism over a number of decades.[4][21] Although in private ownership, public funds were allocated by the Department of Arts and Heritage which allowed Cork County Council to undertake roof repairs in 2012.[22]

Despite recommendations for a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) (to bring the building into permanent state ownership and protection),[21] a severe fire in July 2016 reduced the structure to a largely empty shell.[23] Following the fire, there was some speculation as to the future of the house and site.[18] In September 2016, Cork County Council voted in favour of prosecuting the owners of Vernon Mount for "fail[ure] to secure the protected structure",[24] and to "convey to the owners and occupiers of all [other] protected structures the need to uphold their societal responsibility".[25]

As of July 2017, there were renewed calls to bring the site into public ownership, and to stabilise the structure with a view to preserving its shell.[26]

References
  1. "Vernon Mount Park – History". Grange Frankfield Partnership. Retrieved 29 July 2016.
  2. "Buildings of Ireland – Vernon Mount, Cork, County Cork". National Inventory of Architectural Heritage. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
  3. "Vernon Mount Park – Architecture Cork". Grange Frankfield Partnership. Retrieved 29 July 2016.
  4. "Cork Past & Present > Vernon Mount". Cork City Library. Retrieved 29 July 2016.
  5. Sylvia Thompson. "Why we should save Cork's Vernon Mount". Irish Times. Retrieved 29 July 2016.
  6. Mark Bence-Jones (1990). A Guide to Irish Country Houses. Burkes, London. p. 281. ISBN 9780094699908.
  7. "Abraham Hargrave – List of works". Dictionary of Irish Architects. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
  8. "Vernon Mount – Owners & Occupiers". Grange Frankfield Partnership. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
  9. "Famous Characters - Attiwell Hayes". Triskel Arts Centre. Retrieved 15 August 2016.
  10. "Vernon Mount and Atwell Hayes". Sirhenrybrownehayes.com. Retrieved 15 August 2016.
  11. "Conservation – Vernon Mount, Co. Cork". Irish Georgian Society. Archived from the original on 1 August 2016. Retrieved 1 August 2016.
  12. "History – Abduction and Conviction". Vernon Mount Park. Retrieved 1 August 2016.
  13. "Famous Characters – Sir Henry Browne Hayes". Triskelartscentre.ie. Triskel Christchurch – History & Heritage. Retrieved 1 August 2016.
  14. "This historic Cork mansion was the scene of a kidnapping, and it's now at risk". Thejournal.ie. 4 October 2014. Retrieved 29 July 2016.
  15. "Motocross Venues – Vernon Mount Cork". motocross.ie. Retrieved 29 July 2016.
  16. "Vernon Mount owner 'gutted' at loss but believes property can be saved". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 29 July 2016.
  17. Barry Roche. "Cork council defends decision not to buy Vernon Mount House". Irish Times. Retrieved 29 July 2016.
  18. Kelly O'Brien (25 July 2016). "Gutted co-owner against Vernon Mount demolition". Evening Echo. Retrieved 29 July 2016.
  19. "Vernon Mount, Co. Cork | Irish Georgian Society". Irish Georgian Society. 25 September 2013. Archived from the original on 1 August 2016. Retrieved 29 July 2016.
  20. "World Monuments Watch – 2008 List of Most Endangered Sites" (PDF). World Monuments Fund. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 July 2011.
  21. "An Taisce seeks action on Vernon Mount Fire – CPO action by Cork County Council required". An Taisce. 25 July 2016.
  22. "Fire extensively damages historic Co Cork house Vernon Mount". Irish Times. 24 July 2016. Retrieved 1 August 2016.
  23. Barry Roche (25 July 2016). "Shock and dismay at destruction of historic Vernon Mount in Cork". Irish Times. Retrieved 29 July 2016.
  24. Sean O'Riordan (13 September 2016). "Councillors vote for action against owners of Mount Vernon". Irish Examiner.
  25. Olivia Kelleher (19 September 2016). "Council to take legal action against Vernon Mount owners". Irish Times.
  26. Eoin English (25 July 2017). "Campaigners want transfer of Georgian villa to public ownership". Irish Examiner.
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