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| Killarney a.k.a Stollmeyer's Castle. Taken Sunday 14th February, 2016 |
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| Killarney a.k.a Stollmeyer's Castle. Taken Sunday 14th February, 2016 |
Killarney was constructed on lands that, at the time, were previously utilized as Government Stock Farm and was the first house of the Magnificent Seven to be erected. Another commonly recognised name is Stollmeyer’s Castle, named after Charles Fourier Stollmeyer, the man who constructed the building in 1902, based on plans draughted by Scottish architect Robert Gillies. The name Killarney arose when Mr. Stollmeyer and his wife gave the residence to his son and his daughter-in-law who re-named it after a town in County Kerry, southwest Ireland, where she wished to spend her honeymoon. Killarney was patterned after a wing of Balmoral Castle, the private residence of the Queen, in Scotland and is therefore reminiscent of Scottish Baronial architectural design.
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| Balmoral Castle. (Source: The official website of The British Monarchy; accessed February29th, 2016) Inspiration for the design of Killarney |
Scottish Baronial is a
design which originally appeared along the boarders of England during the latter of the Middle Ages. The
tower houses that could be commonly seen at the time were strictly a functional
response to the violence and insecurity that existed from the 14th
to the 17th century’s Wars of Independence in Scotland. Within a decade, the
style had emerged nationally, and served some aesthetic purpose rather than
functionality. There was an increased emphasis on details in the form of
turrets, steeper roofs and other decorative features, such as gabled
round-towers which could be seen in Claypotts Castle, Dundee shown below:
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| Claypotts Castle, Dundee. (Source: Researching Historic Buildings in the British Isles; accessed February 29th, 2016) |
FUN Fact: Killarney was
occupied by US forces during WWII, and afterwards occupied by members of the
Stollmeyer family until 1972 when it was purchased by insurance executive Jessy
Henry.
Currently, there is an initiative for restoration undertaken by the Office of the Prime Minister, in collaboration with the Citizens for Conservation. Among the other seven historical buildings, Killarney was one that was in relatively good condition at first sight.
Currently, there is an initiative for restoration undertaken by the Office of the Prime Minister, in collaboration with the Citizens for Conservation. Among the other seven historical buildings, Killarney was one that was in relatively good condition at first sight.
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| Stollmeyer's Castle Restoration Project. Taken Sunday 14th February, 2016 |
