Ardkeen House

Ardkeen House or 'Elva' as it was originally called, was a two storey house. It was built by John Malcomson from the large quaker family of ship builders who settled in Waterford in the 17th century and who also founded the cotton mills in Portlaw.

It was later owned by the de Bromhead family and now is part of the Waterford Regional Hospital. The original house was demolished in 1994 to build a laundry and today only the gate lodge remains.

Ardkeen House was an Italianate house and was built by J.S. Mulvany between 1864-1866. It would have been painted white, lined and rendered with a west front of five bays and two storeys with a parapet. The main house was flanked by quadrant walls with gates and pavilions. Today just the gate lodge survives. Click here for photographs from the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage. 

Further Information

A Guide to Irish Country Houses Mark Bence-Jones 

Shipbuilding in Waterford Bill Irish (2001)

The Architecture of John Skipton Mulvany (1813-1870) Frederick O'Dwyer Irish Architectural & Decorative Studies. Vol. III 2000, pp.46-53

Ireland's Hospitals 1930-1955 J O'Seehan and E. de Barra 

National Inventory of Architectural Heritage Click here   

Other Big Houses

Ballinakill 

Glenville

Little Island and Waterford Castle 

Other Big Houses

Ardkeen History - Index