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Windgates House SEPT15
indgates House – or, as some like to call it, Windgate Villa (which might be mix-up) – stands as 
one of the most impressive homes in this particular neck of the woods…
indgates House – or, as some like to call it, Windgate Villa (which might be 
one of the most impressive homes in this particular neck of the woods…
Windgates entrance 1950s. Ray Cranley
Perched atop Windgates itself, looking out over the town, and all the comings and goings on the main Greystones-Bray road below, sure, it’s a frickin’ palace.
Having being abandoned many years ago, Derelict Ireland have now paid it a visit – to see just how much of it has returned to earth, and how much of it is still clinging on. Shades of its former glory abound.
Windgates House 1950s Ray Cranley
The house belonged to the Fox family for generations, the last being the late Billy, who lived there with his wife and family. There were actually two Fox families with farms in Windgates – Artie Fox and Kit Fox. Both just up the hill from Darcy’s Farm.
Anyone who knows the actual history of the house, and why it was left to rot, please let us know in the comments section below. Quite a few locals have tried to put it together here.
Pic: Justin Blake Abandoned Ireland
And artist Ray Cranley has charted life growing up in this house’s shadow here.
The pics below are by Lainey Quinn, and if you want to see more of her Derelict Ireland work, you can visit the YouTube page here.
Also, as of 2017, the house and its surrounding 50 acres is back up for sale. There’s that local history of sorts on boards.ie here, plus a mildly crappy 2009 video tour of the house at the bottom of the page here.
17 comments
This was my great grandparents house
I worked there as a young fella in the 60s. I knew Kit and his wife and Ned Phelan who worked there as well. They must have been one of the last to use horses for all activities. They had two mares (a grey and a white one) who did everything from ploughing to bringing in the hay on a low slung drey with a ratchet system tp pull the haycock onto it. Pretty hard work but great memories at the same time.
By any chance do you remember a massey 35 that came there in 1963? A four cylinder. I own it now but interested to know!
Anyone know the sale price? I’ve seen the video. It is in a bad state but looks like it has great bones!!!
I’m guessing the real estate agent might have an idea…
This amazing house is for sale it is Zoned E though which means it has to be bought to brig employment into the area…maybe turning it into a nursing home etc
I remember as a child walking up to the farm with a can for the milk in the late ’40s/ early ’50s, from our cottage across the road. Lovely memories, and so sad to see it derelict.
Hi My great grandfather apparently worked in Windgate as a coachman in 1890s /1900s. It is poignant to see a photo of the stables he would have worked in! I would love to know something of the history of the house. Anyone know more?
Anyone know who holds the deed to the property now? I live nearby and see it everyday on my way to work. For some unknown reason, this house just touches something inside me. Pulls my heartstrings to see it like this. Would be a dream of mine to gut it and replicate as many original features as possible.
I played about the yard in the 1940s. Sorry to hear that Billy is dead. The last time we spoke was on a long train journey some years ago. R.I.P.
This was my great grandparents house
My dad asking for more info on Boys Brigade site on Fox’s farm (Billy Fox?) . Anyone in 14th BB Company, camped on site ? Jackie Brown. Thomas Glover. Andrew Gray.
Hi, I believe my great grandmother lived there for a period, my mother who is in her 60s now remembers visiting her grandmother there and how beautiful it was. Such an absolute shame to see it descend into such absolute ruin. It’s shameful, how in Ireland compared to other countries, we don’t protect and maintain our heritage more.
my greatgrandparents lived there
I first saw this house in 1972 in all it’s wonderful glory I stayed in the hut on the top field it was used by the 14th company boys brigade as a retreat. Such great memories
Revisited here at the weekend and it is in a right state of decay to the point of the whole upper floor is ready to collapse. Such a shame as it was such a beautiful home. I first visited here about 6 years ago and it was in a state where it could of been done up easily, it is gone too far now to be salvaged.
This was my greatgrandparents house , the Fox family. Have some history about their life there.