The Lodge - Togher Cross

Perhaps one of Togher's more iconic landmarks is the Lodge located at Togher Cross. Built in 1820 to serve as a Gatekeepers house onto the Estate of the Sarsfields , it is constructed of limestone blocks. The Lodge served as the access point onto a Private Road which lead up to the Sarsfields Big House ( now converted to office usage ). This beautiful building has withstood the rigours of the Irish weather for close on two Centuries! It originally had two high walls either side of the structure with a gate and longer wall on its right side which extended to the now extinct stream wall on the corner. There was a small boundary wall on the left of the house which enclosed a garden. This wall sported a waterspout which disappeared in the 1960s. The roof was replaced in the 1930s by Marshall & Scully from Pouladuff Road who used to carry out all the Sarsfields maintenance work. An extension was added onto the west side in the 1940s.

Lough Harriers at Togher Cross 
by the Lodge circa 1923

The Lodge has been famous in days of yore for being the starting point for Bowling and as a meeting place for the Lough Harriers ; and in more modern times as the terminus for the number 14 Bus. The Togher bus pre - 1970s gave rise to a famous Cork saying : " Stay in by the walls and mind the buses " - made famous by a Cork Comedien. This was in reference to Togher's past when it was a long country road , walled for the most part along its route.

The Lodge as seen in modern times 
sans high walls and gate

The Lodge has seen many uses down the years : from a Gatekeepers House to a Private School ( Non- Denominational but fee - paying ) to Private Residence to Dental Clinic. It stopped being used as a Lodge in 1947 when Sarsfield sold his Estates to the S.M.A. and moved to England.

The Lodge circa 1940s with the Spillanes

Note original Gate and High Wall to right of building

Known Occupants as shown below:

1830s to 1849 - Private School

1849 - Riordans

1900 - Teddy O'Niell

1920 - Sextons

Late 1940s to 1999 - Spillanes ( Tom d. 1993 ; Hannah d. 1999 )

1999 to 2005 - Vacant

2005 - Dental Clinic

N.B.A. Flats - National Building Agency

The National Building Agency or N.B.A. was a Semi - State Company established on 13th December 1960 by the Government to tackle the issue of Social Housing in order to facilitate the needs of Industrial Workers.

 National Building Agency logo

They erected the original Deanrock Estate and the 3 - Storey Flat Complexes between 1968 and 1971. To accomplish this , they demolished the old derelict Deanrock House and surrounding walls as well as the workmen's Cottages which fronted onto Togher Road. However , they kept the original tree lined entrance to the house which served as a walkway between the Flats. The old Summerstown Lane was re-routed towards the new Clashduv Road.

Extract from N.B.A. company history document

Perhaps their lasting legacy was the former so called N.B.A. Flats finally demolished in 2005. Not only had they become an eyesore and a pocket of anti-social behaviour , but they also left a bitter taste in the mouths of those who were resident in them. Even though the rest of the sprawling Estate was also built by the National Building Agency , it was the Flats who acquired the hated name of N.B.A. or even " M.B.A. " as local children knew them. No other Estate in Togher had its builders name foisted upon them. Owenacurra Court and most of Shournagh Lawn are no more.

 Original lane into Deanrock House in September 1968

Even the walkways were lifted and now all that remains are the original trees and a stepped walkway leading off the newly named Deanrock Avenue which terminates at a wall. To this day they are the only structures ( apart from the Southside Shopping Centre which was erected on the site of the former Cashduff House ) from the building spree of the 1960s and early 1970s in Togher to be demolished!

N.B.A. estate under construction 1969
*Note flats still under development

N.B.A. estate fully completed 1971
( courtesy of Dave Coughlan )

N.B.A. estate 1973
*Note dirt track across bog

Extract from Social Impact study
 of Deanrock Estate circa 1970s

The following still of the N.B.A. Flats from an 8mm film shot by Denis Long in 1973 shows a group of unknown youths posing for his camera. The Togher Historical Association would like to thank Mr. Long for permission to use this and other stills in various posts throughout the Blog.

Photo still from Denis long 8mm Film 1973

The following photo stills are from a Frameworks Films documentary filmed in 2005 ( see link at bottom of page ) and breathes life into the now gone Housing Scheme. All images are used with permission.

 Original pathway entrance to former Deanrock House

 Rear view of Shournagh Lawn flats

 Shournagh Lawn as seen from Togher Road

 Owenacurra Court and its green courtyard

 View of Owenacuura Court from Clashduv Road

Alternate view of pathway through Owenacurra

The following two photos are courtesy of the O'Riordan Family and show 2 of their siblings in and around the N.B.A. Flats in the early 1980s. The last snapshot shows Eamonn Pearse and family and friends at the bus stop with Owenacurra Court in the background circa 1976. The site to their immediate rear would become the Lough Credit Union in 1981.

 Billy O'Riordan playing by Owenaccura Court

Joan O'Riordan and friend circa 1983

Eamonn Pearse with family & friends circa 1976

The video below shows some of the demolition in progress. Click on the video link to view on YouTube as the owner has disabled viewing on other web sites. It is ironic that a former Big House - the titular Deanrock - was knocked to build the Flats. Now both are gone forever.

  

Demolition of N.B.A. Flats 
a.k.a. Deanrock Complex , Togher

This Video would appear to be publicly shared by Sandymount Productions and is hosted on the blog.

Alternate Video of Demolition 2007


To view Deanrock N.B.A. Flats movie documentary click here!