Blacker of Woodbrook

The Blacker home at Woodbrook which was built in the late 18th century has one of the most impressive staircases ever seen. It is described by Culleton in his ‘Treasures of the Landscape’: “ the unique staircase is a most beautiful unsupported curve, so sprung that a cat walking on it makes it vibrate.’ To quote Timothy Riordan “Woodbrook is a deceptively vast block of a house and its beauty lies in its perfect proportions and haunting setting high on the Blackstairs mountains. The staircase or flying spiral is a tour de force of the joinery art, unique it is believed in Ireland and possibly in Europe. In the halcyon days at Woodbrook before 1914 the great aunts used to whoosh down the bannisters being caught by the Butler at the bottom. The last Blacker who tried that in the 1960s fell and broke his arm!”
The house may have been built by the Ven. Arthur Jacob for his daughter Susan who married William Blacker. Woodbrook House itself was a model period home and boasted dimensions in keeping with the importance of the occupants. The windows were another special feature, built in the Wyatt

style and the Gardens which were formal and spectacular were laid out to the front and rear of the main house.

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