Places and People
Here is a list of fifty places and people of interest from the town of Bray:St Paul's
Said to have been built in 1609, the present church became a chapel of ease in 1863 on the consecration of Christ Church. It closed in 1973
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Bray Castle
Built in 1173 by Walter de Riddlesford, exact site unknown, attacked and burned down in 1316, repaired in 1334 and demolished sometime after -
Bray Military Barracks
Built in 1692 and used in the 1798 Rebellion this barracks became a dispensary in 1818 and was converted to private dwellings in 1969 -
Bray Bridge
First bridge built in 1666, collapsed in a storm in 1741 and was then rebuilt. The present bridge was built in 1856 -
Little Bray Castle
Built in 1459 with a grant of £10.00 it was in use as a Police Barracks in 1836 and then converted to a private residence in 1905. Demolished in 1937 -
Old Court Castle
ocated off the Vevay Road, built by the Earl of Ormond in 1433 currently in ruins (private property). An early Christian socket stone stands nearby -
Fassaroe Castle
Built in 1536 by 'Master Tresover' tradition has it that it was destroyed by Oliver Cromwell's forces -
St. Valery's Cross
A small granite cross brought here from elsewhere. It has a pierced ring at the top with a representation of the Crucifixion. Its date is uncertain but it is probably 15th/16th century -
Kilsaran Cross
Kilsaran Cross is an early cross pillar (Pillar with Greek Cross cut into it) -
Kilcroney Church
The name suggests that it was founded by St Croine, first mentioned in 1280 Raheen-a-Cluig -
The Little Rath of the Bell, dating from 1200AD
The ruins of this church consist of a doorway in the northeast wall and round headed windows in the east and west gables -
The War Memorial
The population of Bray in 1914 was 6,000, over 900 Bray men enlisted to fight in the War to end all wars. 155 of them were killed, their names can be seen inscribed on this cross -
The Carlisle Grounds
Home of Bray Wanderers, the Carlisle grounds was laid out by William Dargan in 1862 -
Yann Renard Goulet RHA
Born in Brittany in 1917, died 1999. Sculptor and painter -
Seapoint Road
At one time this was the only access to the sea -
Martello Towers
There were three Martello Towers built in Bray, no. 1 which stood on a site near the end of the Promenade railings was demolished in 1884. No. 2, still in existence is now a private dwelling and stands beside the Harbour, while no. 3 stood on a site north of the Harbour and fell into the sea in the 1880s. -
The Harbour Bar
Films made in or near the Harbour Bar include: 'Of Human Bondage' starring Laurence Harvey and Kim Novak; 'Country Dance' with Peter O'Toole and Susanna York; 'Breakfast on Pluto' directed by Neil Jordan and the Sally O'Brien Guinness ad -
The Harbour
Work commenced in 1891, the total area of the harbour is seven acres. There was a lighthouse on the end of the South Pier which was destroyed in 1957 by Hurricane Carrie -
Martello Terrace
A terrace of Victorian houses built in 1860, once the home of James Joyce and the film directory Neil Jordan. -
The Promenade
Built between 1884 and 1886 by McAlpine at a cost of €20,000 -
Sealife
Built on the site of the old Bray Baths offering regular informative talks and feeding presentations. This centre features an interesting collection of sea creatures -
Brennans Terrace
A row of 12 houses built in 1859, one time home to the playwright Lennox Robinson 1886-1958, author of 'The White Headed Boy' (1918) and the 'Big House' (1926). Also home to Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu 1814-1873 author of 'Uncle Silas' 1864 and the 'House by the Churchyard (1868) -
The Roman Burial
In 1835 workmen digging foundations for gate piers where Esplanade Terrace is today, uncovered several skeletons which were placed side by side and separated by thin stone flags. A number of Roman coins were found buried with the bodies. -
Sir William Wilde
(Oscar Wilde's father) 1815-1876 was an eye and ear surgeon and a prolific author -
Lady Jane Wilde
(Oscar Wilde's mother) The author of 'Ancient Legends, Mystic Charms and Superstitions of Ireland' under the pseudonym 'Spiranza'