James Franklin Fuller


James Franklin Fuller was an Irish actor, architect and novelist.

Life

Fuller was born at Nedanone, County Kerry, the only son of Thomas Harnett Fuller of Glashnacree, County Kerry, by his first wife, Frances Diana, a daughter of Francis Christopher Bland of Derryquin Castle. He was educated in Blackrock, County Cork, and Dublin.
In 1850 he went to London where he qualified as an architect, and later moved to Manchester.
In 1862 he became a district architect under the Board of Ecclesiastical Commissioners in Ireland. In 1869, after the Church of Ireland was disestablished, he set up his own practice in Dublin. Two years later he became architect to the Representative Church Body and shortly afterwards was appointed architect to St. Patrick's Cathedral, as well as to a number of other institutions.
He ran a busy, though, according to his memoirs, unconventional, practice, not keeping ledgers or books and disdaining keeping financial records. As well as his ecclesiastical projects and public building works, he designed a number of large houses around Kerry. He designed Kylemore Abbey in the 1860s and a few years later the neighbouring neo-Gothic church, a building of international significance.
He wrote works of fiction, including Culmshire Folk and John Orlebar, Clerk and many articles of a historical and genealogical nature.
He was a great-grandfather of actress Peggy Cummins.

Works

Some of his more prominent projects include:
ProjectYear CompletedLocationNotesImage
Kylemore Castle1868-1875, 1878-1884Connemara, County Galway, Republic of IrelandThe castle was designed by James Franklin Fuller, initially together with Ussher Roberts, in a neo-gothic style.
Derreen House and Gardens1871-1873Near Kenmare, County Kerry, Republic of Ireland.Originally built in the first half of the eighteenth century, the house was remodeled by James Franklin Fuller.
Ashford Castle1875-1881Near Cong, County Galway, Republic of IrelandVictorian rebuilding of a medieval castle from the 13th century.
Farmleigh House1881-1884Castleknock, Dublin, Republic of IrelandOnce a small Georgian house built in the 18th century, it was subject to a major renovation programme between 1881 and 1884 by James Franklin Fuller.
St Catherine's Church1885Thomas Street, Dublin, Republic of IrelandReordering of interior, including the removal of box-pews and two East bays of gallery, relocation of the pulpit to North side of chancel arch.
Kenmare Hotel 1894Kenmare, County Kerry, Republic of IrelandBuilt the hotel for the Great Southern and Western Railway.
Parknasilla Hotel1894Sneem, County Kerry, Republic of IrelandBuilt the hotel for the Great Southern and Western Railway.