The house was built between 1712-1716 by Colonel William Flower (from 1733 Baron Castle Durrow) as a family home.

[3][citation needed] A large castellated tudor revival gate lodge was constructed for the house and grounds around 1835.

[4] The Flower family retained ownership of the estate until 1922, when they were forced to sell up and ultimately moved to England.

It was bought by a Mr. Maher of Freshford, County Kilkenny who was primarily interested in the estate's timber reserves.

[6] After standing empty for some years the house itself was bought by the parish of Durrow for £1,800 and transformed in 1929 into a school as St Fintan's College and Convent, and remained in use for that purpose until 1987.