From Sonairte
1570 : An inquisition taken in 1570, on the death of Janico Preston, 3rd viscount Gormanston, cites his will which names his cousin John Preston of Ninche.
1622 : A declaration made in 1622 by Jenico Preston, 5th viscount Gormanston, names the heirs male of Robert Preston of Nynch as third in line to the lands of the Gormanston Estate.
1655 - 1659 : The Downs Survey Map shows Holliwood of Arlagan, Netterville of Ballygarth and Robert Preston at Ninch. It appears that after the civil disturbances of 1640's, the manor of Ninch was forfeited by Robert Preston and granted to Stephen Ludlow, a Dublin lawyer and nephew of Edmund Ludlow , a parliamentary general in the Cromwellian army. It is likely that the "lawn" house, which is in the Queen Anne Planter style, was built by the Ludlow family. It has been dated 1710-1780.
1792 : The lands at Ninch & Rogerstown held by the Ludlow family since the distribution of the 1650's were sold to Edmund Doran of Haddington Rd ,Dublin. They remained in the Doran and O'Ferrell-Doran families for almost 100 years.
1891 : The lands were sold by sisters Sarah Mary, Elizabeth and Mary O'Ferrall Doran to Frederick Hans Kennedy, a Dublin lawyer. During his ownership the house was extended. The extended part forms the southern flank of the main courtyard and consists of a red brick two storey structure with a central raised block and balancing wings with arcaded brickwork reveals.
1914 : Frederick Kennedy of Frascati, Blackrock, Co. Dublin sold the Ninch West property to Col. Charles Pepper of Ballygarth Castle. The property had been part of the Ballygarth estate since 1856 ,when lands at Ninch were first leased by Charles Pepper. A report made at the time of sale describes the property as "..in the occupation of gentlemen farmers for many years ..the house, large garden and extensive orchard prove this... the farm buildings are old and substantial but of recent years have fallen somewhat into disrepair". On the death of Col. Charles Pepper, the Ninch property passed to his widow, Edith Julia Dobbin-Pepper.
1939 : Francis Stafford purchased the Ninch West property, but as the family lived in Laytown where they owned a pub and grocery, the house at the Ninch remained unoccupied. His brother James looked after the farm at the Ninch and the fruit from the orchard there was used to supply Lamb's jam factory in Dublin. Ownership of the property transferred to James Stafford & Sons Ltd. in 1941.
1977 : Luc Van Doorslaer, who had been farming at Ninch East since the early 1960s , purchased the Ninch West property from the Stafford family in 1977. Since then the larger part of the land has been farmed but the house has remained unoccupied.
1989 : Sonairte was established when Mr. Van Doorslaer offered the buildings at Ninch West to a group of environmentalists. Since then renovation and development at Ninch West has continued with the assistance of FAS.
