Survey Data

Reg No

50010819


Rating

Regional


Categories of Special Interest

Architectural, Artistic


Original Use

House


Historical Use

School


In Use As

Apartment/flat (converted)


Date

1790 - 1795


Coordinates

315989, 235499


Date Recorded

08/12/2011


Date Updated

--/--/--


Description

Terraced three-bay four-storey house over raised basement, built c.1792, having full-height bow to rear (north) elevation. Now in multiple occupancy. Double-pile slate roof, hipped to west to front (south) elevation, with two hipped projections set perpendicular to rear and red brick chimneystack to east party wall, hidden behind rebuilt red brick parapet wall with granite coping. Red brick wall laid in Flemish Bond having flush pointing, rebuilt above third floor sill level, to moulded granite plinth course over ruled-and-lined rendered wall to basement. Gauged brick flat-arch window openings with brick reveals, granite sills and replacement timber sash windows, six-over-six pane to lower floors and three-over-three pane to top floor. Cast-iron balconettes to first floor window openings, render architraves to basement windows openings. Window opening to west of basement adapted to form door opening. Gauged brick segmental-arched door opening having rendered reveal and painted stone Ionic doorcase, with replacement timber panelled door flanked by engaged Ionic columns supporting fluted lintel cornice and replacement fanlight with moulded masonry surround. Door opens onto granite platform having remnants of cast-iron bootscrapers and five granite steps bridging the basement. Platform and basement enclosed by original wrought-iron railings and cast-iron corner posts set on moulded granite plinth wall to street with matching iron gate providing basement access. Concrete steps having metal railings to basement. Square-headed window opening with replacement timber sash window under entrance platform. Two cast-iron coal hole covers set in granite flags to pavement to front, doors to basement area serving under-pavement stores.

Appraisal

This house retains much of its early character, and is enlivened by decorative cast-iron balconettes to the first floor windows and a fine Ionic doorcase. Coal-hole covers to the pavement to the front add technical interest, and the retention of the stone and metal features and detailing to the basement and entrance areas contributes significantly to the architectural heritage value of the building, and the whole in turn forms a significant part of what is one of Dublin's key Georgian squares. The square itself was built on lands formerly belonging to St. Mary’s Abbey and laid out in 1790 by Luke Gardiner II, completed by 1818. Originally called Gardiner Square, the plan was to develop a strong vista from Custom House to Mountjoy Square and thence to the planned Royal Circus. Unlike other Georgian squares in the city, this example was more carefully laid out with a unified parapet height and the east-west approaches offset to create a sense of enclosure. After falling into serious neglect and dereliction throughout the twentieth-century resulting in the loss of one third of its original buildings, the square has been considerably repaired.