Survey Data
Reg No
50930105
Rating
Regional
Categories of Special Interest
Architectural, Artistic
Original Use
House
In Use As
Office
Date
1815 - 1825
Coordinates
316637, 233129
Date Recorded
25/09/2015
Date Updated
--/--/--
Description
Attached two-bay four-storey over basement former townhouse, built c. 1820, with two-stage return to rear (east). Now in use as offices. Pitched roof to west, irregular M-profiled hipped roofs to rear (east) span, concealed by brick parapet with masonry coping. Shouldered rendered chimneystacks to south party wall with replacement clay pots. Parapet gutters. Brown brick walling laid in Flemish bond, rendered walling to basement beneath granite plinth course. Square-headed window openings with brick voussoirs, patent reveals and masonry sills; granite surrounds to basement opening. Timber sliding sash windows, possibly original with some historic glass; largely six-over-six, three-over-three to third floor with convex horns and eight-over-eight to basement. Wrought-iron guard rails to second floor openings, cast-iron balconettes to first floor and cast-iron grille to basement. Round-headed door opening with brick voussoirs, moulded reveals and recessed surround containing fluted frieze and moulded cornice carried on Ionic columns over plinth stops, with replacement spoked leaded fanlight and raised-and-field timber panelled door. Granite entrance platform with cast-iron boot scraper, approached by three granite steps flanked by iron railings with decorative cast-iron corner posts on granite plinth, enclosing basement to south-side. Coal-hole cover to pavement. Mild-steel steps to basement. Street fronted on Fitzwilliam Street Upper. Two-storey recent mews building to rear forming eastern boundary on Lad Lane.
Appraisal
Built as a pair with adjoining building to south (50930106), this former townhouse retains its traditional form and proportions, mellow brick which contrasts with the granite dressings, well executed ironwork, and handsome Ionic doorcase and fanlight. The development of Fitzwilliam Street Upper began on the north-end of the western side during the early-nineteenth century. Taken as a whole with Fitzwilliam Street Upper and the east-side of the Merrion Square, this uninterrupted stretch constitutes the longest piece of Georgian streetscape in Dublin. Although largely homogenous in character and form, the subtle variations between the houses are indicative of the speculative nature of development.