Survey Data
Reg No
50930109
Rating
Regional
Categories of Special Interest
Architectural, Artistic
Original Use
House
In Use As
Office
Date
1815 - 1825
Coordinates
316622, 233101
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. M-profiled, hipped to north of rear (east) span, concealed by brick parapet with masonry coping. Brick chimneystacks over rendered base to south party wall with lipped yellow clay pots. Parapet gutters with cast-iron hopper and downpipe (replacements) breaking through to north side. Brown brick walling laid in Flemish bond, rendered walling to basement beneath granite plinth course. Square-headed window openings with brick voussoirs, rendered reveals and largely cast-concrete sills; granite surrounds to basement opening. Largely six-over-six possibly original timber sliding sash windows with some historic glass, eight-over-eight to basement and three-over-three replacement timber casements to third floor. Cast-iron balconettes to first floor openings and cast-iron grille to basement opening. Round-headed door opening with brick voussoirs, moulded reveals and recessed surround containing a panelled frieze and moulded cornice carried on Ionic columns over plinth stops, spoked fanlight and raised-and-field timber panelled door with replacement brass furniture. Granite entrance platform with cast-iron boot scraper, approached by four 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. Street fronted on eastern side of Fitzwilliam Street Upper. Modernised flat-roofed two-storey mews building to rear (east). Roughcast and painted boundary wall lining Lad Lane with round-headed carriage-arch and separate pedestrian door opening having metal-sheeted and timber gates respectively.
Appraisal
Built as a pair with the adjoining building to south (50930110), 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.