Survey Data
Reg No
50060044
Rating
Regional
Categories of Special Interest
Architectural, Historical
Previous Name
Under Secretary’s Lodge / Papal Nunciature
Original Use
Demesne walls/gates/railings
In Use As
Gates/railings/walls
Date
1760 - 1800
Coordinates
311519, 236163
Date Recorded
29/07/2014
Date Updated
--/--/--
Description
Curved boundary limestone wall and drainage ditch, built c.1780, enclosing demesne of the former Under Secretary's Lodge. Irregular round plan, comprising sloped grass banks to outer perimeter of ditch, random coursed and squared limestone rubble walls with pedestrian cast-iron gates. Ditch terminates to north, abutting to random coursed boundary wall of Ashtown Visitors' Centre. Bitmac path to north entrance, with modern flush metal vehicular gates carried on squared stone piers. Wooded area to each side of entrance enclosed by horizontal cast-iron railings, set between plain uprights. Railings have intermittent squared cast-iron piers with spherical tops (maker's mark indistinguishable except for 'Belfast') and iron gates carried on similar conical posts (maker's mark 'Kennan & Sons Ltd Dublin'). Southern entrance contains early nineteenth-century gate lodge and cast-iron gate screen. Set within landscaped park with mature planting. A number of historic structures to site, including former stables, now a Visitor Centre, walled garden and tower house.
Appraisal
Although a public park, Phoenix Park has always contained a number of self contained demesnes for senior members of the British administration in Ireland - in this case the Under Secretary. After Independence it served as the residence of the Papal Nuncio and was briefly considered as a site for an official Taoiseach's residence. Although the site is now open to the public as a visitor centre, the survival of the enclosure is an important reminder and legacy of the history of the park.