Survey Data
Reg No
50110049
Rating
Regional
Categories of Special Interest
Architectural, Historical, Social
Original Use
Hospital/infirmary
Date
1820 - 1825
Coordinates
315267, 233096
Date Recorded
10/05/2017
Date Updated
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Description
Detached nine-bay three-storey hospital over raised basement, built 1822, with central three-bay pedimented breakfront and three-bay side elevations. Extended to rear in 1865 and 1874, and having eight-bay four-storey block added c. 1880 at right angle to southeast; and various twentieth-century additions. Hipped skirt slate roof with seven red brick chimneystacks, and cast-iron rainwater goods. Eight-bay block has pitched slate roof and three chimneystacks. Pediment with carved granite cornice and coping, cut granite tympanum inscribed 'Meath Hospital', and inscribed 'County Dublin Infirmary' to frieze below. Roughly squared coursed calp limestone walls, having tooled limestone quoins and granite stringcourse over basement to both blocks. Principal entrance comprises tripartite granite doorcase with pilasters having scrolled console brackets supporting frieze and moulded cornice; replacement double-leaf glazed timber door and plain overlight and one-over-one pane timber sliding sash side-lights. Elliptical retaining arch above entrance with cut granite voussoirs and vermiculated keystone, and inset carved granite plaque inscribed 'Meath Hospital 1771'. Entrance approached by flight of eleven granite steps flanked by rendered balustrade and piers surmounted by lamp standards. Square-headed window openings with granite sills and brown brick surrounds. Early block having one-over-one pane timber sliding sash windows to lower floors of flanking bays and replacement uPVC windows to top of floor of same bays and to breakfront. One-over-one pane windows to later block, with six-over-six pane to northern four bays of second floor of east elevation. Sections of rubble stone wall surrounding.
Appraisal
The imposing and austere limestone hospital building retains its essential form and fabric. Its breakfront entrance provides depth and relief, and its moulded pediment and tripartite doorcase are fine examples of classical design and stone carving. The two blocks have consistent detailing throughout. It forms part of an interesting institutional grouping, the Meath Hospital being founded in 1753 and the oldest voluntary hospital in continuous existence in Ireland. It relocated from The Coombe and this hospital was built following a generous donation of £6000 by Thomas Pleasants (1729-1818). The hospital was at the forefront of medical advances in the nineteenth century and employed two particularly renowned physicians, Robert Graves (1796-1853) and William Stokes (1804-1878). Oliver St. John Gogarty (1878-1957) was also a physician in the hospital during the early twentieth century.