Survey Data
Reg No
50130153
Rating
Regional
Categories of Special Interest
Architectural, Artistic, Historical, Social
Previous Name
Belvidere House
Original Use
Country house
In Use As
University
Date
1730 - 1770
Coordinates
316204, 237060
Date Recorded
20/06/2018
Date Updated
--/--/--
Description
Attached seven-bay two-storey former house over basement, built c. 1750, having three-bay breakfront. Now incorporated into Dublin City University/St. Patrick's College. U-plan hipped roof, with copper-sheeted flat roof to west and angled ridge tiles, red brick corniced chimneystacks with granite copings and clay pots, and concealed gutters with cast-iron downpipes. Red brick walling with granite quoins, limestone cornice, cement-rendered plinth and brick parapet wall with limestone coping and balustrade over breakfront, and with band-rusticated render to basement to south elevation. Square-headed window openings with plain reveals, granite sills and timber sliding sash windows, nine-over-six pane to ground floor, six-over-six pane to first floor and six-over-three pane to basement. Square-headed doorway, set in projecting Doric portico, with pediment and Doric entablature over timber paired columns on granite plinths, and six-panel timber door with brass furniture. Lower link volumes with canted-bay windows to west and north connecting to St. Patrick's College, surrounded by lawns and mature trees. House set behind carriage circle and slight terrace of granite flagstones with planted margins, flanked by red brick plinth walls with granite coping and Greek-styled pier heads.
Appraisal
A modest, well-proportioned early Georgian house, now incorporated into the campus buildings of Dublin City University/St. Patrick's College. The history of the building is unclear and somewhat confused by later accretions, but a house seems to have existed here in the seventeenth century, and Marmaduke Coghill moved from here in 1726 to his new residence at Drumcondra House. In the nineteenth century the building was occupied by the Christian Brothers before being taken on by St. Patrick's Teacher Training College which has expanded around it. The building retains its Georgian character notably in its principal east elevation, with a generous Doric porch and original fenestration. Although now partially engulfed by the larger college buildings, Belvidere House is distinguished by its ordered proportions and distinct volume.