1999:185 - DUBLIN: Cecilia House, 3 Cecilia Street, Dublin

Cecilia House is within the site of a 13th-century Augustinian friary where previous archaeological excavations have found parts of the eastern (Nos 4–5 Cecilia Street, Excavations 1996, 20–1, 96E0003) and western (No. 1 Cecilia Street, Excavations 1997, 35–3, 97E0005, by Malachy Conway) friary precinct wall, as well as part of the cemetery on the southern side (at the Green Building, Crow Street, Excavations 1993, 29, 93E0139, by Martin Reid).

After the dissolution of the friary the buildings were converted into mansions, one of which was known as the 'Crow's Nest'. In 1731 a music hall was in the centre of the site under discussion and measured 10m east-west by 20m north-south. The music hall site was subsequently converted into the 'Crow Street Theatre', established in 1757 as a rival to the famous Smock Alley Theatre, which lay further west at Essex Street West. The music hall was comprehensively demolished at this date, and the site was expanded on the east and west by the addition of the adjoining plots. A wider, landlocked site to the north (7a Fownes Street Upper), stretching from Temple Lane in the west to Fownes Street Upper in the east (behind the houses fronting onto Temple Bar), was also purchased at this date, and the main theatre was built there, orientated east-west. Cecilia House formed the main entrance into this theatre, with subsidiary entrances on the east (Temple Lane) and west side (Fownes Street Upper).

The Crow Street theatre underwent many substantial rebuilding programmes throughout the late 18th century, but by 1820 it was closed. In 1836 the building was bought by the Apothecaries for use as their hall but was subsequently sold in 1852 to the Catholic University, which rebuilt the northern end of the building in 1898 for use as its medical school. In 1930 the building was converted into offices.

The assessment found no traces of the medieval friary as, although Cecilia House (until recently) had only two small irregular cellars, it originally must have had extensive cellars, almost 3m deep. However, the assessment and building appraisal established that the building was composed of three distinct buildings, each constructed within pre-existing early 18th-century east and west boundary walls. All of the buildings vary in height and have independent roof structures. The central section appears to be the earliest (theatre phase: after 1757), followed by an extension, at both the south and north side. The south extension is of brick (the present facade of Cecilia House) and can be related to the theatre phase, possibly dating to 1777 when the main entrance to the theatre was 'improved'. The addition on the northern side is more difficult to date, as the walls found suggest that there were at least three building periods at this side, from the late 18th century onwards.

The assessment revealed a substantial stone wall, thought to date to c. 1600, which was probably related to the mansion phase, possibly part of the Crow's Nest. In addition, the original northern boundary wall, which formed the northern wall of the music hall, was also found. In the present development the internal walls of Cecilia House have been removed to facilitate the new development; however, a section of the music hall wall will be on display, as will the main walls.

2 Killiney View, Albert Road Lower, Glenageary, Co. Dublin