2003:570 - DUBLIN: Railway Street/Gloucester Place Lower/Sean McDermott Street, Dublin

An assessment and detailed impact statement were required in relation to a development at Railway Street/Gloucester Place Lower/Sean McDermott Street, Dublin 1. A test excavation was carried out at the site on 22 April 2003 after demolition of the existing structures at the site. Six trenches were excavated across the footprint of the proposed development. The remains of early 19th-century terraces of houses fronting onto Railway Street, Gloucester Place Lower and the Gloucester Diamond were identified at the site. There were no indications of any earlier archaeological material.

It was recommended that the site be the subject of monitoring, which should incorporate a recording strategy for the 19th-century structural remains. It was agreed that structures would be recorded in detail in two sample areas of the site. The recording took place between 26 May and 6 June 2003. Monitoring of ground reduction took place on various dates between 26 May and 18 July 2003, as required by the construction programme at the site.

Detailed investigation of the surviving structural remains was carried out in two areas (henceforth Area A and Area B), once the programme of sheet-piling at the site was sufficiently advanced. Area A was situated midway along the Gloucester Place frontage. It measured 16m by 6.8m. Area B was situated at the junction of Gloucester Place Lower and Railway Street. It measured 16.5m by 7.5m.

Three structures were identified and recorded—C4 in Area A and C10 and C13 in Area B. All three structures can be identified on the 1911 OS map. The layout of the two larger structures, C4 and C10, suggests a uniform plan for the terrace of houses along Gloucester Place Lower. The third structure (C13) represents a different building plan. However, it would appear from the cartographic evidence that this building is substantially later in date than either C4 or C10.

There is no cartographic evidence to indicate the existence of any structures at the site prior to the 1790s. The site appears to have been open greenfield for most of the 18th century. The development of this area of Dublin is strongly associated with the Gardiner estate. Though they were active in other areas of the north inner city throughout the 18th century, they do not appear to have turned their attention to this particular part of Dublin before the last quarter of the 18th century. Their activities in this area can be traced graphically in the maps regularly issued in conjunction with Wilson’s Directory. The full modern street pattern for this part of Dublin (including the streets which define the present site) does not appear before the 1794 edition.

A plan produced for the Wide Streets Commission, dated 1791 (WSC/Maps/309), held in the city archives, shows Gloucester Street (now Sean McDermott Street) running from Gardiner Street to Buckingham Street. It is described as ‘Part of Gardiner Street and Part of Gloucester Street Dublin Laid out in Lots for Building by Thomas Sherrard, 1791’. It is likely that this plan was produced at the behest of, or in conjunction with, the Gardiner estate. The plan shows a block defined by Mecklinburgh Street (now Railway Street), Gloucester Place and Diamond, Gloucester Street and Gardiner Street. The site of the present development is encompassed within this block. This would appear to be the equivalent of a modern development plan for this part of Dublin. Proposed terraces are shown laid out within the development site along the entirety of the Railway Street, Gloucester Place and Sean McDermott Street frontages. Rear access to these proposed plots is via a ‘Stable Lane’ entered via Railway Street.

Comparison with the OS map of 1846 (1:2,500) indicates that there were some alterations in the execution of this plan. On the 1791 plan the whole of the Sean McDermott Street frontage is applotted; however, on the 1846 OS map, the majority of the frontage remains undeveloped. The plan of 1791 proposes nine separate plots fronting onto the Gloucester Diamond and along Gloucester Place Lower. However, the 1846 map shows that eleven plots were actually created. The plan of 1791 proposes six plots fronting onto Railway Street, between Stable Lane (later Moore’s Row) and Gloucester Place; however, the 1846 map shows that nine plots were actually created. It is clear that there was a considerable adjustment in scope between the applotment proposed for this block in 1791 and how the block was actually developed, as evidenced by the later OS maps. The large, elongated plots originally proposed for Sean McDermott Street were not created and building density was increased along the remaining frontages. This would have resulted in smaller buildings, which would have attracted lower-class occupants. It is possible that this reflects the changing demographics in this part of Dublin during the early 19th century. During the 18th century, development in this part of Dublin was characterised by the gentrification of this part of the city. However, during the 19th century this impetus had slowed and by the mid-19th century it had developed a reputation as a red-light district.

It would appear that the two structures recorded during the present investigation, fronting onto Gloucester Place (C4 and C10), correspond with buildings shown as part of the terrace on the 1846 OS map. This would suggest that they date from the initial development of the terrace by the Gardiner family. Though probably conceived initially as single-family dwellings, it is likely that they would have developed into tenements by the end of the 19th century.

During the 18th century, this area of Dublin could be described as ‘upwardly mobile’, but during the 19th century the area declined in popularity. By the end of the later half of the 19th century the area was famous as a red-light district and was characterised by the presence of brothels and tenement buildings. It cannot be ascertained at this remove what, if any, alterations this would have caused to the superstructure of either building. Certainly there is little evidence for substantial alterations within the basements of either building.

The small structure (C13) does not appear to relate to the original applotment and development of the terraces at the site and is not shown on the 1846 OS map. The building shown in this position on the 1846 map appears to be of similar size to those fronting onto Gloucester Place Lower. However, the later OS map of 1911 shows a small structure in this position.

There is a distinct contrast between the disposition of the structures and plots shown on the 1846 OS map and the later 1911 map. The eastern end of the terrace fronting onto Railway Street appears to have been demolished, with some consolidation of plot boundaries. A single small structure is shown fronting onto Railway Street at the eastern end of the terrace, corresponding with structure C13. As the plots shown on the OS map of 1876 appear identical to those shown in 1848, it would appear that this alignment of the plots dates to the period c. 1880–1910.

C13 also appears to have been the earliest to be demolished. Its basement was sealed over with a concrete slab, possibly to form a yard for C10. It seems likely that these two buildings or plots were consolidated in the 20th century prior to the final demolition of the remaining terraces.

With the development of flat complexes as social housing in the area in the mid-20th century by Dublin Corporation, the remaining terraced buildings and tenements were demolished to accommodate modern industrial buildings at the site.

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