Heritage

Historical background

While building at the southern end of North Great George’s Street began from the mid 1770s, the majority date from the mid 1780s, including Nos. 12–21 and Nos. 36–43. In many cases, these later houses were built by some of the leading figures from Dublin’s late 18th-century building and house-decorating community, among them the renowned stuccodor Charles Thorp (Nos. 37 and 38), and Henry Darley, from the celebrated family of stonecutters (Nos. 39 and 41–42). The house is said to have been built by the Bowen family in 1782.

The house was purchased by the participants of this case study in 1996 to be occupied as a single-family dwelling unit.

Statement of heritage value

The house forms part of one of the most significant Georgian streetscapes in Dublin. The street is substantially intact and is an example of architecturally coherent 18th-century urban design. The house itself is of architectural and artistic significance with a fine doorcase, ornate balconettes and original interior joinery elements and cornices intact. The house and indeed all the 18th-century houses on the street are protected structures; the street itself has been designated as a Conservation Area in the Dublin City Development Plan 2016-2022.