Heritage

Historical background

This case study is part of a development of 185 one and two-storey terraced cottages built between 1885 and 1886 by J. Beckett & Sons for the Dublin Artisans’ Dwellings Company (DADC). The Company, which generated a modest profit, was part of ‘a voluntary movement of influential citizens concerned to improve health and general living conditions in the city’. According to Jacinta Prunty, the DADCo schemes had relatively high rents, therefore only artisans could afford them. Dublin Corporation followed tentatively with it first social housing projects in Benburb Street in 1887 and Bow Lane in 1889.

Further reading on the Dublin Artisans’ Dwellings Company

  • Brady, J. & Simms, A. 2001. Dublin Through Space and Time (c. 900-1900), Four Courts Press, Dublin.
  • Casey, C., (2005), The Buildings of Ireland, Dublin. Yale University Press, USA

The file on the DADC in the Irish Architectural Archive.

Statement of heritage value of the existing house

The case study house is of architectural interest as it forms part of the homogeneous streetscape/urban grain of the Infirmary Road development. This overall development is of social interest as an example of 19th-century artisan housing developed by the Dublin Artisans’ Dwellings Company. The house typology is common to other parts of Dublin. The house is not a protected structure but is located in a Z2 zoned area “to protect and/or improve the amenities of residential conservation areas”. Residential conservation areas have extensive groupings of buildings and associated open spaces with an attractive quality of architectural design and scale which require special care in dealing with development proposals which affect structures in such areas.

The building retains original late 19th century interior features. The house is of architectural and social interest.

The existence of an archive of DADC developments in Dublin, including contract drawings, is invaluable. Such resources can guide owners and architects as to what is original and what works they might consider.