Architecture
The eminent architect James
Gandon, who had earlier designed the Custom House and the Four Courts
in Dublin, was commissioned by the benchers in 1800 to design a new
building for the Society on Henrietta Street. This followed the decline
of the original premises that belonged to the Inns on the site of the
present Four Courts.
On 1 August 1800, the Lord Chancellor, the Earl of
Clare laid the first stone of the hall and library. By 1804 the
structure of the hall was almost complete.
In 1813 it was agreed that the unfurnished library
wing should be sold to the Office of Public Works for use as a record
office. Francis Johnston, architect, supervised this work and
also completed the cupola (to Gandon’s design). It was he
who designed and erected the entrance archway from Henrietta Street.
The library building, also in Henrietta Street,
was erected between 1826 and 1832 to a design by Frederick Darley. This
building is a good example of Greek revival architecture.
It contains a magnificent reading room with a splendid balcony.
The Society also owns one of the fine Georgian
houses on Henrietta Street and within the parkland there are seven
cottages, six of which have been refurbished for rental purposes.
The benchers’ properties are listed
buildings. Great care is taken to ensure that they are conserved
in accordance with the standards laid down by architectural historians,
conservationists and other professional advisers.
|
