THIS IS AN INTERESTING ROAD IN DALKEY
Exploring Ulverton Road: A Journey through Dalkey's Past and Present
The first thing that captures the eye on Ulverton Road is the series of well-maintained laneways branching off on either side. These hidden passages serve as access points to houses tucked away from the main thoroughfare, hinting at the road's rich history.
A Road Steeped in History
Ulverton Road's story is intertwined with that of Bullock Castle, a 12th-century fortress built by the Cistercian monks of St. Mary's Abbey to safeguard their granted fisheries. The township of Bullock grew around the castle, protected by walls and watchtowers. In exchange for this protection, the monks levied a tax on all fish landed at Bullock, storing their share in ice-filled underground chambers.
Ulverton Road itself was laid out as an alternative route to Harbour Road, connecting Dalkey Village to Dun Laoghaire and Bullock Harbour. The road's wide thoroughfare and spacious, enclosed front gardens set it apart from the narrow, enclosed streets of the village centre.
A Wide Thoroughfare with Open Vistas
The sense of openness on Ulverton Road is palpable. The wide street and generous front gardens create a fitting backdrop for the grand terraces of houses that line it. The southern vista is dominated by the dramatic rise and western slope of Dalkey Hill, adding to the road's scenic appeal.
A Diverse Architectural Tapestry
Ulverton Road boasts a diverse architectural character, primarily residential in nature. As you leave the village, the southern end is marked by a petrol station. Next to it stands Granite Cottage, a mid-19th-century house named for its exposed granite detailing. Further north, three other mid-19th century villa-style cottages showcase typical features of the period, such as rendered facades, centrally placed door-cases with decorative surrounds, and timber sash windows.
Larger in scale are Nos. 31 and 33, a pair of semi-detached, three-bay, two-storey rendered houses from the 1880s, featuring rustication on the ground floor. A narrow lane beside No. 33 leads to Ulverton Lodge, a large detached house built around 1880 with full-height canted bays. The last two buildings on this side are a pair of single-storey houses dating from around 1900, each with canted bay windows.
Historic Steps: A Link to the Harbour
One of the notable features connecting Ulverton Road to the harbour below is a series of old steps located at the side of Our Lady's Manor Nursing Home on Harbour Road. These steps offer a direct route between the harbour and the upper part of Dalkey, providing a glimpse into the area's historical connection to the sea.
A Road in Transition
The approach of Ulverton Road to Castle Street has been altered in recent times due to road widening, changing its character. The area bounded by Castle Street, Ulverton Road, Church Road, and Convent Road is largely comprised of early 20th-century housing, including Carysfort Villas and later Corporation houses like White's Villas.
To the east, the curving line of Rockfort Avenue presents a unique architectural character defined by elegant terraced villa-style houses nestled amidst mature trees that create a canopy over the public thoroughfare.
Materials and Craftsmanship: A Legacy of Granite and Iron
The use of render finishes varies along Ulverton Road, from the plain render of the early 19th-century quarrymen's cottages on Sorrento Road to the pebbledash render of mid-20th century housing on Carysfort Road. Rendered front site boundary walls are a common feature on Ulverton Road, Convent Road, Tubbermore Road, and Sorrento Road.
Granite, quarried locally from Dalkey Hill, is the predominant building material used in the area. Most older houses, castles, churches, and other structures are built with granite rubble walls. The use of rubble granite for planned architectural aesthetics is evident in three buildings: the Church of the Assumption on Castle Street, Granite Cottage on Ulverton Road, and Dalkey Train Station. Cut stone is mainly used for window sills and decorative elements like plinth courses.
Broad granite boundary walls with carved monolithic gate piers shaped to fit the curved coping are a common sight in Dalkey. Granite was also historically used for paving, and some examples of historic paving and kerbing remain in limited areas within the village.
Many examples of ironwork, particularly wrought iron, can be found throughout Dalkey. In the 19th century, wrought iron, often embellished with cast-iron details, was used for gates and railings. The most exquisite examples in the area are the ornate gates leading to the former tram yard and the substantial iron gates and railings that mark the entrance to Carrig-na-Gréine.
The first thing that captures the eye on Ulverton Road is the series of well-maintained laneways branching off on either side. These hidden passages serve as access points to houses tucked away from the main thoroughfare, hinting at the road's rich history.
A Road Steeped in History
Ulverton Road's story is intertwined with that of Bullock Castle, a 12th-century fortress built by the Cistercian monks of St. Mary's Abbey to safeguard their granted fisheries. The township of Bullock grew around the castle, protected by walls and watchtowers. In exchange for this protection, the monks levied a tax on all fish landed at Bullock, storing their share in ice-filled underground chambers.
Ulverton Road itself was laid out as an alternative route to Harbour Road, connecting Dalkey Village to Dun Laoghaire and Bullock Harbour. The road's wide thoroughfare and spacious, enclosed front gardens set it apart from the narrow, enclosed streets of the village centre.
A Wide Thoroughfare with Open Vistas
The sense of openness on Ulverton Road is palpable. The wide street and generous front gardens create a fitting backdrop for the grand terraces of houses that line it. The southern vista is dominated by the dramatic rise and western slope of Dalkey Hill, adding to the road's scenic appeal.
A Diverse Architectural Tapestry
Ulverton Road boasts a diverse architectural character, primarily residential in nature. As you leave the village, the southern end is marked by a petrol station. Next to it stands Granite Cottage, a mid-19th-century house named for its exposed granite detailing. Further north, three other mid-19th century villa-style cottages showcase typical features of the period, such as rendered facades, centrally placed door-cases with decorative surrounds, and timber sash windows.
Larger in scale are Nos. 31 and 33, a pair of semi-detached, three-bay, two-storey rendered houses from the 1880s, featuring rustication on the ground floor. A narrow lane beside No. 33 leads to Ulverton Lodge, a large detached house built around 1880 with full-height canted bays. The last two buildings on this side are a pair of single-storey houses dating from around 1900, each with canted bay windows.
Historic Steps: A Link to the Harbour
One of the notable features connecting Ulverton Road to the harbour below is a series of old steps located at the side of Our Lady's Manor Nursing Home on Harbour Road. These steps offer a direct route between the harbour and the upper part of Dalkey, providing a glimpse into the area's historical connection to the sea.
A Road in Transition
The approach of Ulverton Road to Castle Street has been altered in recent times due to road widening, changing its character. The area bounded by Castle Street, Ulverton Road, Church Road, and Convent Road is largely comprised of early 20th-century housing, including Carysfort Villas and later Corporation houses like White's Villas.
To the east, the curving line of Rockfort Avenue presents a unique architectural character defined by elegant terraced villa-style houses nestled amidst mature trees that create a canopy over the public thoroughfare.
Materials and Craftsmanship: A Legacy of Granite and Iron
The use of render finishes varies along Ulverton Road, from the plain render of the early 19th-century quarrymen's cottages on Sorrento Road to the pebbledash render of mid-20th century housing on Carysfort Road. Rendered front site boundary walls are a common feature on Ulverton Road, Convent Road, Tubbermore Road, and Sorrento Road.
Granite, quarried locally from Dalkey Hill, is the predominant building material used in the area. Most older houses, castles, churches, and other structures are built with granite rubble walls. The use of rubble granite for planned architectural aesthetics is evident in three buildings: the Church of the Assumption on Castle Street, Granite Cottage on Ulverton Road, and Dalkey Train Station. Cut stone is mainly used for window sills and decorative elements like plinth courses.
Broad granite boundary walls with carved monolithic gate piers shaped to fit the curved coping are a common sight in Dalkey. Granite was also historically used for paving, and some examples of historic paving and kerbing remain in limited areas within the village.
Many examples of ironwork, particularly wrought iron, can be found throughout Dalkey. In the 19th century, wrought iron, often embellished with cast-iron details, was used for gates and railings. The most exquisite examples in the area are the ornate gates leading to the former tram yard and the substantial iron gates and railings that mark the entrance to Carrig-na-Gréine.
THIS IS AN INTERESTING ROAD IN DALKEY