MORE ABOUT BLACKHALL PLACE

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THE LAW SOCIETY AND BLACKHALL PLACE

The name “Blackhall Place” refers to both a street in Dublin, Ireland, and a historic building located on that street.

In 1671, a charitable school for boys of poor families was established, called the Hospital and Free School of King Charles II, Dublin. It became known as the King’s Hospital or Blue Coat School because of the boys’ military-style blue uniform.

The original school, built on a different site, was deemed to be in danger of collapsing by the early 1770s. Thomas Ivory, Master of the School of Architectural Drawing in the Dublin Society prepared a set of thirteen drawings in 1776 for a new design. The building was never finished to Ivory’s design.

In December 1783, the building was opened and the first boys moved into the school.

In 1894, the incomplete tower was removed and replaced by the present cupola. Blackhall Place remained the home of the Blue Coat School until 1968.

The building was acquired by the Law Society in 1971 and, having completed substantial renovations, it was opened as the headquarters of the solicitors’ profession in 1978.