PARKS AND GARDENS

A MUCH FASTER SITE AS IT IS HEADLESS

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I LIKE THIS OLD BANDSTAND

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DESPITE THE COMPLAINTS AND THE NEVER IMPLEMENTED PLANS

Recently I came across the following online review many times: “This defunct bandstand is the stage in the park’s natural amphitheatre. In recent years it has unfortunately become a haven for drug addicts and alcoholics from nearby Crumlin and Mount Tallant.”

Towards the east of the park, not far from the duck pond, there is this bandstand. It’s fan-shaped in plan and opens out at the base of a slope, like a natural amphitheatre set into the landscape.

Back in 2019 the structure was transformed by street artists but it looked a bit worn and sad when I visited on the morning after Christmas [2021] and it was no better today [2 November 2023].

Dublin City Council Community, Culture, Recreation and Economic Services has commissioned Howley Hayes Architects to develop a design for a contemporary tearoom with careful consideration of placement, scale, materials and proportions and its relationship within Bushy Park, the proposed Dodder Cycle way and the wider Terenure/Rathfarnham/Rathgar areas. In addition, the development of a design for the currently redundant bandstand. The bandstand will be refurbished in a similar palate of materials to the tearooms to create a vibrant civic space for the park. Timber and steel elements are proposed to form the new roof and screens to the back stage area. The new accessible ramp and stage area will match the materials used in the external areas of the tearoom.

SAINT PATRICK’S PARK

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PATRICK STREET AND BULL ALLEY STREET IN DUBLIN

Saint Patrick’s Park, located to the north of the cathedral, was opened by King Edward VII in July 1902. It is bounded by Patrick Street to the west, Bull Alley to the north and Bride Street to the east. It was laid out as part of the redevelopment of the area by the Guinness family in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries and provides an attractive setting for both Saint Patrick’s Cathedral and the Iveagh Play Centre. The landscaping was the work of Mr. Crasp of Chester and the construction work was undertaken by engineer Mr. Arthur Dudgeon. The geometric landscaping is enhanced by the two stone fountains on the park’s principal axis and a modern sculpture of a steel bell by Vivienne Roche. A brick terrace was constructed to cope with the fall in ground level between Bride Street Patrick Street, the upper level of which was used as a bandstand while the lower level provided a sheltered seating area.

THIS IS CURRENTLY DESCRIBED AS THE GOTHIC BRIDGE

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MANY GUIDES REFER TO IT AS THE BRIDGE AND HERMITAGE

I had difficulty photographing this as there was an intense rain storm and parts of the park became flooded very quickly.

The Gothic Bridge in St Anne’s Park is also known as the Bridge & Hermitage. This is because it is located next to a small cave-like structure, which is thought to have been used as a hermitage in the past.

The early development of the Park coincided with the Guinness family’s sudden rise in profits following Sir Arthur’s exporting of his famous stout to England in 1825. The Park symbolised the power and wealth of this family in British and Irish society. The two bachelor sons of Sir Arthur, Arthur Jr. and Benjamin Lee, resided at the original house on this site, Thornhill, purchased in 1835, until 1837, when they demolished it and built St. Anne‟s for Benjamin Lee and his new wife, cousin Elizabeth .

The design and layout of the park was largely influenced by Benjamin Lee, an antiquary who was interested in the ancient monuments of both Ireland and classical Rome. His influence can be seen in the following Italiannate features:

 Pompeiian temple/teahouse and vistas to Dublin Bay
 Herculanean house and garden
 Yew Walk with nymphaeum and Italian statuary (now lost)
 Yew circle
 Sham ruin (Annie Lee bridge)
 Roman Tomb of the Julii monument

Oldstone Conservation were appointed as Main Contractor & PSCS to undertake conservation works to twelve of these follies. The works involved the repair and rebuild of the structures and reinstatement of the adjoining paths and embankments.

The “Bridge & Hermitage” spans the Nanekin River and houses a hermits cave. Works included rebuilding the parapet walls, repointing the stonework and applying a coat of harled lime render to the external stone face. Loose stone was laid on the river bed upstream and downstream to form breakwater during low water flows

ROMAN TOWER ONE OF MANY FOLLIES AT ST ANNE’S PARK

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TOMB OF JULII

The Roman Tower is situated on a hill overlooking the lake and the Pompeiian temple.

Today, the Tomb of the Julii is largely obscured by vegetation which made it difficult for me to photograph. However, it was originally a more prominent feature of St. Anne‟s. It was based on the design of the original Tomb of the Julii in St. Remy, France and was constructed by Benjamin Lee Guinness. It was originally located on top of the main house, but was taken down and moved to this location by Lord and Lady Ardilaun when they commissioned the J. F. Fuller extension in 1873-76.

ASHTOWN DEMESNE AT THE VISITOR CENTRE

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PHOENIX PARK SUNDAY 8 OCTOBER 2023

As already mentioned, I was somewhat disappointed by the Phoenix Park Visitor Centre which includes Ashtown castle so I decided to explore the grounds and photographs the trees as many had interesting shapes.

Ashtown Castle is a tower house in the Phoenix Park in Dublin, Ireland.

It was found hidden within the walls of a much larger and more recent Georgian building, the Under Secretary’s Lodge also known as Ashtown Lodge, that was being used by the Papal Nuncio until 1978. At that time, the Lodge was deemed structurally irreparable due to dry rot. However, as the building was being demolished, Ashtown Castle was discovered. It has now been restored and forms part of the Phoenix Park Visitor Centre.

It is thought to originally date from the 1430s, as it is built to dimensions that conform with a government policy of the time that offered £10 to those who built a castle for their own safety. The castle was later incorporated into the construction of Ashtown Lodge which was to serve as the official residence of the Under Secretary from 1782.

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