Infomatique | THE HEADLESS PHOTO BLOG

HAVE THE DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS STALLED?

I am not sure if the Jameson Gate and the Prussia Street Gate are the same entity. However I do know that the Prussia Street Gate is an intended gateway onto the Grangegorman site on its western side to provide easier access from the Prussia Street and Stoneybatter areas. It will connect onto St. Brendan’s Way which will be one of the main thoroughfares through the DIT Campus.

It would appear that there were plans for at least three student accommodation complexes along both sides of Prussia Street but I have noticed little progress over the last twelve months. It should be mentioned that a number of North inner city councillors have stated that they are opposed to plans for 162 build-to-rent apartments on Prussia Street, Stoneybatter, which involves a 13 storey tower.

In 2021 An Bord Pleanála has approved the demolition of the Park Shopping Centre to provide for a major residential development including almost 600 student bed spaces as well as a new district shopping centre. Permission was granted to the owners of the shopping centre to develop two large apartment blocks up to eight storeys in height which will provide 578 student bed spaces and 29 build-to-rent apartments as well as a supermarket, two restaurants or cafes plus eleven retail units.

It was expected that there would be a new pedestrian and cycle path connecting Prussia Street with the Technical University Dublin campus at Grangegorman meaning that I could walk from my apartment to the Stoneybatter area in about ten minutes.

Prussia Street is named in the late 18th century after Frederick II, King of Prussia. Prior to this is had been called Cabaragh Lane. Manor Street derives its name from medieval Grangorman Manor. The name Stoneybatter, derived from ‘Bothar na gloch’ (road of stones) dates from at least 1603. The road follows an ancient route from Wicklow to Tara which crossed the Liffey at the ford of the hurdles.

The name Grangegorman is derived from the territory of the Ui Vairrche, whose main families were the Ui Treasaigh and the Ui MacGorman, displaced following the Norman invasion in the 12th century (Tracy 2011). The ‘Grange’ refers to the grange, or homefarm of Holy Trinity (Christ Church) at Grangegorman Manor.

Note: Randelswood have applied to An Bord Pleanála for permission for the development of apartment blocks ranging from 3 to 13 storeys at 23-28 Prussia Street which will include a pedestrian and cycle access to the TU Campus at Grangegorman. Beside this site at 29b, 30 and 31 Prussia Street, another development entity – Viridis Real Estate Services and Prussia Properties – have applied to build 236 student bedspaces in three blocks ranging from 5 to 7 storeys.

Note: Since early this year the Park Shopping Centre development is being offered for sale as an investment and redevelopment opportunity by agent Cushman & Wakefield at a guide price of €11 million.

PRUSSIA STREET IN STONEYBATTER 8 DECEMBER 2022 014

PRUSSIA STREET IN STONEYBATTER 8 DECEMBER 2022 013

PHOTOGRAPHED 8 DECEMBER 2022

Hanlon’s Corner at the junction of the North Circular Road (R101) with Prussia Street and the Old Cabra Road (both R805).

This public house occupies a prominent position at the junctions of the North Circular Road, Prussia Street, Old Cabra Road and Annamoe Road. Its form responds to the siting with the gabled parapet addressing the corner while the south-east and south-west elevations continue the scale and proportions of their adjoining terraces. The shopfront and brickwork retain early features and survive in good condition. The interior has carved timber shelves and ornate mosaic tiled floor typical of a Victorian pub. The North Circular Road was laid out in the 1780s to create convenient approaches to the city. It developed slowly over the following century with the far west and east ends developing last. This junction is popularly known as Hanlon’s Corner, due to the prominence of the pub as a landmark.

Several notable junctions in Dublin city in Ireland still carry the name (usually unofficially) of the pub or business which once occupied the corner.

While this practice is not unique to Dublin, the pace of recent development there has meant that the original source of the name is more likely to have disappeared.

Examples include:

Baker’s Corner at the junction of Rochestown Avenue and Kill Lane in Deansgrange;
Doyle’s Corner at the junction of the North Circular Road (R135 / R147) and Phibsborough Road (R135) in Phibsborough;
Edge’s Corner at the junction of the North Strand Road (Annesley Bridge Road) and Fairview Strand;
Hart’s Corner at the junction of Botanic Road, Finglas Road, and Prospect Road (all R135) in Glasnevin;
Kelly’s Corner at the junction of the R114 road (Upper Camden Street and Richmond Street) and the South Circular Road (Harrington Street and Harcourt Road);
Leonard’s Corner at the junction of the South Circular Road and Clanbrassil Street;
Vaughan’s Corner at the junction of the N81 road (Terenure Road North and Terenure Place) and the R114 road (Terenure Road East and Rathfarnham Road) in Terenure.