A WALK ALONG QUINSBOROUGH ROAD

A WALK ALONG QUINSBOROUGH ROAD

When I visited today there was a large film crew at work which is not unexpected in Bray as the town is home to Ardmore Studios.

Back in the 1970s my business, General Audio Supplies [GAS], operated from Quinsborough Road in Bray and I really enjoyed my time there. Today the street looks much better than it did in the 1970s as it was in decline back then ant that was one of the reasons why I moved on.

In 1859 The Turkish Baths opened on Quinsboro Road. The baths were built in an Moorish style and they cost £10,000, a huge amount at the time. The baths replicated the Moorish style in every way, including its minarets. By 1867 the building had become a venue for concerts and other events. It was converted into a cinema in the earlier 20th century, but by the time I arrived the building was derelict, and was finally demolished in 1980 not long after I moved to California. Back in 1979 the rumour was that the building was to be redeveloped as a shopping centre but my landlord told me that the story was a distraction to avoid protests or campaigns against its demolition.

As far as I can remember the street operated a one way traffic flow for part of the year and two way for the rest of the year causing much confusion twice every year.