HENRIETTA PLACE COULD BE DESCRIBED AS A RAT RUN
HENRIETTA PLACE COULD BE DESCRIBED AS A RAT RUN [ESPECIALLY THE SECTION NEAREST NORTH KING STREET]
Henrietta Place, a laneway connecting Henrietta Street to North King Street in Dublin, has a rich history intertwined with the city's social, economic, and industrial development. Its character has shifted dramatically over time, from an affluent area associated with the linen trade to a site of tenement housing and later, social housing initiatives. The section of Henrietta Place nearest North King Street has been described as a "rat run," frequently used by drivers as a shortcut, making pedestrian use, particularly at night, less than ideal.
Henrietta Street and Place: A Historical Overview
Henrietta Street, Dublin's earliest Georgian street, was developed from the mid-1720s by Luke Gardiner. Its elevated position was chosen to distance residents from less desirable industrial areas. Initially, it housed Dublin's elite in grand Georgian houses. However, by the 19th and 20th centuries, these houses were subdivided into tenements, reflecting Dublin's increasing poverty. Number 14 Henrietta Street played a significant role in Irish history, serving as the headquarters of the Encumbered Estates' Court (1850-1860) following the Great Famine and later occupied by the Dublin Militia until 1876.
Henrietta Place and the Linen Industry
Henrietta Place was closely linked to Dublin's once-thriving linen industry. It provided access to the City Linenhall and Yarnhall, built around 1781 and designed by Thomas Cooley. The surviving archway, with its granite columns and cast-iron gate, is a notable architectural feature. Wheel guards indicate the heavy cart traffic that once transported textiles through this entrance. A warehouse built between 1800 and 1820 further illustrates the area's industrial past. The 1911 census reveals a variety of tradespeople in the area, including milliners, a dressmaker, French polishers, and bookbinders, suggesting a concentration of skilled workers potentially connected to the linen industry. The decline of the linen industry in the 19th century contributed to the area's social and economic decline, leading to the subdivision of grand houses into tenements.
Housing in Henrietta Place: From Grandeur to Tenements and Beyond
The contrast between Henrietta Street's affluent origins and its later tenement housing is striking. In the 18th century, it was home to wealthy families, including archbishops and members of parliament. By the 19th century, these houses were subdivided to accommodate the working class. Photographs from the early 1920s depict children playing in the street amidst these once-grand buildings. The proximity of King's Inns further highlights this contrast.
In the 20th century, Dublin City Housing Architect Herbert Simms addressed housing challenges by designing Henrietta House (1936) under the Housing Act of 1932. This four-storey flat complex, arranged around a central courtyard, reflects Simms's commitment to community-focused design. Its architectural details, including galleried elevations, stair towers, and the use of red and brown brick with render finishes, draw inspiration from Dutch and British housing models.
Bolton Street College and the Linen Hall: From Trade to Education
Located near Henrietta Place, Bolton Street College (now part of Technological University Dublin) was established in 1911. The main building, designed by C.J. McCarthy in 1908, is a neoclassical structure featuring plaster casts of artisan figures.
The Linen Hall itself, originally built in 1728 by the Linen Board, was the centre of the Irish linen trade. Its design was inspired by similar structures in London and Hamburg. However, the rise of Belfast as a linen centre led to the Dublin Linen Board's dissolution in 1828. The Linen Hall then served various purposes, including a temporary barracks for the British Army from the 1870s and was occupied by the Army Pay Corps during the 1916 Easter Rising, sustaining significant fire damage.
The Linen Hall was later integrated into the Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT), now TU Dublin, housing the School of Architecture and Construction. DMOD Architects renovated the building, focusing on safety, accessibility, and energy conservation. The redesign created a central axis connecting the foyer gallery to the cafeteria, enhancing internal flow. The "grey box" concept was employed to create adaptable spaces. The renovation also aimed to create a "building pedagogy" by exposing structural elements, allowing students to learn from the building itself, while preserving historical features like the "compact rectilinear plan" and "Classically-detailed doorcase." The archway designed by Thomas Cooley remains a significant architectural feature.
The Grangegorman Campus and Broombridge Development
TU Dublin is currently relocating many departments to the new Grangegorman Campus. The "Design & Construct" Sustainable Building Centre at Broombridge, two Luas stops from Grangegorman, represents the first phase of relocating Engineering & Built Environment activities from Bolton Street. This 8,700m2 development will include teaching, learning, recreational, and sports facilities, focusing on sustainability and incorporating technologies from partner Autodesk.
Henrietta Place, a laneway connecting Henrietta Street to North King Street in Dublin, has a rich history intertwined with the city's social, economic, and industrial development. Its character has shifted dramatically over time, from an affluent area associated with the linen trade to a site of tenement housing and later, social housing initiatives. The section of Henrietta Place nearest North King Street has been described as a "rat run," frequently used by drivers as a shortcut, making pedestrian use, particularly at night, less than ideal.
Henrietta Street and Place: A Historical Overview
Henrietta Street, Dublin's earliest Georgian street, was developed from the mid-1720s by Luke Gardiner. Its elevated position was chosen to distance residents from less desirable industrial areas. Initially, it housed Dublin's elite in grand Georgian houses. However, by the 19th and 20th centuries, these houses were subdivided into tenements, reflecting Dublin's increasing poverty. Number 14 Henrietta Street played a significant role in Irish history, serving as the headquarters of the Encumbered Estates' Court (1850-1860) following the Great Famine and later occupied by the Dublin Militia until 1876.
Henrietta Place and the Linen Industry
Henrietta Place was closely linked to Dublin's once-thriving linen industry. It provided access to the City Linenhall and Yarnhall, built around 1781 and designed by Thomas Cooley. The surviving archway, with its granite columns and cast-iron gate, is a notable architectural feature. Wheel guards indicate the heavy cart traffic that once transported textiles through this entrance. A warehouse built between 1800 and 1820 further illustrates the area's industrial past. The 1911 census reveals a variety of tradespeople in the area, including milliners, a dressmaker, French polishers, and bookbinders, suggesting a concentration of skilled workers potentially connected to the linen industry. The decline of the linen industry in the 19th century contributed to the area's social and economic decline, leading to the subdivision of grand houses into tenements.
Housing in Henrietta Place: From Grandeur to Tenements and Beyond
The contrast between Henrietta Street's affluent origins and its later tenement housing is striking. In the 18th century, it was home to wealthy families, including archbishops and members of parliament. By the 19th century, these houses were subdivided to accommodate the working class. Photographs from the early 1920s depict children playing in the street amidst these once-grand buildings. The proximity of King's Inns further highlights this contrast.
In the 20th century, Dublin City Housing Architect Herbert Simms addressed housing challenges by designing Henrietta House (1936) under the Housing Act of 1932. This four-storey flat complex, arranged around a central courtyard, reflects Simms's commitment to community-focused design. Its architectural details, including galleried elevations, stair towers, and the use of red and brown brick with render finishes, draw inspiration from Dutch and British housing models.
Bolton Street College and the Linen Hall: From Trade to Education
Located near Henrietta Place, Bolton Street College (now part of Technological University Dublin) was established in 1911. The main building, designed by C.J. McCarthy in 1908, is a neoclassical structure featuring plaster casts of artisan figures.
The Linen Hall itself, originally built in 1728 by the Linen Board, was the centre of the Irish linen trade. Its design was inspired by similar structures in London and Hamburg. However, the rise of Belfast as a linen centre led to the Dublin Linen Board's dissolution in 1828. The Linen Hall then served various purposes, including a temporary barracks for the British Army from the 1870s and was occupied by the Army Pay Corps during the 1916 Easter Rising, sustaining significant fire damage.
The Linen Hall was later integrated into the Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT), now TU Dublin, housing the School of Architecture and Construction. DMOD Architects renovated the building, focusing on safety, accessibility, and energy conservation. The redesign created a central axis connecting the foyer gallery to the cafeteria, enhancing internal flow. The "grey box" concept was employed to create adaptable spaces. The renovation also aimed to create a "building pedagogy" by exposing structural elements, allowing students to learn from the building itself, while preserving historical features like the "compact rectilinear plan" and "Classically-detailed doorcase." The archway designed by Thomas Cooley remains a significant architectural feature.
The Grangegorman Campus and Broombridge Development
TU Dublin is currently relocating many departments to the new Grangegorman Campus. The "Design & Construct" Sustainable Building Centre at Broombridge, two Luas stops from Grangegorman, represents the first phase of relocating Engineering & Built Environment activities from Bolton Street. This 8,700m2 development will include teaching, learning, recreational, and sports facilities, focusing on sustainability and incorporating technologies from partner Autodesk.
HENRIETTA PLACE COULD BE DESCRIBED AS A RAT RUN