The upper section of the double-height stair hall in 7 Henrietta Street, Dublin. The house dates from the early 1740s and retains some of its original interior, albeit in a much mutilated condition. For example, as can be seen below with a handful of exceptions the carved balusters were removed over a century ago when the building was divided into tenements and replaced with coarse timber uprights. But the walls retain their plaster panelling, a battered recollection of how splendid this space must once have been.
Henrietta Street is supposed to be Dublin’s frst Georgian street but soon after the Act of Union its decline began. “The street is now a heavy, melancholy group of monuments of our recent prosperity, it is literally covered with grass, through whose verdure meanders a solitary pathway, formed by the feet of misery and litigation.” This is from the Irish Magazine of 1st November 1807. The reference to litigation is of course because Henrietta Street leads to King’s Inns.
Henrietta Street is the most amazing street. It could have been anything but due to greed fell on hard times. Even at it’s worst it retained a grandeur. When I first saw number 7 back in the 1970s even though I was still a kid I thought it made a lasting impression on me. The street now has more hope than it did for a century. Good work has been done by a small number of very dedicated people. Recognition should also be given to the Sisters of Charity for the work they have done and their kindness in allowing access to number 10 (beautifully restored) during Heritage Week.
My ancestor, Captain George (“Punch”) Bryan MP lived at No 12.
Indeed, and you can read more about both the house (No.12) and Captain Bryan at https://theirishaesthete.com/2013/09/16/from-townhouse-to-tenement-and-back/