Another Georgian building set on fire

[nneligan]

Reading in the The Irish Times today, I couldn't help notice that a large fire was started at Bolton Hall in Ballyboden on Friday. It never ceases to amaze me how many of these protected structures have been set on fire over the years; and amazingly (read coincidence) more often than not the fire coincides with a failed planning application.

I would be interested in compiling a pictoral record of some of the best examples of listed buildings destroyed by fire over the last twenty years.

One that springs to mind was the old woodlands hotel (Whitshed family home) in Greystones which mysteriously went up in fire in the early 1990's following a number of failed planning applications.

I also remember Merrion Hall going on fire many years ago before its present incarnation as the Davenport hotel.

I know there are an awful lot of these 'unlawful fires' so for ease if you have examples from Dublin City and the surrounding area, it would be much appreciated.

[goneill]

I've no evidence that there was anything unlawful about it, but there was a good fire at 13 - 17 Pembroke Road about thirty years ago. That was perhaps the best terrace on Pembroke Road. In the the very long lead up to the fire the railings along the entire front were removed an replaced with a trench and boulders to (allegedly) keep members of the travelling community out, but in fact they set up camp for a couple of years using the trench as an open sewer/landfill. The replacement building is a retirement apartment building which is pretty hideous.

Redcourt (redwood?) on Seafield Road D3 is a more recent example in this case with tragic consequences for the homless person inside when the fire occured. Formely the home of the Hardy family, owneers of Neary's and Searsons. Again I have no idea whether the fire was illegal, but it did coincide with a series of planning applications.

[Paul Clerkin]

I would like to encourage people to be very careful in this thread - it would be very easy to land Archiseek in court.because of a suggestion

[goneill]

Sorry Paul

I thought the above was clear enough, but for the avoidance of any doubt, I do not suggest, imply or even believe that either of the properties were burnt illegally. I wouldn't even think that they were burnt down deliberately.

PS I didn't think Archiseek was worried about being sued!

[Paul Clerkin]

We've come close a few times - just believe that anyone who is likely to burn down / demolish a building illegally wont hesitate to try and put big scary lawfirm on small architecture website

A list of houses lost to fire would still be interesting...

[fergalr]

Originally Posted by Paul Clerkin

We've come close a few times - just believe that anyone who is likely to burn down / demolish a building illegally wont hesitate to try and put big scary lawfirm on small architecture website

A list of houses lost to fire would still be interesting...

You could always move the hosting to the States, a la politics.ie. Although it's doubtful this would actually protect the site's owners in any way :P