Townley Hall Open Day – the work of Francis Johnston

The one day symposium, June 7 2015, is an exploration of the architectural and social history of Townley Hall and aspects of the work of its architect, Francis Johnston (1760 to 1829).

The symposium venue is Townley Hall, built between 1794 and 1798 for Blayney Townley Balfour III and his family. The house is widely considered to be Francis Johnston’s domestic masterpiece and has been described as the perfect neo-classical house.

There will be five talks, a Francis Johnston exhibition, guided tours of the house as well as a music event.
The speakers are the Very Reverend Robert Townley, Armagh, Professor Mark Bailey, Director Armagh Observatory, Judith Hill MA History of Art (Cantab.), Dip. Arch. (RIBA), Livia Hurley Dip.Arch B.arch Sc MLitt and Mark Price B.Arch MRIAI. Download Brochure

On display will be an exhibition exploring a selection of Francis Johnston’s most significant projects through drawings, engravings and archive photographs. The material for the exhibition is drawn from the collections of the Irish Architectural Archive, The National Library of Ireland, The Ulster Museum, The Royal Society of Antiquaries Ireland, An Post GPO Museum, The Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland as well as the Country Life Photographic Library.

PROGRAMME

9.30am
Registration
Tea/Coffee

9.50-10am
Welcome by Dermot Conway, Bursar, Townley Hall.
10.00-10.10am
Outline of day’s events.
10.10 -10.45 am
An introduction to the Townley Balfour Family.
Very Reverend Robert Townley, Armagh
10.50-11.25am
The Armagh Observatory and the Archbishop Robinson Connection.
Professor Mark Bailey, Director Armagh Observatory

11.30am
Tea/Coffee

11.45-12.30pm
Francis Johnston: Classicism and the Gothic Revival at Charleville Castle, Co. Offaly and Chapel Royal, Dublin Castle.
Judith Hill MA History of Art (Cantab.), Dip. Arch. (RIBA)

12.45-1.45pm
LUNCH
2.00-2.35pm
Musical Event

2.45-3.30pm
Blayney Balfour of Townley Hall and the culture of eighteenth-century improvements at Slane, County Meath.
Livia Hurley DipArch BarchSc MLitt
3.40-4.20pm

Geometry and the Architectural Drawing featuring examples by Francis Johnston from the Irish Architectural Archive.
Mark Price MRIAI

4.25pm
Tea/Coffee

4.40 5.10pm
Group 1 – Guided tour of Francis Johnston Exhibition
Michael Kavanagh MRIAI

Group 2 – Guided tour of Townley Hall
Brendan Kiernan
4.40 5.10pm
Group 1 – Guided tour of Townley Hall
Brendan Kiernan

Group 2.- Guided tour of Francis Johnston Exhibition
Michael Kavanagh MRIAI

5.15pm
Tea/Coffee
5.30pm
Close/Farewell

The not-for-profit event is hosted by the School of Philosophy and Economic Science:
http://practicalphilosophy.ie/events
Book online or by phone: 01-660 3788.