1878 – Announcement of winner South City Markets, Dublin

“THE directors of the Markets Company instituted a limited competition for the best design for laying out a large plot of land lying between William Street on the east, Great Georges Street on the west, Exchequer Street on the north, and Fade Street on the south, and intersected by Drury Lane. The competition was limited to ten architects, who all sent in designs on May 10 last. These were submitted to Mr. Alfred Waterhouse, A.R.A., who reported on the same to the directors, and advised as to the relative merits of the designs, having regard to the objects and requirements of the Company, and with the following results:

• First “Northern Light” Messrs. Lockwood & Mawson, Bradford
• Second “Con Amore” Messrs. O’Neill & Byrne, Dublin
• Third “Agora” Mr. T.N. Deane , Dublin
• Fourth “Eblana”; Mr. J.H. Bridgford, Dublin

as respectively entitled to the premiums of 160, 120, 80, and 50 offered by the directors .

The architects whose design is placed first will be employed to carry out the work, and the premium awarded to the design will merge in the commission. The selected plan shows a markethall on the main block, surrounded by a belt of shops, distinct from the markethall, facing the surrounding streets, and suited to the character of the front ages. The whole of the smaller plot, lying between William Street and Drury Lane, is treated as part of the markethall, and the roof is carried across Drury Lane. A broad gangway, 30 feet in width, runs through from William Street to Georges Street, about 350 feet in length, and a cross gangway from Exchequer Street to Fade Street, of similar width and about 300 feet in length.

The markethall itself is a parallelogram, 246 feet long by 112 feet wide, and will afford accommodation for such retail traders as are usually provided for in covered markets, while the outside frontages to the various streets have been divided into shops with dwellings or offices over, and of various frontages and depths, according to the relative value of the different frontages. Space has been left between the rear of the houses and the markethall for the admission of light and air to the backs of shops and houses. The roof construction provides for the admission of the chief portion of light into the markethall from the north, so as to prevent the intrusion of the direct rays of the sun. The whole of the basement storey is excavated for cellarage and appropriated as a large bonded store, the central portion (200 feet by 75 feet) and inclined roadways thereto being vaulted in brickwork.

It is proposed to construct the buildings throughout in a sound and substantial manner, but with due regard to economy. The rubble work will be of black calp, the basement storey and inside walls of Tullaghmore common brickwork, and the back and internal elevations faced with county Dublin stock bricks. The principal fronts are to be faced with pressed red brickwork, relieved with moulded bricks, and enrichments in terracotta.

The style of architecture is a simple type of Gothic, and relies for effect more in grouping than on minute elaboration of detail. The windows between the wings and the centre are treated in a simple manner, with double reveals and arches in brickwork, finished with a roll moulding. The angles and central gateways are somewhat more ornamental in character, the latter being thus easily recognised as forming the approaches to the markethall. The estimate of cost submitted by the architects is 69,775.” The Architect, June 8 1878.