Spencer Dock
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Hi there, I’m a final year student at DIT. For my final project we must select a building, and redsign it. I have been down in the Docklands a lot recently and I am interested in the conservation of the area. One particular building struck me on the Spencer Dock site. The Woolstore is situated directly behind the CIE building on the North Wall Quay. It was built between 1847 and 1864 and has been derelict since the 1980’s. It was also referred to as the Wool Warehouse Stable. I am having difficulty in locating plans for this building. If anyone has any information I would be very greatful if you could let me know.
Thanks
The Wool Store on what was the original Wapping Street is indeed a wonderful building. I for one will be very interested in anything you find out. Lets hope it gets preserved before the little cupola falls off.
A good starting point could be Margaret Gowen & Company who were the archaeological and historical architectural consultants for Spencer Dock development. They might have covered similar ground.
There’s a brief summary and picture of Woolstore on their site, See http://www.mglarc.com/projects/spencer.htm
Good luck
Not sure of the connection to wool. As far as I know Wapping Street dates from 1799 and the name is taken from the London street name. This area of Londons north docklands was first settled by Saxons, from whom it takes its name (apparently meaning “[the place of] Wæppa’s people”).
We should probably buy Paul’s book as I bet it’s in there (?)!
Builders in dayglo jackets were on scaffolding taking measurements of the front of the woolstore this morning. Bet they have a plan FionaQ.
This isn’t related, but I’m not starting a new thread called “Spencer Dock”. There’s some text and renderings of the 4.5Bn blandness that will be built around the dock here:
http://www.unison.ie/irish_independent/stories.php3?ca=9&si=1304278&issue_id=11812
The Wool Store was constructed between 1847 and 1864 and was therefore probably built as a port facility immediately prior to the coming of the railway. It probably owes its origin to Wapping in London which was also part of the London docklands area. It was subsequently incorporated into the London and North Western Railway Company’s North Wall Station, although it was never directly accessible from the railway sidings. In the 1940s, it was referred to as the Wool Warehouse Stable, and it has been derelict since the early 1980s
I took a few photos of this a while back. (Just before Wappping street was barricaded off. Didn’t know you could do that to a public street.)
Anyway – all the lovely old slates have been stripped from the building and a new roof put on. Does anyone know if the plan is to put the original slates back? I thought of the woolstore building while watching Grand Designs the other night – they featured a wonderful Scottish slate roof being restored beautifully. That prompted me to actually get the photos up on the web.
I also thought this was a lovely building and especially the small cupola on top. It was very lobsided last year. I took a picture of it before they began work on it. I was disappointed to see that they stripped the old roof as well. I was sure that the DDDA had this down as a listed building including the cupola so when I saw that corrugated type roof I was a bit miffed. Surely it’s temporary ?
I’ve some photos of the removed cuppola that I’ll try and dig out. It certaintly was a great part of the buildings charm. Hope it comes back.
Here’s the last I saw of it anyway. Future uncertain.
Sign on the scaffold is a little ominous though.
Well at least it’s in one piece and wasn’t knocked off it’s perch with a crane. What’s the sign say ?
I had a feeling about that cupola. It’s actually included under it’s ‘listed’ status (ref 5945) “The Wool Store including hexagonal lantern”. So where is it now ???
In someones back garden as a water feature most likely
It may well be still on site. It’s not possible to get close to that building anymore as it’s all been barricaded off.
I wonder can you insist on a right of way into the site considering it is/was a public road?Was at the match at Lansdowne on Saturday and headed over to the Point Depot for the Queen concert afterwards. The amount of new development going on in the docks and surrounding areas is amazing. Cranes everywhere. Saw the gasometer and it looks kinda snazzy with its shiney new glass skin. This area of the city sure is a changin’ The decrepitness is thankfully vanishing. However there are very few focal points to use as location guides, bar the new appartment block at Charlotte Quay, the said gasometer and the spire of the Church in Ringsend/Irishtown.
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