Davernport hotel dublin

It was called Merrion Hall I think. It was a gospel hall. As far as I know, it went on fire and was demolished. The front facade was retained.

Yes that’s it, Satrastar. Such a grevious loss to the city of a totally unique interior. As Jeremy Williams describes in his regularly guffaw-inducing critiques of Irish Victoriana in A Companion Guide to Architecture in Ireland: 1837-1921:

“Only the facade survives here after a fire (in 1990) that destroyed a triple-galleried cast-iron interior built by the Congregationalists in 1862 to accommodate hundreds of worshippers who never materialised, so that the Plymouth Brethren who took over the church in recent years confined their services to the crypt. The architect was Alfred Gresham Jones, who a year before had designed the Dublin Exhibition Crystal Palace, long since destroyed, like the prototype for this church, the Metropolitan Tabernacle in Stoke Newington. Its most remarkable feature was the conoid vaulting upholding the galleries that swirled round the central elliptical void illuminated by a skylight of amber glass ‘to suggest to the worshippers the continuous radiance of heaven’. The retention of the attenuated Italianate facade cannot compensate for our loss of this celestial imitation. However, the building’s recent re-emergence as a Grand Hotel with walls of Austrian yellow has restored theatricality to the exterior.”

Apparently the hall held 2000 people. I’m sure the Irish Architectural Archive have photographs of the interior – well worth a look. The ’80s hangover fitout by Arthur Gibney and Partners of 1993, with stunted bits n bobs of fibrous plaster classicim, ‘Kings and Queens’ lavatories, and shudder-inducing basement suites named after illustrious architects of 18th century Dublin, do not quite make up for its loss either.

Jeremy Williams is of course spot on with his ‘Austrian yellow’ – now the principal delight of the building. Quite the little opera house. Satrastar’s photograph is revealing in showing us the gospel hall in its original state, with apparently untreated, bare rendered walls in the sparse Methodist tradition, and the notable absence of its lead-clad chateau-style roof as sympathetically designed a-new by Gibneys, as well as its rather underwhelmingly-scaled cupola sited atop its boxy base. Presumably the three plinths visible below hosted statuary at one point.

Designed by Alfred Gresham Jones, a promoter of flouncy Victorian classisicm with his retinue of effete public buildings, churches and grand private houses, he appears to have introduced a dash of English influence to Dublin architectural proceedings. His most famous work just down the road – the Dublin Exhibition Palace of 1865 – was of a classical style similar to the above Merrion Hall.

PVC windows were shamefully installed in the roof in 2005. Illegal of course in a Protected Structure, but sure let the O’Callaghan Group wallow in their own ignorance.

Another view of Merrion Hall c. 1989.

© Peter Costello

Sadly, the fire ‘broke out’ as soon as the church became vacant, apparently originating in the vaults which were exposed to the flanking streets. One would have to ask how such a vast cast-iron structure had to be demolished in the way that it was. Such a shame. It was acceptable in the 80s eh? (*cough* 1990)

New roof makes a definite improvement on the original in my opinion. Something very Hapsburg about this building!

JONES, ALFRED GRESHAM
Building: CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, MERRION STREET LOWER, MERRION HALL
Date: 1862-63
Nature: Italian style. Contractors: Cockburn & Sons, Great Brunswick St.. Ironwork by Strong, Hammond Lane. Cost about: £16.000. First service held 26 Aug 1863. Heating system by Ross & Murray, Middle Abbey St, installed 1865.
Refs: Plans & section in Alfred Gresham Jones album, NLI, see Maoiliosa Reynolds, ‘The Work of Alfred Gresham Jones’, MUBC thesis, School of Architecture, University College Dublin, 1996, 271,273-276(illus.); DB 4, 15 Aug 1862, 214; 5, 1 Sep 1863, 145-6; 7, ? ? 1865, 48; Irish Times, 27 Aug 1863 (long description); B 21, 5 Sep 1863, 636

Name: BEATER, GEORGE PALMER
Building: CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, MERRION STREET LOWER, MERRION HALL
Date: 1907-1908
Nature: Restoration of front &c. Contr: McLoughlin & Harvey
Refs: IB 49, 7 Sep 1907, 629; 50, 22 Aug 1908, 523

Name: BRADBURY, EDWIN
Building: CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, MERRION STREET LOWER, MERRION HALL
Date: 1913
Nature: Alterations & repairs

The original interior can be seen in the movie “hear my song” about josef locke – although some additions were made such as a proscenium arch (and a bar) etc to dress it as a theatre

I believe the owner was/is accident-prone Noel O’Callaghan, who also owned Archer’s Garage, nearby, when it was demolished.

Yes it is

As I recall, two people with a strong track record in redevelopment of listed/unwanted buildings were thought to have been involved in starting the fire:

If I remember rightly, their names were Maguire & Paterson.:D

LOL and the noted conservationist Mr Zippo.

It would be wonderful to see the interior of this building, if anybody has any pictures.

I mean the original interior of course, not the stale, bland oppressive interior in the new building

More about from the National library digital photography archive.

What is this building? Is it the Davenport?

Sorry, forgot the link: http://digital.nli.ie/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/glassplates&CISOPTR=29305&CISOBOX=1&REC=8

yeah thats a stereoscope view of the interior

Anyone have links to other (pre-fire) interior photos?