Abbey Street Dublin

Divided into three parts, Upper, Middle and Lower Abbey Street, this is one of the main thoroughfares of the city, being an important street in 1756 when Rocque’s map called it Great Abbey Street and Little Abbey Street. The street derives its name from the medieval St Mary’s Abbey, founded in 1139 and which was affiliated to the monastery of Savigny before it came under the Cistercian order in 1147. A lot of Lower and Middle Abbey Street was reconstructed after the Easter Rising of 1916 when many buildings were lost to fire or to bombardment.

1780s – No.45 Lower O’Connell Street, Dublin

The end of a unified Wide Street Commission terrace at the corner of Abbey Street and O’Connell Street. A fine street facade for a public house was inserted in the later 19th century,

1824 – Royal Hibernian Academy, Lower Abbey St., Dublin

Architect: Francis Johnston

Francis Johnston, in his retirement, funded and designed this building for the Royal Hibernian Academy. The building had keystones on the ground floor by John Smyth representing Palladio,

1824 – The Flowing Tide, Abbey Street, Dublin

A pub building on an important corner site, The Flowing Tide has a great cut stone façade at street level. As can be seen in the photograph,

1839 – Former Bank, Abbey Street, Dublin

Architect: Isaac Farrell

The original interior long vanished, this fine small bank originally built for the Trustee Savings Bank was in use until relatively recently.

1839 – Former Church, Abbey Street, Dublin

Architect: George Papworth

A small christian church with very few architectural pretensions except for its main façade. The side elevation is plain in the extreme with round headed windows with little to relieve the flatness of the stucco.

1840s – The Music Hall, Abbey Street, Dublin

Constructed as a hall for popular music which could also be used for recitals and talks. Described in ‘Dublin and its environs’

1867 – United Presbyterian Church, Abbey Street, Dublin

Architect: William Fogerty

Original design, the tower and spire of which was not completed, published in The Irish Builder,

1875 – W.H. Smith & Co., Middle Abbey Street, Dublin

Architect: Alfred G. Jones

Built at Nos. 79-80 Middle Abbey Street for W.H. Smith whose assets and business in Ireland was eventually taken over by Charles Eason and Son in 1886.

1877 – Christian Union Buildings, Abbey Street, Dublin

Architect: Alfred G. Jones

The Christian Union Buildings in Lower Abbey Street were erected on the site of the Metropolitan Hall,

1903 – Wynn’s Hotel, Lower Abbey St., Dublin

Architect: William H. Beardwood

Reconstructed to designs of William H. Beardwood between 1899 and 1903. Sited next to the Royal Hibernian Academy on Abbey Street,