Richard Turner (1798-1881)

Richard Turner (1798-1881) was the most important glasshouse designer in Ireland and was responsible for many of the large glasshouses that were so much a part of fashionable development in Victorian Britain. With Decimus Burton, he was responsible for the design and manufacture of the glasshouses at Kew Gardens and the Winter Gardens at Regent’s Park. His most important work in ireland is the Curvilinear Range at the National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin.

He was also responsible for the Great Exhibition building of 1853 in Dublin as well as the original roof of Broadstone Station (which collapsed). He was involved with the first iron roof to cover a railway terminus in a single span at Lime Street Liverpool. He also submitted an entry for the design of the Crystal Palace in London but his design was rejected as being too costly.

1834 – Hammersmith Ironworks, Ballsbridge, Dublin

Described in Lewis “A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland” as “Near the village are the Hammersmith iron-works,

1842 – Roxborough Castle, Moy, Co. Tyrone

Architect: William Murray / William Barre

Seat of the Earls of Charlemont,

1853 – Great Industrial Exhibition, Merrion Square, Dublin

Architect: Sir John Benson

The Great Industrial Exhibition in 1853 was the largest international event to be held in Ireland.

1860 – Balance Rolling Bridge, George’s Dock, North Wall, Dublin

Architect: Turner & Gibson

Illustration of a balance rolling bridge erected at George’s Dock,

1862 – Design for O’Connell Bridge, Dublin

Architect: Turner & Page

Design for bridge with steel span and decorative statuary.

1869 – Curvilinear Range, Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin, Co. Dublin

Architect: Richard Turner

The Curvilinear Range of Glasshouses at the National Botanic Gardens were constructed between 1843 and 1869 and designed by native Dubliner Richard Turner.

1891 – Pearse Station, Westland Row, Dublin

Westland Row Station opened on 17 December 1834 as the city terminus of the Dublin &