Architecture in County Carlow
Brownshill dolmen, Kernanstown, County Carlow
The Browne’s Hill Dolmen is a portal tomb dating from c.3300 – 2900 B.C. It has a very large granite capstone measuring 4.7 metres x 6.1 metres x 2 metres. The capstone rests on two portal stones, a door stone and a prostrate slab. The dolmen or cromlech is a type of pagan sepulchral monument. The capstone is the largest to be found in Europe. It has been calculated to weigh 100 tons. Browne’s Hill Dolmen is of international importance and is of particular importance to local tourism.
Carlow County LibraryBrownshill dolmen, Kernanstown, County Carlow
The Browne’s Hill Dolmen is a portal tomb dating from c.3300 – 2900 B.C. It has a very large granite capstone measuring 4.7 metres x 6.1 metres x 2 metres. The capstone rests on two portal stones, a door stone and a prostrate slab. The dolmen or cromlech is a type of pagan sepulchral monument. The capstone is the largest to be found in Europe. It has been calculated to weigh 100 tons. Browne’s Hill Dolmen is of international importance and is of particular importance to local tourism.
Carlow County LibraryJames Doyle (1786-1834)
James Warren Doyle, also known as J.K.L. was born in Donard near New Ross, Co. Wexford in 1786. He was appointed a Professor of Carlow College in 1813. In November, 1819 he was consecrated Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin. He published letters on many topics of public and pastoral interest. His works challenged the prejudices of the Establishment against the Catholic Religion. He initiated work on the Catholic Cathedral for the Diocese and the foundation stone was laid in March, 1828. He died in June, 1834.
Carlow County LibraryJames Doyle (1786-1834)
James Warren Doyle, also known as J.K.L. was born in Donard near New Ross, Co. Wexford in 1786. He was appointed a Professor of Carlow College in 1813. In November, 1819 he was consecrated Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin. He published letters on many topics of public and pastoral interest. His works challenged the prejudices of the Establishment against the Catholic Religion. He initiated work on the Catholic Cathedral for the Diocese and the foundation stone was laid in March, 1828. He died in June, 1834.
Carlow County LibraryArchitecture is the art or practice of designing and constructing buildings. It also incorporates the style in which a building is designed in relation to a particular period, place or culture. The Browneshill Dolmen dates from the Early Neolithic period and features a large granite capstone.
Carlow castle, an important Anglo-Norman castle was built where the rivers Barrow and Burren meet to enable the garrison to control the crossings. The late eighteenth century and the first half of the nineteenth century saw the erection of many significant buildings in and around Carlow. This development is noted by Samuel Lewis in the 1830's.
The Topographical Dictionary of Ireland, published in 1837, describes Carlow as an incorporated borough market and post town situated on the east bank of the River Barrow in the province of Leinster. It refers to the newly erected Courthouse, built of hewn granite and forming a "striking ornament" to the town. The nearby County gaol is described as well adapted for the classification and employment of prisoners.
The Roman Catholic Cathedral is described as a cruciform structure in the later English Style. Also mentioned is the District Lunatic Asylum, built in 1831 to accommodate 104 lunatics and the County Infirmary, supported mainly by Grand Jury presentments and local subscriptions aided by a parliamentary grant.
Carlow was described as being surrounded by "pleasingly varied" scenery with many handsome seats. Oak Park formerly "Paynestown", then the residence of Colonel Bruen, was a handsome spacious building situated to the north of the town in a "fine demesne".
In his report upon the proposed municipal boundary of the borough of Carlow, Thomas R. Mould described the population of the town as amounting to about 11,000 in 1831. The reason for the rise in population was "a great influx of mechanics and labourers with their families into the town, who were employed in building the Lunatic Asylum, Court-house and other public buildings." In fact Carlow was experiencing a building construction boom during this period which was to leave a permanent mark on the streetscape of the town.
The driving forces behind the construction were Government policy, the Grand Jury and the church. Private landlords were also eager to take advantage of the pool of ready labour to remodel or construct mansions for themselves, particularly in the vicinity of the town.
Carlow Town Centre: A detail from map showing Municipal Boundary changes.
Detail from a pre-ordnance survey map of Municipal Boundary changes in Carlow Town, executed by Thomas A. Larcom, Lieut. Royal Engineers. It accompanies a “Report upon the proposed Municipal Boundary of Carlow” by Thomas R. Mould. This detail shows Carlow Gaol, the R.C. Cathedral (R.C. Chapel)
Carlow County LibraryCarlow Town Centre: A detail from map showing Municipal Boundary changes.
Detail from a pre-ordnance survey map of Municipal Boundary changes in Carlow Town, executed by Thomas A. Larcom, Lieut. Royal Engineers. It accompanies a “Report upon the proposed Municipal Boundary of Carlow” by Thomas R. Mould. This detail shows Carlow Gaol, the R.C. Cathedral (R.C. Chapel)
Carlow County LibraryCarlow Courthouse, Carlow
Carlow Courthouse – Front approach. Architect: William Vitruvius Morrison (1794-1838). Carlow Courthouse was designed by William Vitruvius Morrison and completed in 1834. It was built under the patronage of the Grand Jury and the Bruen Family of Oak Park, Carlow. It is built of Carlow Granite and set on a high podium, approached by nineteen steps. The Courthouse is designed in the classical style with a projecting central block, screened by an Ionic portico of eight columns with pediment and cornice. On either side of the main hall are the courtrooms covered by half domes and lit through diocletian windows. The courthouse is surrounded by fine cast iron railings and is strategically situated at the junction of the Athy Road and the Old Dublin Road. The interior was refurnished c. 1995 but some of the original features remain intact. Carlow Courthouse is considered to be one of the finest courthouses in Ireland.
Carlow County LibraryCarlow Courthouse, Carlow
Carlow Courthouse – Front approach. Architect: William Vitruvius Morrison (1794-1838). Carlow Courthouse was designed by William Vitruvius Morrison and completed in 1834. It was built under the patronage of the Grand Jury and the Bruen Family of Oak Park, Carlow. It is built of Carlow Granite and set on a high podium, approached by nineteen steps. The Courthouse is designed in the classical style with a projecting central block, screened by an Ionic portico of eight columns with pediment and cornice. On either side of the main hall are the courtrooms covered by half domes and lit through diocletian windows. The courthouse is surrounded by fine cast iron railings and is strategically situated at the junction of the Athy Road and the Old Dublin Road. The interior was refurnished c. 1995 but some of the original features remain intact. Carlow Courthouse is considered to be one of the finest courthouses in Ireland.
Carlow County LibrarySeveral architects such as W. V. Morrison, John B. Keane, Francis Johnston, Thomas Cobden and others contributed to the design of Carlow's most prominent buildings. This resulted in a variety of architectural styles being adopted for the construction of individual projects. The most prominent and most important was the Courthouse which was designed in the classical style.
Carlow has many fine examples of architecturally designed buildings, but it also has a rich heritage of vernacular architecture. Vernacular architecture is concerned with the ordinary rather than with monumental buildings. It is concerned with the buildings of everyday life. They can be to be found in farm buildings and forges and especially in the tradition of the Carlow Fence.
The main focus of this module will be the decades between 1820 and 1850. Some buildings from earlier and later periods will also be referred to.
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Content
History & Heritage
- History of Ireland
- Architecture
- Architecture Feature
- Architectural Features of Birr, County Offaly
- Architecture in County Carlow
- Architecture in Cork City
- Architecture in Fingal, Dublin
- Dublin Through the Ages: An Exhibition
- Dublin's City Hall
- Georgian Dublin
- Historic Architectural Features in Dublin 6
- Pre-1850 Houses in South County Dublin
- The Cork Camera Club (Pre-1940)
- The Irish Builder
- The Thatched Houses of Co. Meath
- Vernacular Architecture of Monaghan Town
- Woodstock House, Co. Kilkenny
- Big Houses of Ireland
- Built Heritage 1700 - Today
- Folklore of Ireland
- Heritage Towns
- Irish Genealogy
- Monuments & Built Heritage
- Pages in History
- Poor Law Union
- Special Collections
- Traditional Crafts