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‘Irish ADS’ journal we look at ‘Number 12 Merrion Square: Townhouse of the Right Honourable William Brownlow’ by Loreto Calderon and Christine Casey, featured in Vol V (2002). Built between 1764 and 1766, No. 12 Merrion Square stands as an exceptional example of Dublin’s Georgian architectural heritage. Commissioned by William Brownlow, an influential MP for Lurgan, it embodies both his political ambitions and refined artistic taste.

The article explores the architectural and artistic significance of No. 12, detailing its grand interiors, elaborate stuccowork, and the remarkable plasterwork by James Byrne. The house was designed with opulence in mind, featuring a strikingly broad and tall entrance hall – the only one in a Dublin terraced house to include an Ionic pilaster order. The stairhall, illuminated by a magnificent round-headed window, boasts intricate floral and bird motifs, Corinthian and Doric orders, and sculptural plasterwork that rivals the best of the Dublin school of stuccowork. The first-floor rooms echo the grandeur of contemporary Dublin interiors, with ornate ceilings that bear striking similarities to those found in No. 86 St Stephen’s Green and Charlemont House.

The article delves into the meticulous building accounts of No. 12, offering invaluable insights into 18th-century Dublin’s domestic construction practices, material costs, and the artisans responsible for shaping the city’s architectural identity. Brownlow’s personal records provide a rare glimpse into the lavish furnishings that once adorned the townhouse; Wilton carpets, damask curtains, elaborate chandeliers, and finely carved furniture by Dublin’s leading craftsmen.

This article can be accessed for free via our journal website www.igsjournal.ie