Building misc in Limerick Municipal Borough (21517041)

This does not grant access. Most recorded buildings are privately owned; view them only from public ground unless the owner allows entry.

What is recorded here

Read the whole record

Attached two-bay two-storey structure, built in 1808, forming part of the Roche's Hanging Gardens base structure, devised by William Roche, which also functioned as stores. Roof structure concealed behind a parapet wall to front and sides. Limestone ashlar faced façade comprises irregular composition of two red brick arches (one larger than the other), standing on limestone ashlar piers. The arches in both cases are filled in with red brick laid in Flemish bond at first floor level and rubble limestone at ground floor level. Red brick parapet wall standing on limestone stringcourse above a red brick dog-tooth course; terminated by rusticated limestone ashlar red brick corners and coping. Paired round-arch window openings with red brick arches, reveals and limestone sills and six-over-six timber sash windows beneath fanlights. Window lights drop beneath sill level. Camber-arched window opening to ground floor level with high sill level and timber casement windows. Red brick camber-arched vehicular opening closed by roller shutters. Access was not possible to the interior, however, fine barrel vaults were detected at first floor level.

Given its origins this structure is certainly among one of the most unique within Limerick City. It was conceived by the banker William Roche (d. 27th April 1850) as a vast store, which was surmounted by enclosed gardens referred to as Roche's Hanging Gardens. They were built to the rear of his residence at 99 George's Street - now O'Connell Street. According to an article by Jim Kemmy: 'the plan involved the building of stores under a series of arches ranging from 25 to 40 feet high. On top of these arches elevated terraced or "hanging gardens" were created and the whole structure was crowned by classical statues.' It is estimated that the work cost £15,000 to complete. Quite sophisticated heating and irrigation systems were employed to maintain the vegetation, such as, exotic fruits like oranges, grapes and pineapples. Only two bays of the store and substantial parts of the original vaulting which supports the terraces is still intact

From the Buildings of Ireland (National Inventory of Architectural Heritage) record 21517041

Places near here

Photo credits

National Inventory of Architectural Heritage
Dave Kelly, Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0
vincent campbell, Wikimedia Commons
Maker not stated on source page, en.wikipedia.org
Keith Wiseman / Limerick City and County Council, Source publisher

Inver HouseOffice · 495 yd

Explorer Tom Inver House in Limerick had a fox take charge of the office one winter. The fox ran better meetings than the humans…

gasworks587 yd

Explorer Tom Gasworks in Limerick Municipal Borough ended up here because someone misplaced the map and blamed the wind. It used to…

harbour/dock/port, dry dock629 yd

Explorer Tom Harbour in Limerick Municipal Borough was nearly sold for a horse by a confused clerk once. The stone masonry looks…

The Shipping OfficeOffice · 671 yd

Explorer Tom The Shipping Office in Limerick must have taken about four thousand cups of tea to build, considering how tired it…

factory703 yd

Explorer Tom Factory in Limerick Municipal Borough made a New Year's resolution to stop hiding its stone signage behind new boards.…

Saint Alphonsus's Catholic ChurchChurch/chapel · 783 yd

Explorer Tom Saint Alphonsus's Catholic Church is showing off its 1862 dedication date like it’s a brand-new badge. It’s all about…

Saint Alphonsus's ConventMonastery · 817 yd

Explorer Tom Saint Alphonsus's Convent in Limerick Municipal Borough confuses the map makers because it’s just so big and blocky.…

J. Bannatyne and SonsTank/silo · 849 yd

Explorer Tom This Tank or silo in Limerick Municipal Borough is a concrete giant that believes it will one day fly. The prophecy…

Clare ViewHouse · 902 yd

Explorer Tom Clare View in Limerick claims a ghost once tried to move into the attic but got stuck in the chimney. The house looked…

Markets Field StadiumLeague of Ireland ground · 1156 yd

Explorer Tom Markets Field keeps Limerick football close enough to hear the shouts from the far touchline. Treaty United call this…

CastleCastle, unclassified · 1376 yd

Explorer Tom Castle in Courtbrack is claiming it was invented by a local who just woke up from a nap and decided to build something…

Tus Gaelic GroundsGAA ground · 1.1 mi

Explorer Tom At the TUS Gaelic Grounds, Limerick hurling can make a sliotar vanish into the sky and return it with a county's hopes…

More historic places in County Limerick · All of County Limerick

Add to this placeAdd a picture Add a detailed tip Add a story

Explore the map1,095,414 places to discover