Guinness Brewery

Attached ten-bay four-storey over basement office comprising two two-bay buildings to east built c.1820, and six-bay building to west built c.1880. Recent extensions to rear. Pitched roof hidden behind parapet to front (north) elevation, having granite cornice and capping to parapet, brown brick chimneystacks having granite cornice and clay chimney pots, and cast-iron rainwater goods. Red brick walls laid in Flemish bond having rusticated granite quoins, cut granite plinth course over lined-and-ruled rendered walls at basement level. Brown brick walls to west gable. Square-headed window openings having granite sills and timber sash windows, six-over-six panes to east building, two-over-two panes to others, replacement windows to third floor. Tripartite windows to ground floor to eastern buildings, that to east end having six-over-six pane timber sash window flanked by sidelights, that to centre having two-over-two pane timber sash window flanked by sidelights. Round-headed window opening to west gable, having timber framed window. Round-headed window openings to ground floor of east buildings in place of former door openings, having tripartite timber sash windows with overlight. Granite plinth wall with cast-iron railings enclosing basement area.

The front elevation of this office building possesses many characteristics typical of Georgian townhouses including a raised ground floor, vertically proportioned window openings and the use of local brick and granite. However part of the building is clearly later, as indicated by the different tone and texture of the brickwork. Like many of the street-facing brewery buildings, a conservative architectural style was adopted. Historic fabric remains in the early windows and brickwork. The conversion of door openings to windows has created an unusual and distinctive rhythm, adding interest to the streetscape. The Guinness Brewery complex is the largest city centre industrial site. Founded in 1759 by Arthur Guinness it first developed on the south side of Saint James's Gate and later expanded in all directions.