Institute of Ophthalmology, University College Dublin

Terraced three-bay four-storey over basement house, built c.1790, now in use as clinic. M-profile pitched roof having parapet with asphalt covered capping to front (north) elevation. Rendered chimneystack shared with property to east. Red brick walls laid in Flemish bond, rendered walls to third floor. Painted cut granite plinth course over rendered walls to basement. Square-headed window openings having patent reveals and granite sills. Painted granite surround to basement level windows. Timber sash windows, three-over-three panes to third floor, six-over six panes to other openings. Round-arched door opening having painted masonry surround with engaged Ionic columns and respondent pilasters supporting fluted frieze with garlands. Cobweb fanlight, sidelights with recent patterned glass. Timber panelled door. Concrete steps to entrance platform. Cast-iron railings on rendered and granite plinth to steps. Basement area enclosed from pavement by granite plinth wall with cast-iron railings, recent metal gates. Square-headed door opening to basement having recent timber door. Recent external concrete steps to basement from pavement. Two cast iron coal-hole covers to granite paving in front of structure.

This generously proportioned house makes an important contribution to the streetscape. It shares characteristics with neighbouring buildings including window opening sizes and door surrounds resulting in a coherent terrace. Its elaborate Ionic door surround survives in good condition and is typical of door surrounds fashionable in Dublin during the late Georgian period. Eccles Street was laid out in 1772 by the Gardiner Estate. It was to be an arterial route leading to Gardiner's ambitious yet unrealised Royal Circus, planned for the north-west end of Eccles Street. The south side of the street is an impressive, almost entirely, late eighteenth-century terrace with taller buildings to the centre of the terrace.