The Lodge — Unknown Townland

Arás an Uachtaráin (Residence of the President) formerly the Viceregal Lodge in the Phoenix Park (Newtown Park), is the official residence and principal workplace of the President of Ireland. According to Scholes (1877, 35); 'This magnificent edifice was built in 1751 by the Right Honourable Nathaniel Clements, from whom in 1784, it was purchased by the Government, to serve as a country seat for the Lord Lieutenant'. D'Alton (1838, 537) recorded the following details about Nathaniel Clements; 'In 1751 Nathaniel Clements was appointed chief ranger and game-keeper of all his Majesty's parks, &c. in Ireland, and ranger of his Majesty's park the Phoenix, and keeper of the walk within said park called Newtown Park, in place of the Hon. Sir John Lewis Ligonier, Knight of the Bath, who had resigned'. This building is annotated 'the Lord Lieutenants' on Taylor's 1816 Map of Dublin. The house was described in 1818 as; 'The Vice-Regal Lodge was originally built by Mr. [Nathaniel] Clements, from whom it was purchased. It was a plain structure of brick. In 1802 Lord Hardwicke made the first important improvement, by adding the wings, in one of which is the great dining-hall. In 1808, the Duke of Richmond added the north portico, a structure of the Doric order and the lodges by which the demesne is entered on the side of Dublin. But the most striking addition to the building is the north front, added by Lord Whitworth. This is ornamented with a pediment supported by four Ionic pillars of Portland stone, from a design of Johnson's. The whole façade has been new faced to correspond with this portico, and it now stands a fair architectural ornament in the Park- a residence befitting a viceroy' (Warburton et. al. 1818, 1310). The building and landscaped surrounds were described by George Newenham Wright (1831, 26) as; 'The most extensive and beautiful of the enclosed demesnes in the Phoenix Park, is that appropriated as the summer residence of the Viceroy of Ireland. The building is spacious, and sufficiently architectural; the principal front consists of a centre and wings, the former a noble portico of the Ionic order, supporting a plain pediment of graceful proportions, the latter, perfectly plain, with the exception of six ornamented panels inserted between the upper and the basement stories. It is very singular, that such an agreeable and unassuming elevation could have been the result of so many alterations, and by so many different hands. The original mansion, the central portion of the present Lodge, was a simple brick building, erected by the Right Hon. Nathaniel Clements, ancestor of the Earl of Leitrim, in 1784, from whom it was purchased by the Crown. The present Earl of Hardwicke, when lord lieutenant of Ireland, added the wings, which contain the principal apartments in the Lodge, in the year 1802. The Duke of Richmond, in 1808, caused the north portico to be erected, a heavy structure of the Doric order: but, it was reserved for Lord Whitworth to embellish the whole by the addition of the beautiful, light Ionic colonnade, that stands prominent in the centre of the south front, the design of which was suggested by the late eminent architect F. Johnston, Esq. In 1821, his gracious Majesty, during his sojourn in Ireland, made this Lodge his constant residence, though he held his court at DUBLIN Castle, since which period it is most generally styled the Royal Lodge. The pleasure -grounds are very extensive, and highly improved: they contain two spacious ponds well - stocked with trout, tench, carp, and pike ; several noble gardens and orchards; many delightful rides through shrubberies and plantations; and, including what is considered to be his excellency's demesne, occupy an area of one hundred and sixty-one English acres. Around the south front we see lofty limes, and elms of stately and picturesque forms, between which, distant views of the Wicklow and Dublin mountains are occasionally presented; while the foreground and middle distance of the View from the Lodge and its pleasure-grounds, are occupied by a spacious area, broken and diversified by an undulating surface, and by a variety of luxuriant forest trees. The demesne of the Royal Lodge is entered between two gate-lodges of a very elegant and chaste design, where guards of honor are always placed; those, as well as the noble gates of entrance in Park-gate street, were erected by command of the late Duke of Richmond'. Photo © William Murphy https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:%C3%81ras_an_Uachtar%C3%A1in_2010.jpg DU018-007006-_03 courtesy https://www.archiseek.com/2010/1751-aras-an-uachtarain-phoenix-park-dublin/ See attached Taylor's 1816 Map showing the house annotated 'the Lord Lieutenants' Taylor, J. 1816 Taylor's map of the environs of Dublin: extending 10 to 14 miles from the castle, by actual survey, on a scale of 2 inches to one mile. Scholes, J.C. 1877 A Few Random Rambles in and about the City of Dublin. J. Stead. Bolton. Wright. G.N. 1831 Ireland Illustrated, from original drawings, by G. Petrie, R.H.A., W. H. Bartlett, & T. M. Baynes. With descriptions, by G. N. Wright. H. Fisher, Son & Jackson. London Compiled by: Geraldine Stout Revised by: Caimin O'Brien Date of revised upload: 26 January 2023