Yesterday morning in Dublin City Centre, suspected arson almost claimed Aldborough House, the last Georgian mansion to be built in Dublin City. An Taisce urges Dublin City Council to move speedily to ensure that the building is properly secure by way of being occupied by a caretaker, with any other necessary security measures taken. An Taisce reminds Dublin City Council of their legal obligations to ensure that "Protected Buildings" are indeed "protected",

Aldborough House is located beside the Five Lamps on Portland Row and many people would be familiar with this fine cut stone granite edifice.

The building consisting of 3 floors 7 bays wide above ground level. It features a central break front pediment with a foyer in the Tuscan order and with a rusticated treatment of the stone work at ground floor level. The building was designed by Richard Johnston, begun in 1792 and completed at great cost by 1803.

However in recent years the building has been let become derelict. It was previously owned by the state through Telecom Eireann, and subsequently Eircom.

Regrettably, An Taisce is not surprised the building was almost lost yesterday. For a number of years An Taisce and others have repeatedly expressed concerns to Dublin City Council as to the clearly neglected state of the building, which was likely to prove an obvious attraction to vandals and / or arsonists.

For example, at time of writing there are 13 missing or broken panes of glass in the sash windows on the facade, with many more broken windows around the side.

There are many things this building could be: A Childrens’ Museum, a Museum of Dublin, even a corporate headquarters.

However one thing it should never let be is another burnt out ruin to be demolished. It should not be let follow the 2011 destruction of Belcamp House.

An Taisce would like to take the opportunity to praise the good men and women of Dublin City Fire Brigade for acting swiftly and saving one of the city's prime architectural treasures.

ENDS

For further information, please call:

Charles Stanley-Smith, An Taisce Communications – Tel: 087 2411995

Ian Lumley, Heritage Officer, An Taisce – Tel: 01 454 1786

Email: [email protected]

An Taisce The National Trust for Ireland