1898 – Proposed Additions to St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin

Architect: Sir Thomas Drew

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“The addition which are now contemplated are not without some connexion with its original scheme, uncompleted since its first design in the thirteenth century.” Designed by Sir Thomas Drew, it was to include a new chapter house, but never progressed beyond the illustration stage. “The scheme proposed by Mr. Thomas Drew, the consulting architect to the two Dublin Cathedrals, has received the attention of the . Fine Arts Committee of the R.I.B.A., which has reported its opinion that such an addition is a legitimate one. Unfortunately, in process of time the ample lines laid out by Archbishop Comyn around his proposed cathedral have been encroached on, and its boundary restricted, and in the plan presented the buildings are necessarily somewhat crowded. It is understood, however, that a great scheme of improvement in the surroundings of the cathedral is in view, and the church may hope to extend its borders. A private Bill was obtained last session by Lords Ardilaun and Iveagh, and Mr. James Talbot Power of Dublin, as Trustees for creating a St. Patrick’s Park on the north side of the cathedral. What form this will take is not yet before the public, but a great area of slum property has already been cleared, and it is believed that, in concert with the Corporation of Dublin, these trustees have in view a vast scheme of civic improvement which extends to a regeneration of the whole miserable quarter lying partly within and partly without the old city walls between the two cathedrals of Christchurch and St. Patrick’s. Widened and rebuilt approaching streets are part of the scheme, the development of which is a civic improvement of such importance as to be watched with interest, and which may also have the effect of enabling the proposed additions to the cathedral to be pushed further northward than shown on this plan, and not crowd so much on the main building.” The Builder, June 2 1898.