|
#119 St Stephen's Green along with #120 share the distinction of being one of
the two surviving purpose-built townhouses in Dublin. The buildings were
designed by the renowned architect Richard Castle, otherwise known as Cassell.
While residing in "Proud's Lane" (behind 119) before 1950, Castle commenced
building of 119-120 which despite their external appearance, were intended as
two separate dwellings. Unfortunately his death at Carton on February 19th 1751
prevented him completing the houses.
 A
tragic reference to the site appeared in the October 1760 edition of
"Faulkner's Journal" in which we are informed, "The body of a poor woman who
plied about St Stephens Green was taken out of some water that lies in the
foundations of the house adjoining Lord Jocelyn's". The "foundations" referred
to have been identified by the Georgian Society as those representing the
present No. 119-120 St Stephens Green West. A fact that may or may not explain
the supposed haunting of No. 119!!
The original owner in 1761 was Richard Thwaites of Crampton Court, off Dame
Street, kinsman of Augustine Thwaite, Jr. "the first to invent soda water".
The first occupant of No. 119 was Frances Sadlier, of Sopwell Hall, County
Tipperary, kinsman of John Sadlier also of Tipperary, the notorious politician
and banking swindler whose nefarious activities were dealt with in fiction by,
among others, Dickens, Lever, Hatton and Miss Braddock.
In 1782 Dr. T Kearney FTCD
In 1794 Richard Colles, Solicitor.
The longest dwelling family of No. 119 was the Gibbs family who lived here from
1829 to 1891.
 No.
119 remained 'vacant' throughout 1892 - 1894 and was next occupied as
commercial premises by the Stuart-James Pneumatic Tyre Company 1895-1896.
1896 - 1922 A & J Robinson, Solicitors
In 1922 Avon Rubber Tyre Company.
1937 - 1938 Avon Seiberling Tyre Manufacturers
1954 -1955 Mr J T McCormack, Architect, ARIBA, MRIAI
1965 - 1982 Irene Gilbert, Coutouriere, Daivid Hendriks, Art Gallery
1982 -1985 The Witches Hut, Ladies Hair Stylist
In 1985, the building was taken over by Mr. & Mrs. Peter White and was the
famed restaurant "White's on the Green".
Gallager & Shorlynn occupied the building after the Whites and then Robbie
Fox took over with the restaurant Baton Rouge.
In 1998, John M. Shanahan and his family took over the building and began a long
refurbishment process that brought the building back to its original splendour
and is now the home to Shanahan's on the Green.
|
