Mornington House
Encyclopedia
Mornington House was the Dublin social season Georgian
residence of the Earls of Mornington
. It is located in Merrion Street
, close to Leinster House
, then city residence of the Dukes of Leinster
and now seat of the Irish parliament, Oireachtas Éireann.
Arthur Wellesley
, the fourth son of the Earl of Mornington, later a Field Marshal(1813), then 1st Duke of Wellington(1814) and British Prime Minister, is sometimes said to have been born there, though other sources suggest he was born in the family's country seat, Dangan Castle, near Trim, County Meath
. His mother gave 1 May as his birthday, and he himself so kept it, but the nurse affirmed that he was born on 6 March at Dangan Castle, co. Meath. The registry of St. Peter's Church, Dublin, shows that he was christened there on 30 April 1769, and the May number of ‘Exshaw's Gentleman's Magazine’ has: ‘April 29. The Countess of Mornington of a son.’ The ‘Dublin Gazette’ of 2–4 May dates the event ‘a few days ago, in Merrion Street.’
The house was later sold and for most of the twentieth century was the headquarters of the Irish Land Commission
. For some years it was considered as a possible residence for the Taoiseach
(prime minister) of Ireland
. It was however sold in the 1990s and is now a popular international hotel
. The Merrion Hotel
comprises a block of four houses in a terrace on Upper Merrion Street, Dublin 2, of which "Mornington House", is the leftmost (when viewed from the front). The houses were built in the 1760s by Charles Monck, 1st Viscount Monck
for wealthy Irish merchants and nobility. He lived in No. 22, which became known as "Monck House". The hotel also incorporates, as a separate business, Dublin's only 2-star Michelin restaurant, Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud
.
The four houses forming the Main House of the hotel are typical of domestic Georgian architecture in Ireland. The plain exteriors rely for effect on the carefully worked out classical proportions of the timber sash windows and their relation to the whole façade. The doorcases, with their varied treatment and intricate beautiful fanlights, were where the builder could impose some individuality on the building. In most other areas, the normal lease laid down strict requirements.
Internally, there were no such restrictions. This explains the wealth of varied plasterwork and woodwork contained in the houses. The architectural detail of the houses clearly indicates the progression of their construction. No. 21 has intricate rococo plasterwork and a particularly heavy staircase. The detail lightens as one progresses along the terrace, although No. 22, the first to be built, is an exception. Here the main stair hall and the principal reception rooms have much lighter detailing, in the neo-classical, Adam style. In the midst of this lighter decoration, there are examples of heavier detail, such as the intricate Corinthian cornice in the stairwell, and the superb third floor room with coved ceilings and dramatic rococo plasterwork. Monck House was "modernised" in the late 18th century or the beginning of the 19th century.
Georgian era
The Georgian era is a period of British history which takes its name from, and is normally defined as spanning the reigns of, the first four Hanoverian kings of Great Britain : George I, George II, George III and George IV...
residence of the Earls of Mornington
Earl of Mornington
Earl of Mornington is a title in the Peerage of Ireland, since 1863 a subsidiary title of the dukedom of Wellington. It was created in 1760 for the Anglo-Irish politician and composer Garret Wellesley, 2nd Baron Mornington. He was made Viscount Wellesley, of Dangan Castle in the County of Meath, at...
. It is located in Merrion Street
Merrion Street
Merrion Street is a major Georgian street on the southside of Dublin, Ireland which runs along one side of Merrion Square. The garden entrance of Leinster House is located on the street, as is Irish Government Buildings, formerly the Royal College of Science for Ireland...
, close to Leinster House
Leinster House
Leinster House is the name of the building housing the Oireachtas, the national parliament of Ireland.Leinster House was originally the ducal palace of the Dukes of Leinster. Since 1922, it is a complex of buildings, of which the former ducal palace is the core, which house Oireachtas Éireann, its...
, then city residence of the Dukes of Leinster
Duke of Leinster
Duke of Leinster is a title in the Peerage of Ireland and the premier dukedom in that peerage. The title refers to Leinster, but unlike the province the title is pronounced "Lin-ster"...
and now seat of the Irish parliament, Oireachtas Éireann.
Arthur Wellesley
Arthur Wellesley
Arthur Wellesley may refer to:*Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington , Anglo-Irish soldier and statesman*Arthur Wellesley, 2nd Duke of Wellington , British soldier and nobleman...
, the fourth son of the Earl of Mornington, later a Field Marshal(1813), then 1st Duke of Wellington(1814) and British Prime Minister, is sometimes said to have been born there, though other sources suggest he was born in the family's country seat, Dangan Castle, near Trim, County Meath
Trim, County Meath
Trim is the traditional county town of County Meath in Ireland, although the county town is now Navan. The town was recorded in the 2006 census to have a population of 6,870....
. His mother gave 1 May as his birthday, and he himself so kept it, but the nurse affirmed that he was born on 6 March at Dangan Castle, co. Meath. The registry of St. Peter's Church, Dublin, shows that he was christened there on 30 April 1769, and the May number of ‘Exshaw's Gentleman's Magazine’ has: ‘April 29. The Countess of Mornington of a son.’ The ‘Dublin Gazette’ of 2–4 May dates the event ‘a few days ago, in Merrion Street.’
The house was later sold and for most of the twentieth century was the headquarters of the Irish Land Commission
Irish Land Commission
The Irish Land Commission was created in 1881 as a rent fixing commission by the Land Law Act 1881, also known as the second Irish Land Act...
. For some years it was considered as a possible residence for the Taoiseach
Taoiseach
The Taoiseach is the head of government or prime minister of Ireland. The Taoiseach is appointed by the President upon the nomination of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas , and must, in order to remain in office, retain the support of a majority in the Dáil.The current Taoiseach is...
(prime minister) of Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. It was however sold in the 1990s and is now a popular international hotel
Hotel
A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging on a short-term basis. The provision of basic accommodation, in times past, consisting only of a room with a bed, a cupboard, a small table and a washstand has largely been replaced by rooms with modern facilities, including en-suite bathrooms...
. The Merrion Hotel
Merrion Hotel
Merrion Hotel is a hotel located on Upper Merrion Street, Dublin 2 in the Republic of Ireland. The hotel comprises a block of four houses in a terrace on Upper Merrion Street, Dublin 2, of which "Mornington House", is the leftmost . The houses were built in the 1760s by Charles Monck, 1st Viscount...
comprises a block of four houses in a terrace on Upper Merrion Street, Dublin 2, of which "Mornington House", is the leftmost (when viewed from the front). The houses were built in the 1760s by Charles Monck, 1st Viscount Monck
Charles Monck, 1st Viscount Monck
Charles Stanley Monck, 1st Viscount Monck, was born in 1754 and died on 9 June 1802. He was the 1st son of Thomas Monck MP, by his wife Judith Mason, daughter of Robert Mason, of Mason Brook. He gained the title of 1st Viscount Monck in 1801 as a reward for voting for the Act of Union...
for wealthy Irish merchants and nobility. He lived in No. 22, which became known as "Monck House". The hotel also incorporates, as a separate business, Dublin's only 2-star Michelin restaurant, Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud
Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud
Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud is a restaurant in Dublin in Ireland. It is a quality restaurant that was awarded one Michelin star in the period 1989–1995 and two stars in the period 1996–present Egon Ronay Guide awarded the restaurant one star in the period 1983–1985 and 1987...
.
The four houses forming the Main House of the hotel are typical of domestic Georgian architecture in Ireland. The plain exteriors rely for effect on the carefully worked out classical proportions of the timber sash windows and their relation to the whole façade. The doorcases, with their varied treatment and intricate beautiful fanlights, were where the builder could impose some individuality on the building. In most other areas, the normal lease laid down strict requirements.
Internally, there were no such restrictions. This explains the wealth of varied plasterwork and woodwork contained in the houses. The architectural detail of the houses clearly indicates the progression of their construction. No. 21 has intricate rococo plasterwork and a particularly heavy staircase. The detail lightens as one progresses along the terrace, although No. 22, the first to be built, is an exception. Here the main stair hall and the principal reception rooms have much lighter detailing, in the neo-classical, Adam style. In the midst of this lighter decoration, there are examples of heavier detail, such as the intricate Corinthian cornice in the stairwell, and the superb third floor room with coved ceilings and dramatic rococo plasterwork. Monck House was "modernised" in the late 18th century or the beginning of the 19th century.