The Dublin Artisan Dwelling Company orchestrated the construction of typical houses, like 19 Drummond Place, for the city’s workforce in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The mission was to ensure a better quality of life by getting them out of the tenements and into superior homes.
Multiple designs were replicated in different schemes around the capital to save on costs. This made way for the single-floor cottages and two-floor terraced residences seen today around locales like Harold’s Cross and Stoneybatter.
The majority of these artisan houses around Harold’s Cross were generally inhabited by workers from the neighbouring Cathal Brugha barracks or employees of the Greenmount Spinning Company. Despite the existing mill building still notable as a landmark, the location has experienced considerable change.
Boasting a yellow-brick exterior, No.19 is a classic two-story terraced home measuring 61 square metres (or 657 square feet). Its facade has been recently revitalised after being sandblasted.
Entering the dwelling through the front door, you’re directly welcomed into a comfortable living area, equipped with a solid-fuel stove and under-stairs storage. An archway ushers you into an extended kitchen fitted with multiple wall and floor units, and offering room for dining furniture. A doorway leads you to the decked courtyard.
Typically, like similar houses, the fully-tiled bathroom is situated on the lower floor, and includes a walk-in shower and heated towel rack. The upper level houses two double bedrooms, both equipped with fitted wardrobes.
Upgraded with double-glazed windows and a newly installed combi boiler (fit in 2021), the house has a C3 Ber rating. The homeowner, who purchased the property at the onset of the pandemic, struggles with the idea of letting it go. After meeting her significant other and welcoming a baby, they are on the look-out for a more spacious home in Dublin 6.
She adores living here, one of the reasons being her house’s prime position which eliminates the need for a vehicle. Grand Canal Docks is a brisk three-minute walk, Rathmines village is at a distance of a ten-minute walk, and St. Stephen’s Green is roughly a twenty-minute easy walk.
Additionally, HX46, a spot for getting coffee and lunch, is conveniently located just around the corner. She also finds the Daybreak shop handy for everyday necessities as it is just down the road. As for education, St Clare’s School is directly opposite her house and other notable schools nearby include Harold’s Cross Educate Together and secondary schools as well as St Mary’s College, St Louis High School, and Rathmines College of Further Education.
The property owner associates Harold’s Cross with a close-knit community, mentioning Harold House on Clanbrassil Street as an ideal place for friends and neighbours to gather. The local residents’ WhatsApp group is quite handy for organising things like deliveries or sharing spare keys.
She emphatically states that her residence has been completely issue-free since she purchased it. Despite its street-front position, she has never felt insecure. It has proven to be a comfortable living space for her, but she believes it’s time for a change and pass it on to a new occupant.