Early Gothic Revival and Romanticism.
From the late 1740’s, the predominance of Neo Classical design during the Age of Enlightenment and increasing industrialisation led to the emergence of Early Gothic Revival and later Romanticism in England; this would very quickly have spread to Ireland, as families like the Vesey’s of Lucan split their time between London and Dublin. Sometimes referred to as “Gothick”, early Gothic Revival was not all ways fully true to the original Gothic architectural style, rather using Gothic elements to embellish and add a sense of antiquity, or curiosity. The style would quickly grow in popularity during the late 18th Century and early 19th Century eventually superseding Neo Classical design to become the main architectural style.
Lucan has a fantastic array of early “Gothick” Revival features, most of which can be found on gates, lodges, walls, follies, outbuildings, and on some houses; all of which feature varying degrees of Gothic elements, some more adventurously than others.
This post will cover the earliest stages of Gothic Revival in Lucan.
1. The original gates to the grounds of Lucan Demesne, Leixlip Road. Behind the AIB Bank and across from Primrose Lane.
The gateway to the grounds of Lucan House is flanked by two symmetrical pedestrian doorways and small quadrant lodges. Each of the two Gothic doorways has rough cut stone starts and naturally potholed riverbed stone block surrounds, with inset Gothic timber doors.
On the interior side of the gate, each of the quadrant lodges features a heavy set, potholed stone start and block surrounds and flat arches with large keystones. The doorway into the small lodges are distinctly not Gothic, but are flanked on either side by two small Gothic windows. The windows of the left lodge having being blocked up. This mismatch of “Gothick” and Neoclassical elements, and the choice of potholed limestone, emphasises the romantic ideal of creating a sense of rustic antiquity.
Originally, the gate and two small quadrant lodges stood alone, as seen in the 1772 Scale map of Lucan. However, by the time of the 1840’s map of Lucan, a run of servant houses was constructed in line with the right lodge. The Gothick design of the original lodges was carried through in the first two windows of this new extension. These later windows being notably bigger than the windows of the original lodges. The doorways and arches of the remaining new windows are of a shallow arch construction.
The Romantic Gothic design of the original gate and lodges would have perfectly complimented the now demolished Lucan Castle, which Thomas Roberts painting of Lucan Demense, now in the National Gallery of Ireland, shows to have had Early Gothic Revival windows added to both the original tower and to the vast extension adjoining it. The gate and Castle would together have presented a very imposing approach. But standing in stark contrast to the current Palladian styled Lucan House only adds to the Romanticism of the gate and lodges, making them all the more unique and mysterious.
2. Gardenville House and the Demesne Orchard.
Located across the road from the original gate and quadrant lodges, on the corner of Primrose Lane, is Gardenville House. Once the residence of the Land Steward for Lucan Demense, Gardenville commands a prominent location overlooking the comings and goings through the gate of the Demesne and in the adjoining the walled orchard of the estate. The house is typically Georgian in design, however closer inspection reveals otherwise. High up, over the Leixlip Road, the only window to directly overlook the Demesne is embellished with Gothic tracery; certainly an Early “Gothick” Revival feature and possibly a reference linking it with the Gothic styled gates across the road.
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3. The Bath House on the grounds of Lucan House.
In the depths of the woodland behind Lucan House, a small diverted stream runs out from under the Leixlip Road and into the large opening of an arched grotto under the Demesne. The stream then runs through a modern concrete culvert under the trail by the boundary wall, cascades down a small ornamental waterfall, under a small foot bridge, and onwards down to join the Liffey. Almost hidden beside this cascading stream is what at first appears to be an small, ancient Oratory with an ivy clad bellcote.
Approaching from the small bridge one is faced almost immediately with an east-facing gable, constructed from the same rustic potholed limestone stone used on the original gates mentioned above. The gable is surmounted by a rough rendered pediment, framed with a border of the same cut potholed limestone stone. Inset within the rough render of the pediment, small pebbles and river stones form Gothic quatrefoils; a heart forms the centre piece of the pediment.
Centred in the gable is a gated Gothic arched doorway, heavily framed with potholed starts and blocks, which grants access to an airy barrel vaulted nave like room. Featured within are a mix of Gothic and classical elements. On the left (south) wall the original Gothic doorway of the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary has been re-purposed as a fire surround. This is flanked on either side by large rectangular niches. On the right (north wall), an oversized, gated Romanesque archway floods the room with natural light. Directly in front a Gothic doorway leads to a smaller dark “Chancel” room; and then the through purpose of the building is revealed.
Through the interior Gothic arch, one is met instantly by the two buttresses that support the external bellcote, the immediately by a small classically shaped pool. The “Chancel”, lit by three roughly shaped Gothic window openings is intact a spa bath; the outer “nave”, with its large fireplace and open oversized archway mostly likely a drying room.
Further evidence of the Bath House being a romantic Gothic Revival building and not a religious building can be found in the orientation of the building itself. The Bath House is positioned with the small “Chancel” bathing room facing to the west. In real Christian churches the Chancel would be facing east, towards the rising sun. The Bath House on the grounds of Lucan House is more likely orientated to accommodate approach from the House.
The Bath House and matching nearby original gates are highly likely to be very early examples of Gothic revival and Romanticism architecture.
4. The new gate lodge of Lucan House.
The only other remaining early Gothic Revival architecture to be found on the grounds of Lucan House can be seen in the “New” gate lodge found just inside the gates off Main Street, Lucan. The new Georgian gates on Main Street, were created to complement the construction of the new Palladian styled Lucan House. They created a new far grander approach to the house than via the old original gates mentioned above. Accompanying the new gates was a new lager lodge, which features Gothic windows throughout, a nod to the Gothic style of the older and far smaller quadrant lodges flanking the old Gate.
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