Sunlight Chambers

-

Every day thousands of people cross Grattan Bridge to reach the centres of Dublin's cultural life, but unfortunately few  pay attention to one of the most iconic buildings located in the city centre. At the corner of Parliament Street and Essex Quay, busy people divide their looks between cars and people trying to find gaps along the Quays to reach the opposite side and end up ignoring the three faced building that is trying to tell a history throughout its artwork. 



The origins of Sunlight Chamber go back to the English industrialists, William Hesketh Lever and his younger brother James Darcy Lever who together with chemist William Hough Watson,  reinvented the chemical detergent industry. They successfully developed a new recipe that consisted of glycerin and vegetable oil, rather than traditional animal fat. The business achieved immense success and in 1885 they decided to invest in Watson’s soap recipe and opened a factory in Warrington. A village developed around this which was given the name Port Sunlight named after their revolutionising product,  Sunlight Soap.



Continuing their success the Lever Brothers embarked on a new project and decided to set up a new office closer to home.   They acquired a plot of land on Usher's Quay and enlisted the architect, Edward Ould from their native Liverpool in 1899. Because a foreign architect was employed, the building struggled to gain acceptance and this may be why it has remained hidden in plain sight for so long. 


This is a true shame since the spectacular work of the English sculptor and potter, Conrad Dressler remains unnoticed. He was hired to design twelve panels that surrounded the facade of the building. In 1902, he developed a new technique which allowed him to create glazed ceramic friezes in 3D format which were used to decorate the spandrel between the second and third floor of the building. 



Among nude babies, a donkey, a man building a boat and a bunch of renaissance style ladies clothes, the panel tells us the story of the soap’s creation and it should be even for a few seconds, appreciated by those who pass by. 


#dublinsubculture #dublinhiddengems #Dublin

Comments

  1. Anonymous19 February 2024 at 11:56

    Such a forgotten piece of Dublin's history! I remember seeing this on a historical tour of Dublin and am so glad that it's getting some acknowledgement now. I've wondered how the city would look if we had this style of architecture all around the place. A new Venice of the North!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Kings Inn & The Hungry Tree

-
Image
Kings Inn & The Hungry Tree Volume 9  ' a remarkable architectural and historical landmark'. The Kings Inn was established in 1541 during the reign of  King Henry VIII, a renowned institution with an extensive history. It was established as a professional association for barristers, the King's Inn has developed into a prominent hub for legal education, housing Ireland's top law school and educating future barristers. Set within a prominent Georgian building, with original distinctive features of the time, such as its elegant proportions, sash windows, and balanced façade. Its grandeur is increased by the use of limestone details and red brick.  It historical past ties with British rule in Ireland representing the power of the monarchy at that time. Before The Kings Inn was established it was the residence of the Viceroy of Ireland. When Ireland regained power (independence in 1921) it became central to the establishment of the Irish legal system. Dublin's archit...
Read more

The Oratory of the Sacred Heart

-
Image
The Oratory of the Sacred Heart Celtic Revival style art close to you ! One example of Ireland's rich religious and architectural history is the Oratory of the Sacred Heart in Dún Laoghaire. Located in the centre of Dún Laoghaire, a busy seaside town south of Dublin, this holy building is significant for both its religious purpose and its magnificent architecture. In what seems like a simple building from the exterior has a very impressive interior that will take you by surprise. Designed by William Hague Jr, built between 1919 and 1922, commissioned by the Roman Catholic Church of Dun Laoghaire. The design of the Oratory has strong roots in the Celtic Revival style, which was popularised in the late 19th and early 20th centuries as a means of honouring and resurrecting Ireland's rich cultural legacy. The elaborate interlace patterns, symbolism, and love for nature that defined Ireland's ancient Celtic history served as the inspiration for this architectural style.The Domin...
Read more

Howth Castle

-
Image
  The history of Howth Castle dates back to the Middle Ages. John de Courcy and Almeric, the first Lord of Howth, travelled to Ireland in 1177. According to legend, St. Lawrence won a battle at Evora Bridge, near the Church of Ireland, on August 10, the day of his feast day, giving him control of the Howth peninsula. It is supposed that he adopted the name St. Lawrence as a token of appreciation for this. Although Almeric constructed his wooden fortress above the harbor, a deed clearly shows that by 1235, a new fortress had been erected on the current location amidst the lush terrain. Once more, wood would have been used to build this. The current structure's earliest surviving elements date to the middle of the fifteenth century. Subsequent generations made significant alterations to the house to fit their own needs, 1738, when the house assumed its current form and when Sir Edwin Lutyens renovated and extended the building in 1911 and. Even now, traces of the changes may still be...
Read more