House - 17th/18th century

The National Monuments Service's description

College Green Watch House 

 

Located in College Green opposite Parliament House (Bank of Ireland).  Watch House annotated ‘W H’ on Rocques 1756 map of the city and suburbs of Dublin where it is shown standing in College Green immediately east of the statue of King William, now the site of the bronze statue of Thomas Davis (NIAH Reg. No. 50020252).  The building is depicted as standing on the northern side of College Green between Suffolk Street (Church Lane) on the south side and Turn Stile Alley (Foster Lane) on the northern side.    There is a reference to the College Green Watch-House in 1765 when the statue was taken down and replaced on a stone pedestal of greater elevation than the former pediment; being, however, 'usually encircled by hackney chairs, it began to be regarded as an obstruction to the confined passage through College-green. A watch-house, located on its eastern side, was inefficient to protect its base from being perpetually covered with filth, in consequence of which nuisance to the neighbourhood a proposal was made to remove it to the barracks. The latest, as well as the most ingenious and successful assault on the monument was made in 1836. During the month of March in that year three attempts were made to blow it up: Thomas Smith, a watchman who was located at the college gate, on one of these occasions discovered a lighted match attached to the statue, and removed it with his pole. On a closer examination he found, in a hole, upon the horse's side, a nail joined to a long string of hemp, one yard of the latter being on the exterior, and two yards in the interior of the body of the leaden horse. The discovery was duly reported at the watch house, and although the latter was then under the management of a Conservative corporation, no precautionary steps were taken. On the night of Thursday, the 7th of April, 1836, at a few minutes past twelve o'clock, a light appeared suddenly on the side of the statue next to the bank of Ireland, and a few minutes afterwards the figure of the king was blown several feet into the air, accompanied by a deafening explosion, which extinguished all the lamps in College-green and its vicinity. The figure fell at a considerable distance from its pedestal, in the direction of Church lane, its legs and arms were broken, and its head completely defaced by the fall the horse was also much injured and shattered in several places. The mutilated representative of majesty was, next day, placed in a cart and conveyed to College street police office, where it was deposited in the hall, while an investigation. was held relative to the circumstances connected with the outrage' (Anon. 1852, 761, 771).

Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien

Date of Compilation: 12 November 2025

References

Anon. 1852 The Streets of Dublin, No. IV.  Irish Quarterly Review Vol 2, 701-72.

Rocque, J. 1756 An exact survey of the city and suburbs of Dublin in which is express'd the ground plot of all publick buildings, dwelling houses, ware houses, stables, courts yards &c / by John Rocque, chorographer to their Royal Highnesses, the late & present Prince of Wales, 1756 ; A. Dury Sculpt.