Custom House

Custom House, Dublin, built to the design of James Gandon (1781–91), replacing an older building on Essex Quay. Its siting on reclaimed land in the relatively undeveloped north‐east of the city met with strong opposition from the established merchant class, who correctly predicted that it would initiate a general east‐ward shift in the city, away from its medieval nucleus.

The building was designed to be seen from all fronts, but in particular from the east and west sides—the two waterside approaches. All four façades of the building are treated differently, but with equal importance. Continuity in the building is maintained by the presence of a pavilion at each corner. The building is rich in sculptural detailing; of particular note are the fourteen keystone heads by Edward Smyth, which represent the Atlantic Ocean and thirteen Irish rivers—the routes of Irish trade.

The Custom House was extensively burned in an IRA attack in May 1921, and little of the original interior remains. The exterior was, for the most part, faithfully restored, although details such as the use of darker limestone, rather than the original Portland stone, on the drum of the dome have taken away from the original effect. The building currently houses the principal offices of the Department of the Environment.

Rachel Moss