Incomplete Madness
Arriving at the west facing hotel on a sunny March evening is simply glorious. Doughnuts on demand in the new light filled conservatory and adjoining terrace. In contrast to the stuccoed pairs of Regency villas on the other side of Harcourt Terrace, The Wilder Townhouse is red brick Victorian. It’s a slightly wonky L shape in plan. Designed by architect James Hargrave Bridgford, the building has a long and complicated history. A Church of Ireland notice summarises its unusual genesis:
“The Asylum for Aged Governesses and Other Unmarried Ladies, first opened AD 1838. The only one in Ireland. Proposed new house, Harcourt Terrace, Dublin. In a former circular we gave an elevation of the proposed house, having four storeys, which was objected to as having rooms at such a distance from the entrance hall, that the ascent of the staircase to the upper rooms would be very trying for old and infirm people. We have, accordingly, modified our plan, which will be much more convenient in every way, and we have secured a plot of ground which gives us ample space for all sanitary and commodious arrangements, but the cost will be considerably more than for the original plan. We obtained four estimates from competent builders, and the lowest was £2,800 for the whole building; having, however only £1,600 in hand, and being determined to avoid debt, we have decided to build only the first block shown in the above drawing, with the portion of the wing included within the lines AB and CD. After this is done, we shall wait on the Lord for the means of completing the structure, which, when finished, will be all that can be desired. Subscriptions are earnestly solicited and will be thankfully received by the Trustees, or any Member of the Committee, whose names and addresses are given. Cheques and post office money orders to be made payable to Miss Eliza Meredyth.”
And a quote from Blackrock, County Dublin, based architect Gráinne Weber explaining its latest reincarnation: “Following on from work on Frankie Whelehan’s sister property, the Montenotte Hotel in Cork City, we were asked to take a look at a former residential institutional building on Harcourt Terrace and Adelaide Road in Dublin. A Victorian Protected Structure, it had planning permission for apartments but our client wished to develop it as a hotel. We achieved planning permission for a 42 bedroom guesthouse from An Bord Pleanála as architects for the project and proceeded to substantially upgrade the building’s shell and core: from there went on to create an interior which was modern yet sensitive to the building’s heritage.”
Hôtel Les Bains in Paris and Ham Yard Hotel in London provided two sources of inspiration for the interior design. House of Hackney wallpapers, Matthew Williamson fabrics and contemporary paintings reinvigorate the period interiors. The original inhabitants could only dream of today’s rainforest showers in marble bathrooms and Maison Margiela toiletries. Rooms are of course named after governesses who resided here: for example, the Miss Wade Suite was named after Charlotte Wade whose name appears in the 1911 Census. The Lady Jane Room is named in honour of Jane Harrison, Jane Jeffers and Jane Mercer who also all appeared in the 1911 Census. It’s also an acronym of the owner’s wife and daughters’ names: Josephine, Aoife, Niamh and Eimear. Records reveal 19 governesses were evicted down the years for being quarrelsome.
Gráinne’s client Frankie Whelehan expands the story, “What I was trying to achieve was something a bit different: a bespoke guesthouse with limited food and beverage, catering for a niche market that is under represented in Dublin. The name Wilder is a little bit of playacting because we are focusing on the international market coming to Dublin and Oscar Wilde is synonymous with the city. It’s all about experience. A notice in the deeds calls it ‘a home for bewildered women’ so we had that it mind too when naming the hotel.” The reception helpfully supplies a factsheet on governesses:
· They were employed to teach and train children in private middle and upper class households. The majority were Protestant; in the 1861 Census, 74 percent of Irish governesses were Protestant.
· In contrast to nannies, governesses concentrated on teaching children rather than catering for their physical needs.
· From the 1840s to 1860s, governesses accounted for 10 percent of the total teaching force.
· The profession began to decline at the end of the 19th century when schools became more common.
· The Governess Association of Ireland was established in 1869 on 3 Lower Leeson Street. It provided a two year course and an examination in Trinity College. Once completed, a certificate of proficiency helped to push for better wages.
· The average salary was £40 to £60 per annum but certified governesses could earn up to £80 a year.
· Governesses often didn’t have pensions and could end up homeless or in workhouses.
· The Asylum for Aged Governesses and Other Unmarried Ladies served a great need.
Last used as artists’ studios, the planning permission for hotel use granted by Dublin City Council was subject to a third party appeal in 2017 by neighbours on Harcourt Terrace. Inspector Jane Dennehy found in favour of the applicant: “The proposed development would not be seriously injurious to the integrity, character and visual amenities and setting the existing building, a Protected Structure, would not be seriously injurious to the architectural character, visual amenities and residential amenities of the residential Conservation Area and would be acceptable in terms of traffic and public safety and convenience, and would be in accordance with the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.” The Wilder Townhouse finally opened in 2018.
The February 2024 edition of Business Plus magazine reports: “In the 11 month period to November 2023, Dublin achieved the highest hotel occupancy rate, 83 percent, out of 35 European markets. Dublin also ranked seventh highest in terms of Revenue Per Available Room. Dublin has circa 25,860 hotel bedrooms. By comparison, the Stockholm hotel bedroom stock is about 39,000 while Amsterdam has a total stock of around 42,000. Dublin has fewer bedrooms than both comparably sized cities, despite having the fastest growing economy in Europe.” The Wilder Townhouse provides 42 of the very best bedrooms Dublin has to offer.
