Dictionary of Irish Architects 1720 - 1940

Scottish architect, for biography and works of whom see Howard Colvin, A Biographical dictionary of British architects 1600-1840 (4th edn., 2008), 44-55. Robert Adam's earliest Irish work was the remodelling of Langford House, Dublin, for the Rt. Hon. Hercules Rowley, MP, in 1765, but the house no longer survives. In 1772-75 he designed a dining room, hall and staircase for the first Earl of Bective at Headfort House, Co. Meath, which were only partially executed. In 1782 he remodelled Castle Upton, Co. Antrim, for the first Baron Templetown; for the second Baron Templetown he added stables and a mausoleum in 1788-79. His other Irish proposals were unexecuted.

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8 work entries listed in chronological order for ADAM, ROBERT #


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Building: CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, MARY STREET, LANGFORD HOUSE
Date: 1765
Nature: Remodelling of earlier house for Rt Hon. Hercules Langford Rowley (Demolished 1931)
Refs: Drawings in Soane Museum, Adam vols. 11 (no. 123), 50 (nos. 91, 92), 52 (nos. 21,22) (photocopies in IAA, RP.B.50.5); designs for front and back rooms on principal floor in Paul Mellon collection (repr. John Harris, Headfort House & Robert Adam (RIBA, 1973), nos. 36, 37) Georgian Society Records IV (1912), 38-38-42, Pls. 16, 17; Frederick O'Dwyer, Lost Dublin (1981), 78; Howard Colvin, A Biographical dictionary of British architects 1600-1840 (3rd edn., 1995), 58

Building: CO. MEATH, HEADFORT
Date: 1772-5
Nature: Dining room, hall, stairs; partially executed. For Thomas Taylour, 1st Earl of Bective.
Refs: Drawings in Soane Museum, Adam vols. 12 (nos. 96-103). 50 (nos. 57-63), 53 (no. 29), 22 (no. 292) (photocopies in IAA, RP.B.50.5); drawings in Mellon Collection, listed in Headfort House & Robert Adam (RIBA exhibition catalogue, London, 1973);  working drawings in collection of Marquess of Headfort (2009); Christine Casey & Alistair Rowan, The Buildings of Ireland: North Leinster (1993), 313-316, Pl. 78; Howard Colvin, A Biographical dictionary of British architects 1600-1840 (4th edn., 2008), 52.

Building: CO. DERRY, DOWNHILL
Date: 1780
Nature: Design for proposed dining room and other adds. Not executed.
Refs: Alistair Rowan, The Buildings of Ireland: North West Ulster (1979), 245

Building: CO. ANTRIM, CASTLE UPTON
Date: 1782-3, 1788-9
Nature: Remodelling of house, for 1st Lord Templetown (d.1785), 1782-83; stables and mausoleum, for 2nd Lord Templetown, 1788-89.
Refs: Drawings for mausoleum in Soane Museum, Adam vols. 44 (nos. 85 & 86), 48 (nos. 29-40) (photocopies in IAA, RP.B.50.5); W.D. Girvan & A. Rowan, Historic Buildingsā€¦in West Antrim (UAHS, 1970), 2,3,14-17,33; Howard Colvin, A Biographical dictionary of British architects 1600-1840 (4th edn., 2008), 60,62

Building: CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, CORK HILL, ROYAL EXCHANGE
Date: ?
Nature: Pedestal (now lost) for statue of George III.
Refs: 'A threatened statue of George III', The Graphic, 30 Jun 1906 (illus.); 2 proposed designs,in Soane Museum, Adam vol. 49 (nos. 63 & 64) (photocopies in IAA, RP.B.49) (Designs are for  pedestals on circular plan, not square as executed).

Building: CO. WEXFORD, LOFTUS HALL (FETHARD)
Date: ?
Nature: Proposed gates
Refs: Drawings in Soane Museum, Adam vol. 51 (nos. 55-57) (photocopies in IAA, RP.B.50.5)

Building: CO. MEATH, SUMMERHILL
Date: ?
Nature: Proposed alts.
Refs: Drawing in Soane Museum, Adam vol. 50 (no. 90) (photocopies in IAA, RP.B.50.5)

Building: CO. DOWN, TOLLYMORE PARK
Date: ?
Nature: Proposal for Gothic tower. For James Hamilton, Viscount Limerick.  Unexecuted.
Refs: Soane Museum, Adam drawings, Vol. 29, nos. 80-82;   Alistair Rowan, 'Georgian Castles in Ireland I', BIGS 7 (no. 1, Jan-Mar 1964), 11-12, Pl. 6.