THE TENTERS PUB WAS DERELICT FOR ABOUT TEN YEARS IT IS NOW PART OF THE ALOFT
The Tenters area of Dublin is located in the Liberties, on the Southside of the city. It is bordered by the South Circular Road, Cork Street, Donore Avenue, and Newmarket Square. The area is named after the tenterfields that once existed there, where cloth was stretched and dried.
When I was young I thought that the expression was “on tender hooks” but it is “on tenterhooks”. The word “tenters” comes from the Middle English word “teyntur,” which is ultimately derived from the Latin word “tentorium,” meaning “tent.” A tenter is a frame or endless track with hooks or clips along two sides that is used for drying and stretching cloth. The word “tenters” can also refer to the people who operate tenters, or to the area where tenters are located.
The original Tenters pub dates from 1850 and was reconditioned about ninety years ago but it has never been listed as a building of importance.
Currently the publicity material includes the following description: ” The pub is located in a historic building on Mill Street, which dates back to the 18th century. The interior has been tastefully restored, while still retaining its original charm. There are two floors of seating, as well as a beer garden out back.”
When I first photographed the Tenters Pub in 2012 it was unoccupied but did not appear to be in such a poor condition that it could not be refurbished at reasonable cost so I was a bit surprised when I visited in March 2017 to discover that little of the original structure is left standing. I had believed that the building was to be retained and that the pub would be preserved. Personally, I liked the building I am not sure if there ever was any real reason to preserve or retain the Tenters Pub but to pretend to preserve it is just annoying.
Aloft Student Accommodation is a new student housing development located in the heart of Dublin’s Liberties. The development is made up of two buildings, the Aloft Hotel and the New Mill, which are connected by a skybridge. The Aloft Hotel is a 4-star hotel with 150 bedrooms, while the New Mill is a 6-storey student accommodation block with 250 bedrooms.
The student accommodation at Aloft is fully furnished and includes a bed, desk, wardrobe, chair, mattress, and linen. Each bedroom also has its own en-suite bathroom. The shared kitchen facilities are equipped with everything you need to cook and eat, including a fridge, oven, stove, microwave, and dishwasher. There is also a laundry room on each floor.
Aloft Student Accommodation offers a range of on-site facilities and services, including:
A 24-hour reception A gym A rooftop terrace with panoramic views of Dublin A cinema room A games room A study area A laundry room A bike storage area A shuttle bus to and from Dublin City Centre Aloft Student Accommodation is located in a great location, just a short walk from Trinity College Dublin, Temple Bar, and the city centre. The development is also close to a number of shops, restaurants, and bars.
The cost of accommodation at Aloft Student Accommodation starts from €1,650 per month. This includes all bills, except for internet, which is charged at an additional €25 per month.
Freestanding underground public toilet block, constructed c.1900. Carved granite plinth having perforated metal roundels to east and west elevations. Wrought-iron railings with stylised shamrock heads. Cast-iron ventilation shaft with stylised foliage to shaft. Granite stairs with tiled walls leading from street level, with wrought-iron gate.
Located at the Liberties crossroad junction of Kevin Street, New Street South, Dean Street and Patrick Street. At one time the area was known as Four Corners of Hell as there was a pub on all four corners of the crossroads.
This underground public toilet block at the junction of Kevin Street and New Street was one of a number that were built in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century in response to an increasing demand for public facilities in the city. Underground facilities such as this were partially hidden from general view in order to satisfy Victorian perceptions of decency. It retains many of its historic features including railings, gates and decorative ventilation shaft.
It caught me by surprise, when I first paid attention to it about six or seven years ago, especially as I should have been aware that these facilities existed having gone to school in Leeson Street and college in Kevin Street.
There are two separate entities – a small park and an underground public toilet. In 2019 the City Council announced that the building would be brought back into use as a cafe as soon as practical but as you can see that plan did not go well.
When I first noticed the structure I thought that it was an old monument or memorial but upon seeing the entrance I realised that it was an underground public toilet block.
In the 1950s and 1960s there were about seventy public toilets in Dublin but all of them have been closed.