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The Arts Council

Arbour Hill Prison

Architect: Jacob Owen
No Interior Access

Arbour Hill Prison Wardens House
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Arbour Hill Prison
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Arbour Hill Prison
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Arbour Hill Prison Chapel
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The smallest of Dublin's Victorian prisons, Arbour Hill Prison was designed in 1835 by Jacob Owen and later rebuilt in 1845 by Sir Joshua Webb.

A tripartite façade - the central entrance block is linked by screen walls to the chapel and to the govenor's house. Of these structures the most interesting is the chapel. The chapel has an elaborate cruciform interior and roof, and stained glass by the Harry Clarke Studios behind the altar. The church has an unusual entrance porch with stairs leading to twin galleries for visitors in the nave and transept. This feature is copied from the National Scotch Church, Bow Street, London designed by Robert Wallace. Also an unusal feature is the celtic round tower which erupts from a rectangular base.