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Superstitious symbols and shoes hidden under floorboards: The house where medieval and modern Dublin meet

9/9A Aungier Street dates back to 1664 where it was constructed as a medieval estate outside the old city wall.

TheJournal.ie / YouTube

SCRATCHED INTO THE timber floorboards of 9/9A Aungier Street is a superstitious marking that looks like an upside W.

Sunni Goodson, architectural conservation specialist, says this was put there by builders in the 17th Century. It stands for virgo virginum and was a practice that people believed warded off evil spirits.

Leaving children’s shoes under floorboards was also practiced by tenants for the same reason – a phenomenon known as ‘found shoes.’

These are just some aspects of the Dublin building’s 350-year-old history – from its first construction in 1664 as a medieval settlement outside the city wall – to its later use as a tenement. 

If you’ve ever wanted to see what a house like this looks like, it is available for showing today.

The building is part of Open House Dublin, the architectural festival that will see buildings around the city open up to members of the public over the weekend.

“From an architectural perspective,” Sunni says, “this building is truly, literally and figuratively on the cusp between medieval and modern Dublin.”

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    Mute John O Mahony
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    Mar 29th 2022, 1:43 PM

    No wonder look who’s running the country

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    Mute lelookcoco
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    Mar 29th 2022, 4:52 PM

    @John O Mahony: Saddo

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    Mar 29th 2022, 6:13 PM

    @lelookcoco: hide away

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    Mute John O Mahony
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    Mar 29th 2022, 6:18 PM

    @lelookcoco: me a. Saddo it’s you who are hiding behind a false name. No man enough to use your own

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    Mute Kate Peters
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    Mar 29th 2022, 5:49 PM

    I got a message this morning from BOI,bank of ireland and said my card was been used in Currys for a €139..I’m with AIB,I didn’t click on the link,or even check my AIB app just incase,yesterday I got a text from Three mobile to say if I buy €25 before a date in April,il be in for a draw for a new phone,I didn’t click,I’m constantly getting phone calls from 0044 English numbers I’ve blocked at least a 100,what I can not understand is how have they got my phone number,I got caught 2 years ago,when the 3 message came into the inbox I thought it was genuine,we expect it from the emails,we are entitled to know,if our data has been sold…

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    Mute Caroline Otoole
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    Mar 30th 2022, 12:46 AM

    @Kate Peters: I’m afraid your number may be on a list of numbers that they deem worth targeting because you clicked on the link before.

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