IN THE HEART of Dublin’s city centre, a resplendent red-brick infrastructure has been a distinguishing feature since 1881. A beloved place to peruse the many stalls and shop units on weekends or pop in for a delicious bite to eat during your lunch break, the George’s St Arcade has been a cornerstone to Dubliner’s lives for over 2 centuries.
Constructed in 1876 and originally known as the South City Markets, the shopping mall was designed by esteemed British architects, Lockwood & Mawson. The office of Henry Francis Lockwood and William Mawson was a leading force behind the development of Bradford, Yorkshire, during the mid-to-late 1800s. In that time, as the city’s population grew rapidly, Lockwood & Mawson designed notable buildings such as the Wool Exchange (1867) and the New Townhall (1873).
Almost a decade after completing Bradford’s New Townhall, the pair added South City Market to their portfolio. The origins of the first Victorian Shopping Centre go back to when the Dublin City Market Company acquired £250,000 for the construction and conservation of a shopping centre in the city centre. Once they had the perfect plot of land, which was gained via a special Act of Parliament, there was then a requirement to improve the surrounding area and streets.
The building of the arcade was completed 5 years after the project commenced. The opening of the former South City Markets, in 1881, was officially done by the Lord Mayor, Sir George Moyers in 1881. However, the shopping mall was not as popular with local Dubliners as it is today.
Upon its opening, many Dubliners were not satisfied with South City Markets. It’s thought that this was in part to the appointment of British architects and labourers for the project, and certainly, the failure to invite locals to the opening of the centre.
Unfortunately, following 11 years of business, a devastating disaster struck the Victorian shopping centre. In 1892, a fire broke out and completely destroyed the building. Whilst there were no fatalities, business owners and tenants residing in the accommodation above the commercial ground floor were left without their premises and homes.
In the aftermath, there was an outpour of sympathy for the people affected by the city fire of 1892. A fundraiser was started to help rebuild South City Market. The rebuild was completed in the Autumn of 1894. The re-opening also presented an opportunity for the centre to invite the locals who had helped to rebuild South City Market, extending an olive branch, or sorts, for excluding them from the original opening ceremony a decade before.
Today, known as the George’s St Arcade, the beautiful red brick building, complete with ornate decoration throughout its facade and a simple but structurally fascinating interior, continues to be a buzzing spot for shoppers to fill throughout the week. The building has been under the ownership of the Layden family for three decades and has approximately 50 tenants operating businesses in the building.
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