Number Twenty Nine: Georgian House Museum facts for kids

Number Twenty Nine: Georgian House Museum was a special museum in Dublin, Ireland. It was located at 29 Fitzwilliam Street Lower, close to Merrion Square. This museum showed what a fancy Georgian-style house looked like between 1790 and 1820. It helped people imagine life long ago.

A Look Back: The House's Story

Early Residents and Owners

The very first person to live at Number Twenty Nine was Mrs. Olivia Beatty. She was a widow of a local wine merchant. Mrs. Beatty lived in the house starting in 1794. She stayed there until 1804. After her, a banker named Ponsonby Shaw took over the lease.

ESB Group's Connection

The ESB Group first took over the building in 1928. This was just one year after the company was created. They used the building as an office until 1980. Later, the ESB Group planned to build new office blocks nearby. As part of this plan, they promised to restore Number Twenty Nine.

Restoring the House

The building was carefully restored to its original look. It officially opened as a museum in 1991. This was a special year because Dublin was named the European City of Culture.

What Was Inside: The Museum Experience

Stepping Back in Time

From 1991, Number Twenty Nine was run by the ESB Group and the National Museum of Ireland. The rooms were set up to show how people lived between 1790 and 1820. This included both the wealthy residents and their servants.

Authentic Details

The museum used a mix of new copies and real old materials. These were used for things like wallpaper and carpets. The furniture, decorations, and clothes were real Georgian items. They came from the National Museum's collection.

Exploring the House

Tours took visitors from the basement all the way to the attic. You could see paintings and drawings by Irish artists. There was also furniture made by famous craftspeople of that time.

Changes to the Building

Museum Closure and New Use

The museum closed its doors in 2017. This was so the ESB Group, who owned the building, could build a new main office nearby. The construction was expected to take about three years. Even after it closed, people could still take a virtual tour online.

In early 2021, the ESB Group asked for permission to change the museum building. They wanted to turn it into three luxury apartments. Dublin City Council first said no to this plan in February 2021. They said it would reduce cultural activities in the city. However, permission was later given. The building, along with others owned by ESB, was then changed into apartments.

A New Museum Project

In July 2023, the ESB Group and the Irish Heritage Trust made an announcement. They shared plans to work together. Their goal is to open a new Georgian house museum. This new museum will be located at 12 Fitzwilliam Street.