NUMBER 811

BENCHMARKS continued

This 'mark, found by Michael Byrne, is on the west side of Ulverton Road in Dalkey, County Dublin.

 
Below: The 'mark on Ulverton Road in Dalkey.

 

 Above: On Ulverton Road looking south with the 'mark at bottom right.

NUMBER 810

BENCHMARKS continued

A few years back, M.C. and Benchmarker searched for this one; and promptly gave up when presented with the view of that modern structure erected in front of where it should be. Not so Michael Byrne however. Here is his story of how he found it. “The Mariner's Church (1837), now home to the Maritime Museum in Dun Laoghaire, reluctantly gave up BM 59.6, but not without a struggle.

There's a steel entrance stairway for visitors, built on the left hand side of the church, right where OS Mapviewer said the BM lurked. Luckily, there was a small gap left between it and the church wall and after a little gymnastics, BM 59.6 was located peeping above the present ground level.

Fairly central in the location photo, and just above the first landing on the stairs, a small blocked up window can be seen. Follow the right hand reveal of this window to ground level, and you will meet this very shy BM.”

Below: The 'mark on the Mariner's Church in Dun Laoghaire, County Dublin.

 

Above: The entrance to the Maritime Museum at the Mariner's Church. (See above for instructions on locating the 'mark.)

NUMBER 809

BENCHMARKS continued

Possibly unique, this one on the Martello Tower at Sandycove in Dublin has an interesting history. Michael Byrne, who found it, tells the story. He writes: “This is Celebrity Indoor Benchmark 46.8, which should have been given a mention in Ulysses, but sadly never got a look in!

The location is on the Martello Tower which now houses the James Joyce Museum in Sandycove. While officially on the outside of the tower facing South, and exposed to the elements like every other self respecting Benchmark, it's now located indoors enjoying it's celebrity status within the Visitor Centre lean-to added to the tower.

The chunky mark points to the edge of a flat ridge that skirts the tower, and above the mark there is a shallow hole drilled into the stone. Did I read somewhere that the surveyors dropped a steel ball into those holes to give them their Benchmark?

The location shot shows the mark to the right of the display cabinet in the visitors centre.

By the way, the two guys working there were extremely helpful and very interested in the whole Benchmark story. Not only did they let me out the back door to search, but gave a dig out in looking! Convinced the mark was lost to the cut made in the tower for the centre's wall, I took one last look inside. On moving a large framed picture standing on the floor between the display unit and the tower - voila! - Benchmark found! The guys were delighted as they never knew it was there, and got me to sign into the visitors book, with a note of the BM height of 46.8. Great craic!”

Below: The 'mark on the Martello Tower at Sandycove.

 

Above: Inside the visitor centre at the Martello Tower with the 'mark at centre right.

NUMBER 808

BENCHMARKS continued

Michael Byrne bagged this one in Sandycove, County Dublin. It is on the west side of Sandycove Avenue East opposite the junction with Sandycove East Lane.

Below: A 'mark on Sandycove Avenue East.

 

Above: Looking south on Sandycove Avenue East with the 'mark on the wall at near bottom right.

NUMBER 807

BENCHMARKS continued

With the replacement of part of the corner of the old wall with a modern red-brick pillar, except for its leftmost leg this one has been entombed. Spotted by an eagle-eyed Michael Byrne it is located on Grosvenor Terrace in Monkstown in Dublin, at its eastern corner with Pakenham Road.

Below: The left leg of an otherwise entombed 'mark on Grosvenor Terrace in Monkstown.

 

Above: On Grosvenor Terrace with the 'mark, four bricks up, where the new pillar meets the older granite.

NUMBER 806

BENCHMARKS continued

This one from Michael Byrne is located at Dun Laoghaire Harbour in County Dublin. It is on the edge of the harbour wall, where it skirts alongside Dunleary Road, about halfway between the West Pier and Dunleary Pier aka the Coal Pier.

Below: A 'mark at Dun Laoghaire Harbour.

 

 Above: Looking east towards Dunleary Pier with the 'mark – a flattie – at bottom left.

 

NUMBER 805

BENCHMARKS continued

This 'mark, from Michael Byrne, can be found on the land-side of the seawall, just to the east of Monkstown Dart Station in County Dublin.

Below: A 'mark on the sea wall at Monkstown.

 

Above: Looking west with Monkstown Dart Station at left and the 'mark at bottom right on the wall.