NUMBER 1,083

BENCHMARKS continued

It's back east into County Dublin for this canal bridge 'mark. It's on Hazelhatch Bridge in, where else but Hazelhatch.

Below: The 'mark on Hazelhatch Bridge.

 
Above. Looking north east at Hazelhatch Bridge with the 'mark at bottom right.

NUMBER 1,070

BENCHMARKS continued

Frail and weather worn, in the Shankhill region of County Dublin, this one is on the north wall on Bride's Glen Road to the south west of the eponymous house.

Below: A 'mark on Bride's Glen Road.

Above: Looking north on Bride's Glen Road with the 'mark to the right on the wall and Bride's Glen House in the background.

NUMBER 1,069

BENCHMARKS continued

The Louglinstown River rises in the Dublin Mountains and tumbles down through Bride's Glen on its way to the sea just south of Killiney. A part of its course parallels Cherrywood Road and along there it passes beneath the fine old railway viaduct on which is located this one.

Below: A 'mark on the viaduct on Cherrywood Road.

Above: On Cherrywood Road and looking towards Killiney. The 'mark can be found on the inside right wall of the arch near the corner facing.

NUMBER 1,024

BENCHMARKS continued

M.C., who still keeps a weather eye peeled, was on a solo mop-up operation last Summer when he found this one on the south side of Harbour Road in Howth, County Dublin.

Below: A 'mark on Harbour Road in Howth in County Dublin. It's below the metal part of the mile-marker at near right.

N.B. No close up view available for now.

 

NUIMBER 896

BENCHMARKS continued

M.C. and Benchmarker have spent the Summer taking a complete holiday from benchmark hunting. But not so Michael Byrne who has been as active and keen as ever and has notched up several 'hits' to his credit. He writes about one of these in particular “I noted some time ago that you guys had recorded the 'mark on the RC church in Monkstown, and wondered why the one noted as residing on the front of the C of I church was "missed". As it's local enough to me, I slipped down to have a look for it, and had to assume that it was now below the car park ground level, as it was nowhere to be seen. Some months later, while in that church on a Summer of Heritage open day, I mentioned the missing 'mark to one of the ladies helping on the day. "It's there alright" she says, "we were only looking at it last week" and off she went with me in pursuit. We both stood staring at the right hand corner base stone where the mark should be, but neither of us could see anything. "There it is" says my missus, pointing to a spot on a little ledge at the top of the stone. And sure enough, though barely visible, there it was. After a brief trip back to the car for chalk, the 'mark was recorded - the one that nearly got away!”

The thing is Michael, we must have looked for this one about half a dozen times and failed to spot it. The excuse is that we didn't have your missus there to point it out to us.

Below: The 'mark near the entrance to Monkstown Church in County Dublin.

 

 Above: Looking north across the front of the church with the 'mark, outlined in chalk, at right.

NUMBER 836

BENCHMARKS continued

On Glenageary Road Lower in Dublin, this one - from Michael Byrne - has an interesting back-story, as he explains “Many years ago, before the installation of Glenageary Roundabout, the entrance gates to Dunmore House opened onto the then crossroads formed by Sallynoggin Road, Glenageary Road Upper and Glenageary Road Lower running East / West. The "new" roundabout obviously necessitated the removal and relocation of the gates, which were moved about 50m East. The survival of the 'mark is testament to that excellent relocation job”.

Below: The 'mark on a gate pillar of the relocated entrance to Dunmore House on Glenageary Road Lower.

 

 Above: Looking east on Glenageary Road Lower at the relocated entrance gates of Dunmore House, with the 'mark on the bottom of the pillar to the left of the Dead Slow sign.

NUMBER 835

BENCHMARKS continued

This one from Michael Byrne is also from the Sandycove area of Dublin. It is on a gate pillar located on the east side of Albert Road Lower, a little way south of the junction with Hudson Road.

Below: A 'mark on Albert Road Lower in Sandycove, County Dublin.

 

 Above: Looking south on Albert Road Lower with the 'mark on the gate pillar at bottom left. 

NUMBER 834

BENCHMARKS continued

Another batch supplied by Michael Byrne contains this one, located on a sand & cement rendered wall on Breffni Road at it's junction with Sandycove Avenue East in Dublin. Michael notes approvingly that “Having rendered the wall, amazingly they then cut the screed back to expose the 'mark to daylight, unlike so many others that are lost forever to similar finishing”.

Below: A 'mark on Breffini Road in Sandycove, County Dublin.

 

Above: Looking west along Sandycove Road, with the 'mark at bottom right. 

NUMBER 833

BENCHMARKS continued

This last one from Michael Byrne's recent visit to the Reservoir in Stillorgan in County Dublin, is located on the eastern edge of the "Stop Valve" granite casing, which sits astride the causeway dividing the first two of the three basins.

Below: A 'mark on the causeway dividing the first two of the three basins of the Stillorgan Reservoir in County Dublin.

 

 

  Above: Looking south towards the main office building with the 'mark at bottom left.

NUMBER 832

BENCHMARKS continued

This one from Michael Byrne at the Reservoir in Stillorgan in County Dublin, is so much the worse for wear - or as Dubs might say 'rag-order' - that it is practically impossible to see it in a photograph.

Michael writes “It is very badly weathered, and perhaps not that well cut either, requiring feel as much as visual confirmation. In all the excitement of getting access to look for 'marks within the reservoir, I forgot my chalk, so I offer what photographic evidence I can along with a sworn statement that there is the remains of a 'mark there! (squinting severely helps a lot)”.

Below: A 'mark at the Stillorgan Reservoir in County Dublin.

 

Above: Looking north at the granite steps leading up to the first basin. What's left of the 'mark is on the block beneath the left hand capstone.

NUMBER 831

BENCHMARKS continued

Showing the sort of admirable initiative for which M.C. is renowned, Michael Byrne contacted officials in charge of the Reservoir in Stillorgan in County Dublin, for permission to enter the site in order to track down some 'marks which he was confident were located there.

Michael writes “Following on from a previous visit, when wind strength made the site positively dangerous, I made contact again with Sandra McAleer, the Engineer for Stillorgan Reservoir, to see if it would be convenient to call to photograph three possible benchmarks. Once again, I received a warm welcome and on arrival my very knowledgeable guide Paul Quinn provided the high-viz jacket and took me to Sandra, who gave me the required health & safety site induction. Once signed in, Paul then accompanied me on the hunt. Many thanks to you both for looking after me so well.”

Michael's visit there resulted in a haul of three 'marks that might not otherwise have been recorded. The first of these is located on the right door jamb of the east face of the octagonal Screen Chamber, which faces onto Brewery Road.

Below: A 'mark on the Screen Chamber at the Stillorgan Reservoir in County Dublin.

 

Above: At the Screen Chamber and looking south towards the reservoir's main office building, with the 'mark at bottom right.

NUMBER 829

BENCHMARKS continued

Another one located on the west side of the Dublin Road in Shankill in County Dublin and recorded on the tablet of Michael Byrne. It's on a wall opposite the now defunct Shankill Garda Station.

Below: A 'mark on Dublin Road in Shankill.

 

 Above: Looking south on Dublin Road in Shankill with the 'mark at bottom right.

  

NUMBER 828

BENCHMARKS continued

Michael Byrne recorded, on his tablet, this one which is on the west side of the Dublin Road just a little way south of Shankill in County Dublin and opposite the grounds of Shanganagh Castle.

Below: A 'mark on Dublin Road in Shankill.

 

Above: Looking north west on Dublin Road in Shankill with the 'mark at bottom left.

  

NUMBER 826

BENCHMARKS continued

This one from Michael Byrne is at the western end of Rosemount Terrace - formerly Gardiners Row - at Booterstown in County Dublin. It is on the wall of a triple arched gateway leading to the former Saint Helens, now the Raddison Blu Hotel.

Below: The 'mark on Rosemount Terrace.

 

Above: On Rosemount Terrace looking west at the gateway to the Radisson Blu and with the 'mark to the right of the smaller entrance-way.

NUMBER 825

BENCHMARKS continued

Michael Byrne continues to set a cracking pace with another pair submitted today. The first of these is on the west side of Booterstown Avenue - about half way between Beech Grove and Rock Road - in Dublin.

Below: A 'mark on Booterstwon Avenue.

 

Above: On Booterstown Avenue looking north and with the 'mark at bottom left.

NUMBER 824

BENCHMARKS continued

Michael Byrne found this one on a redundant gate pillar near the Springhill Cottages on the Dean's Grange Road in Blackrock in County Dublin.

Below: A 'mark on Dean's Grange Road at Springhill Cottages.

 

 Above: On Dean's Grange Road looking north west towards Stradbrook Road with the 'mark on the wall at mid left.

NUMBER 823

BENCHMARKS continued

Another one, a beauty and quite unusual, on Stradbrook Road in Blackrock in County Dublin, from Michael Byrne. It is on the east side of the road opposite the entrance to Stradbrook Lawn. The 'mark is at the top of a granite boulder that can be seen protruding through the concrete path. Michael writes “Amazingly, this stone was never leveled off when the "modern" path was installed and is probably only still there because it is tucked up close enough to the wall to avoid being a Health & Safety issue!”

Below: A 'mark on Stradbrook Road.

 

Above: Looking north west on Stradbrook Road towards Blackrock, with the 'mark at bottom right.

NUMBER 822

BENCHMARKS continued

This one from Michael Byrne is on the west side of Stradbrook Road, just north of Brooklawn, in Blackrock in County Dublin.

Below: A 'mark on Stradbrook Road.

 

Above: Looking north on Stradbrook Road with the 'mark at bottom left.

NUMBER 821

BENCHMARKS continued

Michael Byrne relates a good example of how a benchmark can be literally under our noses and we just don't see it. Except it wasn't him who first spotted this one. Here's his story. “This Benchmark left me gobsmacked! It's located at Rock Hill, or Main Street Blackrock Village. I have driven past this spot on literally hundreds of occasions, and walked past it dozens of times. Never once did I notice this fine granite pillar standing in the pathway, which is effectively the back of Blackrock Shopping Centre. How have I never seen this before?

On checking through the 25" Historical map for potential Benchmark sites, I completely discounted this location as I thought that the amount of demolition involved in preparation for the building of the new centre would certainly have obliterated any possible Benchmark site.

Out strolling today, my missus casually said "Oooo - look at that old stone pillar - I wonder what that's for, and look, it's got a Benchmark on it!" Full credit to her - she found it. I stood looking at it in disbelief, as if it had just dropped out of the sky - how could I possibly have never seen this before?

It's a granite pillar standing about 4ft high, with the top angled from two sides to form a point. The only mark on it is the Benchmark, so it's not a Mile Marker - I'll have to do some checking to find out it's original purpose.”

Michael, I suspect it is the actual 'mark that was originally at that location and was retained there when the buildings were demolished for the shopping centre, perhaps as a condition of the planning permission. It appears the footpath there now is a good bit wider than is shown in the 25” maps, and the position of the 'mark would appear to correspond with the inside line of the footpath in the olden days.

Below: A 'mark on Rock Hill in Blackrock in County Dublin.

 

 Above: Looking south east towards Main Street, Blackrock with the 'mark on the base of the pillar at right.

NUMBER 820

BENCHMARKS continued

The location of this one - on the northern edge of Blackrock Park in County Dublin - can be seen in the distance in NUMBER 818. Michael Byrne, who found it, explains that it is on the wall outside of a semicircular redundant culvert that is now occupied by an ESB sub-station.

Below: A 'mark at Blackrock Park.

 

 Above: Looking south west from the railway side of Blackrock Park with the 'mark on the wall at left.