Save Bank Garden

national | environment | press release

Sunday April 03, 2005 20:43

by Campaign to Save Bank Garden - Westport Civic Trust et al

doctorgonzo1 at yahoo dot co dot uk

Stop Dunnes Stores building on top of 18th Century Walled Garden

A campaign has been launched to stop Dunnes Stores from building over an 18th Century walled garden in the Heritage Town of Westport, Co. Mayo

A International campaign has been launched in Westport, Co. Mayo to stop Dunnes Stores from developing a new store on the site of a 18th Century walled garden in the Nationally designated Heritage Town of Westport.
The campaign is being backed by Westport Civic Trust, concerned locals and local politicans. The first step in the campaign has been the launch of a website http://www.bankgarden.com which aims to get all concerned involved in lobbying Dunnes Stores and local politicans to stop the development before it starts.
This website is dedicated to the preservation of the Bank of Ireland Garden, Westport, Co. Mayo.This 18th century walled garden is one of the few remaining original walled gardens in Ireland. The Bank Garden is now under imminent threat of development, into a car park and retail supermarket. Only determined and resolute action will save this garden legacy.
In 1825 Bank Of Ireland arrived in Westport one of the seven branches opened when the bank first expanded outside of Dublin. Andrew Clendenning (also known as Glendenning) agent to the local Landlord Lord Altamont of Westport House merged his money lending business with he Banks from his house in
Mill St.
In 1851 the bank moved to its current premises, the beautiful Georgian building on the North mall, which was thought to have been build as the Dower House for the Browne family of Westport House. Iron railings, limestone steps and a cut stone doorway, with a large fanlight, are features which distinguish the building from its neighbors.
At the back of the house the large walled garden, laid out in a traditional way with good paths, lawns, shrubs, trees and a kitchen garden is approached from the stable yard which has the usual offices for farm and domestic needs. This comprises the curtilage of the house itself.
Originally the gates to Westport House Demesne were at the edge of the town and its parkland formed part of the ambience of the town.
Over the past 20 years the lands at the edge of the Demesne and the other green spaces that were a pleasant feature of Westport have been developed extensively.
The garden remains the only large green area in the centre of town and its value as an amenity asset is immense.
The campaign plans to make the garden into a public civic area for all. Visit http://www.bankgarden.com for more details.