Under Secretary's Lodge, Georgian governmental residence in Phoenix Park, Dublin, Ireland
Under Secretary's Lodge was a substantial Georgian building in Phoenix Park that concealed a medieval tower house within its core structure. The building was demolished due to severe dry rot damage, but the hidden tower is now accessible to visitors as Ashtown Castle interpretative centre.
The building served as the residence of the British Under-Secretary for Ireland until 1922, when the establishment of the Irish Free State led to a change in its purpose. The structure itself was much older, as the medieval tower at its core dated back many centuries.
After 1922, the building served as the Apostolic Nunciature and hosted Vatican diplomats, including Giovanni Montini, who later became Pope Paul VI. This role made it a significant place for diplomatic relations between the Vatican and the Irish state.
The original Georgian building no longer stands, but visitors can explore the restored medieval tower within Phoenix Park. It is worth allowing time to visit the interpretative centre and take in the surrounding parkland.
The medieval tower remained hidden beneath Georgian layers until the building's demolition in 1990 revealed its presence. This unexpected discovery made the site a fascinating record of how Irish history unfolded in overlapping layers.
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