Crampton Court (Irish: Cúirt Crampton),[2] also colloquially known as Love Lane since the mid-2010s,[3] is a short lane or passageway located in Temple Bar in central Dublin, Ireland. A small open-air square exists at approximately the halfway point of the lane (next to a fire exit from the Olympia Theatre), measuring approximately 11.5 by 16.7 metres wide, from which narrow, semi-covered lanes lead to its northern and southern entrances.[4]
Location
Looking north (open fire exit from the Olympia Theatre visible)
Crampton Court runs from Dame Street (under the sign for Brogan's Bar)[4] in the south, to Essex Street East in the north.[5] It is probable that Palace Street, directly across from the southern entrance to Crampton Court, once formed a continuous thoroughfare through Crampton Court from Dublin Castle to the Dublin quays and original Custom House, the focal point of mercantile trade in the city for much of the 18th century.[6][7]
History
Name plaque at the northern entrance into the lane (wooden beam visible)
The lane is probably medieval in age, and was named after Philip Crampton (Lord Mayor of Dublin 1758–1759) at some point in the eighteenth century. The Cramptons were major landowners in the Temple Bar area.[1] Until 1791 when a new Custom House was constructed further downstream, the original Custom House for the city was located at Essex Quay, a short distance from Crampton Court. The area was frequented by merchants and businesspeople and was heavily used. In the 18th century, the lane was the site of two coffee houses: the 'Little Dublin Coffee House' and the 'Royal Exchange Coffee House'.[6]Flora Mitchell, in her 1966 book Vanishing Dublin, described it as being:
"… the unofficial "exchange" of Dublin until the "commercial buildings" were opened in 1799. No 20, 'The Little Dublin Coffee House' provided the merchants with a meeting place prior to this. Crampton Court had been used as a short cut from the Olympia Theatre to the well known Dolphin Restaurant prior to it being demolished in 1963."[6][8]
In November 1787, the inhabitants of Crampton Court were inundated by a flood of the River Poddle during a period of heavy rain, as were other areas of the city. As a Dublin newspaper reported:
"…Patrick Street presented a melancholy spectacle, the mountain floods having raised the water in that quarter to a most distressing height insomuch that the inhabitants from the end of New Street to Bride's Alley were necessitated to keep to the upper apartments. A few vessels in the river were forced from their moorings... The inhabitants of the New Row and the lower end of Meath Street were yesterday in similar circumstances with those of Patrick Street in consequence of the flood, and last night those of Crampton Court and Palace Street were put to distressing circumstances by the Poddle stream which breaking through its bounds in Lower Castle Yard inundated the houses in both places."[9]
In 1850, the street was occupied by a watch case maker, shell fish dealer, tailor, preparer of soda water, gun maker and a tavern named The Castle, according to The Dublin Pictorial Guide & Directory of 1850.[10] In the 1862 edition of Thom's Almanac and Official Directory, a range of merchants, dentists, taverns, tenements and trades (including Rathbornes Candles wax and spermaceti candle manufactory) were listed as occupying addresses in Crampton Court.[11] In 1879, the Star of Erin Music Hall (modern day Olympia Theatre) was established on Crampton Court. As the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage note, the theatre's "former orientation to Crampton Court is evident, with the outline of earlier openings remaining".[12]
The lane fell into decay in the 1950s and 1960s.[6]
The southern side of the modern-day Olympia Theatre with alcoves of its former entrance extant
Regeneration
The open-air square in the middle of the lane (facing north-west towards the "Love Lane" installation)
In 2014 it was noted by Dublin City Council that "over the years" the back lanes of Temple Bar had fallen into disuse and become magnets for anti-social behaviour,[13][14] making them intimidating places to walk through, especially at night.[3] That year a joint initiative between the Council and the Temple Bar Company called Love the Lanes was undertaken to pilot solutions and interventions to address some of these issues in a select number of laneways in Temple Bar.[15] 'Love the Lanes' launched an open call through March and April 2014 from designers, crafters, environmentalists, horticulturists, artists, entrepreneurs, local residents and businesses for ideas on what could be done to improve these areas. The initiative believed the lanes had "the potential to become great pedestrian spaces, [and potential works could] boost activity and feed into Temple Bar's vibrant arts and culture scene".[15] The main areas being considered for the initiative were the Adair and Bedford Lanes, Copper Alley and Crampton Court.
Many proposals were received, of which ten were shortlisted for implementation.[16] Three of these were eventually launched on Crampton Court (on a trial basis)[14] on Thursday 24 July 2014 at 11am,[15] turning Crampton Court into an open-air gallery.[3][17] The three aforementioned submissions were "Bloom Fringe Legacy" (a series of green wall installations by Esther Gerard, Eoghan O'Riordan and Edward Coveney), "Love Lane" (a tiled wall installation by Anna Doran) and "White Lady Spray Fest" (by Alexa MacDermot and Minaw Collective, Female Street Artists Ireland).[15] Other ideas which were submitted included painting a colourful red and white floral rug pattern onto the entirety of the floor of Crampton Court using an asphalt paint.[18][16]
Looking south towards the "Love Lane" installation)
In June 2018, the "Love Lane" installation was revamped by the artist,[19] including new ceramic tiles with quotes about love and heartbreak, lyrics, poetry and Irish wit submitted by the public to the artist via social media.[19] The lane has become popular with instagram users, and sees "dozens of interested people every day".[20][3]
Architecture
A number of the buildings facing Crampton Court are protected structures.[21]
The street is notable for a wooden beam (of indeterminable age) which crosses the lane above head height on its northern end.[6]
