The Board of the Heritage Register, in partnership with the OPW had the opportunity to visit the magazine fort in the phoenix park, Dublin. The fort has recently undergone a significant stabilisation and restoration project by Kelbuild Ltd. and will be opened to the public at points in the future.

 

Members of the heritage register, together with the heritage board, gathered at the newly restored Duke of Dorset Gate. The restoration team had relied on a single photograph taken by the fort’s caretaker, capturing him and his daughter standing at the gate after her wedding in 1969. Using this image as a guide, they recovered and repositioned original stones found on site and carved new stonework to restore the historic fabric. Through this careful reconstruction of the arch, the gate has been returned to its authentic historic form.

• Structural repairs and lime rendering of the rampart walls and the three cavalier buildings.
• Exterior conservation of the Magazine Building, including renewal of the natural slate roof, installation of new lead gutters, and reinstatement of the original stone capping.
• Repointing of the blast wall to stabilise and protect the structure.
• Structural repairs and restoration of the metal Reception Shed, returning it to a sound and usable condition.
• Reconstruction of the Duke of Dorset Gate, using historic photographs and surviving stonework to recreate the original arch.
• Localised roof repairs to several other buildings within the fort complex.

 

The Magazine Building Gunpowder Store, with its three parallel vaulted chambers and thick brick‑and‑stone construction, was restored to be fully weathertight. The works included renewing the roof, repairing the original timber windows, and applying fresh lime render and repointing to stabilise and protect the historic fabric. Alongside the technical conservation works, the OPW team shared a wealth of social stories connected to the fort — memories from former families and workers — adding a human layer to the restoration and deepening the sense of place that surrounds the building.