Spencer Dock

Spencer Dock (Irish: Duga Spencer)[2] is a former wharf area, close to where the Royal Canal meets the River Liffey, in the North Wall area of Dublin, Ireland. As of the 21st century, the area has been redeveloped and gentrified, with occupants of the Spencer Dock development including the Convention Centre Dublin, PricewaterhouseCoopers' Irish headquarters, Credit Suisse and TMF Group. The Central Bank of Ireland and NTMA have offices in the nearby Dublin Landings development.

One of two stone plaques commemorating the opening of Spencer Dock in April 1873 either side of the lifting bridge at Sheriff Street[1]

History

The dock was constructed in 1873 to accommodate the coal ships and other barges primarily of the Midland and Great Western Railway Company and served as both a railway and canal depot. The original Spencer Drawbridge was constructed in 1873 but replaced by Sheriff Street Lifting Bridge in 1941.[3][4]

It was named for John Spencer, 5th Earl Spencer and Lord Lieutenant of Ireland.

The dockland area was originally part of the end of the Royal Canal, which still reaches the River Liffey here. Spencer Dock comprises the part of North Wall between Guild Street, Upper Sheriff Street, New Wapping Street and North Wall Quay, as well as Docklands railway station.

Most of the 206,000 m² (51 acre) site was owned by Córas Iompair Éireann. CIÉ sold it for development because the former freight yards there were no longer needed. The site was then developed by Treasury Holdings.

Park

A park development project in the area, originally proposed to be named "North Lotts Park", was cancelled and instead a smaller park, Central Square Park, was opened in 2014 near Spencer Dock Luas station. The park hosts weekly food markets and other small events.[5]

Transport

Rail

Spencer Dock is served by the Docklands railway station on Sheriff Street, at the north end of the site. Commuter services to the Dublin Docklands area on the Western Commuter line began in March 2007. Under the Transport 21 initiative, at one time due for completion by 2018, the station was to move south to a permanent location along New Wapping Street. This station was to connect to the DART network via the Interconnector tunnel and to the extended LUAS Red line. However, this project was deferred, due to the Post-2008 Irish economic downturn.

Luas

The Luas Red Line which runs from Tallaght or Saggart to The Point (via Busáras and Heuston Railway station) has a Spencer Dock stop. The Red Line extension opened on 9 December 2009. Since the Luas Cross City project was completed in December 2017 passengers from Spencer Dock can change onto the Luas Green Line at the Abbey Street stop.[6]

Preceding station   Luas   Following station
Mayor Square
towards Tallaght or Saggart		   Red Line   The Point
Terminus

Dublin Bikes

In 2014, two Dublin Bikes stations were opened, one at Guild Street and another at the convention centre.

See also

References
  1. "Sheriff Street Lifting Bridge, Sherriff Street Upper, Dublin 1, Dublin City". Buildings of Ireland. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  2. "Duga Spencer / Spencer Dock". logainm.ie. Irish Placenames Database. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  3. "Restoring a legacy: Spencer Bridge in Dublin 1 | ROD". www.rod.ie. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  4. "Spencer Lift Bridge, including stone plaque and abutments, Sheriff Street, Dublin 1" (PDF). Dublin City Council. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  5. Fegan, Joyce (3 October 2014). "'Willy Wonka' park to open in Docklands". The Independent. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
  6. https://www.luascrosscity.ie/

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