1.0 INTRODUCTION Kildare County Council in association - Kildare.ie

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AUDIT OF MUSEUMS AND PUBLIC COLLECTIONS IN COUNTY KILDARE 2006 5.9 LODGE PARK WALLED GARDEN AND STEAM MUSEUM ADDRESS: Lodge Park Straffan Co. Kildare CONTACT: Robert Guinness EMAIL: info@steam-museum.ie PHONE: 01-6273155/6288412 SUMMARY OF ORGANIZATION AND COLLECTION: In 1988 the nave and transepts of St. Jude’s church was dismantled by Robert Guinness and reerected on the grounds of Lodge Park to house the Steam Museum. The Spire of the church remains in situ in Inchicore. The Steam Museum was formally opened by President Mary Robinson in July 1992. It is housed in the grounds of Lodge Park, the restored walled garden of which is also opened to the public. An extensive catalogue of the exhibition is available on line. An access fee applied to the museum and gardens. The Steam Museum: The museum is divided into three distinct sections. The Power Hall focuses on stationary steam engines in steam, that were made &/or worked in breweries, distilleries, factories and ships throughout Ireland. The engines on exhibit are impressive in scale and form. Included in the exhibition are the following: the Independent Six Pillar Beam Engine from the Murphy’s Distillery in Cork, dates to the early 19 th century; the exhibition also includes a Single Pillar Beam Engine made for the Smithwicks Brewery in Kilkenny; a Triple Expansion Vertical Inverted Marine Engine is also in the collection. Each engine is accompanied by an information panel which can be easily read from the public walkway. Supplementary murals depicting the operation and function of certain engines have been painted on the walls. The Richard Guinness Hall displays a large collection of historic prototype model locomotive engines from the early 19 th century. These are housed separately in timber-framed glazed display cases raised on four legs. A series of portraits of the inventor/engineers responsible for the prototypes are displayed on the walls. These appear to be of 20 th century origins and may form copies of originals. A final room which includes a large working model which is prompted to operate by infrared sensors shows a cross section of a mine and the engine used to pump water out of the pit and also to transport workings in and out. Also in this room is an exhibition of miscellanea relating to aspects of steam power and industrial heritage. On display in this room include framed prints of steam-powered ships, a framed photographic portrait of Captain Robert Halpin of Tinnakilly, Co. Wicklow and objects such as a model of a steam-powered ship and the crest of the Great Southern Railway. A large archive cabinet with documentation and maps is present in the exhibition, but not opened for general public access. Other services provided include the Steaming Kettle Teahouse. In the enclosed courtyard between the museum and teahouse there is an out-door dining area and an original Showman’s Living Wagon is on display. The museum shop and an interactive playroom for children are both aimed at industrial heritage. The walled gardens include a restoration of a 19 th century glasshouse and a 17 th century lead cistern amongst the formally laid out flower beds, lawns and vegetable gardens. CHARLES DUGGAN ARHITECTURAL HERITAGE ADVISOR 20
AUDIT OF MUSEUMS AND PUBLIC COLLECTIONS IN COUNTY KILDARE 2006 Maintenance and conservation works to the engines on display is carried out on site in a large purpose-built structure which is not open to the public. CHARLES DUGGAN ARHITECTURAL HERITAGE ADVISOR 21
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1.0 INTRODUCTION Kildare County Council in association - Kildare.ie

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