NEW STREET AND THE COMMUNITY GARDEN
NEW STREET AND THE GARDEN PROJECT IN WATERFORD [NO ACCESS TO THE GREEN SPACE IN 2025]
In August 2025 when I visited New Street I was not surprised, but I was disappointed, to discover that the community garden project had terminated and that there was no longer public access to the green space which is now fenced off. New Street, Waterford: A Study in History and Urban Transformation
New Street in Waterford possesses significant historical and architectural interest, most notably for its foundational connection to Blessed Edmund Rice and the Christian Brothers. The street provides a fascinating narrative of urban evolution, from an area once characterised by tenements to a redeveloped community space, blending its rich past with a modern identity.
The Legacy of Blessed Edmund Rice
New Street is intrinsically linked to the pioneering educational work of Blessed Edmund Rice, the founder of the Christian Brothers.
The First School: In 1802, Rice established his first school in a converted stable on New Street, offering education to disadvantaged local youths.
Mount Sion: Just a year later, in 1803, he used funds from his business to build a new monastery and school complex on an elevated site on the street. This complex, named "Mount Sion," remains a crucial part of the street's heritage and is still in operation today.
Architectural Heritage
The streetscape of New Street retains several buildings and features of historical importance, showcasing architectural styles from different periods.
St. John's Presbytery
This substantial building is a fine example of balanced Georgian proportions and stands as evidence of the growing prosperity of Waterford's merchant class in the mid-to-late eighteenth century. Its later conversion to an ecclesiastical residence adds to its significance.
The very well-maintained house retains most of its original form and important early features. It is distinguished by an attractive Doric doorcase with a delicate fanlight, while the stained glass window above it holds artistic merit. The house is an imposing feature and contributes significantly to the historic fabric of New Street. However, the gradual replacement of original fittings with inappropriate modern articles threatens its historic character.
Historic Terraced Housing
Other period terraced houses on the street display features typical of the 19th century, including rendered walls, traditional sash windows, and carriageways. The preservation of these homes helps maintain the street's historic character.
Victorian Post Box
A cast-iron wall post box, dating to 1905, is set into one of the street's walls. It serves as a tangible reminder of mass-produced, functional street furniture from the era.
Redevelopment and Current Status
The area surrounding New Street, particularly near the Applemarket, has undergone a dramatic transformation. Photographs from the 1930s depict a crowded street lined with tenements, reflecting the challenging living conditions of that time. Since then, the area has been extensively redeveloped.
The Garden Project and Public Access (August 2025)
The space once occupied by tenements was converted into a community green space. However, as of August 2025, the community garden project has been terminated. The area is now fenced off, and public access to this green space is no longer available.
At the Apple Market end of the street, the area features a large Waterford Walls mural titled "Mantra" by the artist TORBE36, alongside a colourful, single-storey complex of extensions that may serve as apartments or annexes.
In August 2025 when I visited New Street I was not surprised, but I was disappointed, to discover that the community garden project had terminated and that there was no longer public access to the green space which is now fenced off. New Street, Waterford: A Study in History and Urban Transformation
New Street in Waterford possesses significant historical and architectural interest, most notably for its foundational connection to Blessed Edmund Rice and the Christian Brothers. The street provides a fascinating narrative of urban evolution, from an area once characterised by tenements to a redeveloped community space, blending its rich past with a modern identity.
The Legacy of Blessed Edmund Rice
New Street is intrinsically linked to the pioneering educational work of Blessed Edmund Rice, the founder of the Christian Brothers.
The First School: In 1802, Rice established his first school in a converted stable on New Street, offering education to disadvantaged local youths.
Mount Sion: Just a year later, in 1803, he used funds from his business to build a new monastery and school complex on an elevated site on the street. This complex, named "Mount Sion," remains a crucial part of the street's heritage and is still in operation today.
Architectural Heritage
The streetscape of New Street retains several buildings and features of historical importance, showcasing architectural styles from different periods.
St. John's Presbytery
This substantial building is a fine example of balanced Georgian proportions and stands as evidence of the growing prosperity of Waterford's merchant class in the mid-to-late eighteenth century. Its later conversion to an ecclesiastical residence adds to its significance.
The very well-maintained house retains most of its original form and important early features. It is distinguished by an attractive Doric doorcase with a delicate fanlight, while the stained glass window above it holds artistic merit. The house is an imposing feature and contributes significantly to the historic fabric of New Street. However, the gradual replacement of original fittings with inappropriate modern articles threatens its historic character.
Historic Terraced Housing
Other period terraced houses on the street display features typical of the 19th century, including rendered walls, traditional sash windows, and carriageways. The preservation of these homes helps maintain the street's historic character.
Victorian Post Box
A cast-iron wall post box, dating to 1905, is set into one of the street's walls. It serves as a tangible reminder of mass-produced, functional street furniture from the era.
Redevelopment and Current Status
The area surrounding New Street, particularly near the Applemarket, has undergone a dramatic transformation. Photographs from the 1930s depict a crowded street lined with tenements, reflecting the challenging living conditions of that time. Since then, the area has been extensively redeveloped.
The Garden Project and Public Access (August 2025)
The space once occupied by tenements was converted into a community green space. However, as of August 2025, the community garden project has been terminated. The area is now fenced off, and public access to this green space is no longer available.
At the Apple Market end of the street, the area features a large Waterford Walls mural titled "Mantra" by the artist TORBE36, alongside a colourful, single-storey complex of extensions that may serve as apartments or annexes.
