The present Palace, built on the site of several previous palaces, was commissioned by Bishop Charles Este in 1743 to the design of Richard Cassel. Este’s premature death in 1745 and Cassel’s in 1750 led to the Palace being completed by the Waterford architect-builder ‘Honest’ John Roberts, who built so many of Waterford’s fine buildings in the 1700s. It was renovated in in 2010/11 and opened as a museum in June 2011, displaying the treasures of Georgian and Victorian Waterford. The ground and first floors are laid out as a historic house with some of the finest displays in Ireland of 18th century glass, silver, furniture and paintings. The oldest piece of Waterford Glass in the world is a highlight. The top floor continues the story up to 1970 ending with the Hucklebuck shoes. It was not what I had expected, a house showing the opulence of the Bishops of Waterford, instead it was one of the better local museums I have come across.
General Thomas Meagher, of course.
I found the all glass sconces cool and in the 1950’s Heinz Plattner was one of Waterford Crystal’s master cutters as can be seen in these examples of his work. The internet & YouTube makes blogging even better as you can often find photos of places I have not been allowed to personally photograph like the interior of Newgrange earlier or the cutting of creation of Waterford Crystal, where you can find some great explanatory videos.
In the early ’60’s Ballrooms were the crazy in Ireland. No drinking was allowed and yet people came from miles around 5 nights a week to meet someone. Someone who wasn’t the boy or girl next door in a wee village or the older bachelor as was the usual case when folks didn’t travel. The Royal were number 1 and eventually when the ballroom phase pasted became big hits to a new audience in Las Vegas!
Here are a couple of their tunes. You can find more on YouTube and you should. I sat there for 1/2 hour just loving it.
Bishop’s Palace coupled with the Medieval Museum next door are must sees for a Waterford visit.
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