Chancery House, Dublin

Originally known as "Pill Lane" until 1896, The complex was constructed by Irish property development and construction company G&T Crampton in just eight months and were celebrated for the speed at which they were constructed, and the rental price at which they were let (1s 9d per room), which was within the means of lower paid city-centre workers. During his sixteen-year tenure, Simms was responsible for the design and erection of some 17,000 new homes in Dublin, including blocks of flats in the city centre which were influenced by the new apartment block designed by Michel de Klerk in Amsterdam, and Jacobus Oud in Rotterdam. On 14 April 2010, a commemorative plaque honouring Simms was unveiled at the entrance to Chancery Park by Lord Mayor of Dublin Emer Costello in recognition of his work. it was demolished in 2018 to make way for a hotel. ==Design==

Chancery House is a four-storey apartment block consisting of 27 apartments, which features curved corners, curved overhanging eaves, flat roofs and a channelled render along the top floor. and has been noted as being of an "exemplary modern design for its time". Christine Casey, a leading authority on Dublin's architectural heritage, has written on the distinctive nature of much of Simms' output, noting how he "developed formulae for inner-city blocks of flats, which derived ultimately from Dutch housing design, but probably more directly from contemporary British models. They are generally composed of three or four storey perimeter walk-up blocks with galleried rear elevations and stair-towers facing large inner-courtyards." Chancery House is typical of this formula. The complex (including its park) were refurbished in 2010 at a cost of €150,000. ==Chancery Park==

While the provision of recreational space was not common in the earlier years of public housing, the Chancery scheme also included a small 0.2-acre park named Chancery Park () on its northern side, intended for the use of residents. == Gallery ==

File:Chancery Park, Dublin, Ireland. 1.jpg|Yew topiary in the park File:Chancery Park, Dublin, Ireland. 2.jpg|Looking north towards Chancery Street File:Chancery Park, Dublin, Ireland. 4.jpg|A bench in the park File:Chancery Park, Dublin, Ireland. 3.jpg|The fountain. Bridewell Courthouse is visible in the background. File:Chancery Park, Dublin, Ireland. 8.jpg|One of the stylised entrance gates into the park. Looking east. ==References==