Prior to wholesale redevelopment in the second half of the 18th century, Summerhill Parade formed one of the main routes through and out of the city to the north from the
Bridge of Dublin to the bridge at
Ballybough over the
River Tolka.
18th century The area was mostly developed in the last quarter of the 18th century around the same time as the development of Mountjoy Square with terraces of large four-storey over basement red brick
Georgian houses along streets such as Summerhill Parade,
Buckingham Street and Gardiner Street. The northern side of Summerhill Parade was developed first.
19th century In the later 19th century, the area became known more for tenement housing and the
Monto red-light district.
20th century on Summerhill Parade in 2004 which replaced about 40 five-storey Georgian houses In the second half of the 20th century, the large Georgian houses were mostly replaced with large-scale
social housing schemes. Streets such as Summerhill Parade were entirely demolished (about 40 five-storey Georgian houses) and replaced with social housing. In 1981, approximately 120 Georgian houses were demolished in Summerhill. In 1992, the sculpture
Summerhill Group was unveiled. It is a bronze work on
Kilkenny limestone by Cathy Carman and was commissioned by
Dublin Corporation as part of the
Per Cent for Art Scheme. The work invokes the history of the street, before its redevelopment into a
dual carriageway, when children would play on the street. ==John Hutton and Sons==