When Trinity College first opened its doors in 1592 the institution lay on the flood plains of the estuary of the River Liffey. High tides combined with sever winds would often breach whatever crude embankments had been erected to protect the campus. This problem was only finally remedied in the mid-18th century when substantial quay walls prevented further incursions from the river.
In the meantime, construction of the Old (or first) Library was begun in 1712 and, to protect the books from dampness or worse, the actual library itself was provided on the floor above the open, arcaded ground floor, which allowed flood waters to pass safely under the library. You can still see the arcades, although today they form part of the now enclosed and occupied ground floor. The library itself, which is currently undergoing restoration, along with all its fascinating and rare contents, will be the subject of future blogs.
