The village of Enniskerry dates back to 1760. These types of villages built by the landlords are known as estate villages/towns. They were for the use of the tenants who also worked in the demesne of Powerscourt. The Lords of Powerscourt did many things for the benefit of the tenants and aided the development of the village greatly. In 1843 a clock tower was built as a Wingfield family memorial and was to be the focus and centrepiece of the village. It was also of benefit to the tenants, as they now had no excuses to be late for work on the estate. 2 churches were built, both in 1857, one Catholic and one Church of Ireland. These were gifts to the community from Lady Londonderry who was the mother of the then Lord Powerscourt. A school was also built to educate the workforce of the landlord. There also was a police force stationed there. Lewis, Samuel (1837) A Topical Dictionary of Ireland (London). Again the architecture was of an organised nature and of gothic style, with pointed arches on many of the buildings still in existence. Some dates still remain on some buildings such as the building behind the monument, now a beauty salon, dating 1818. There is also a resident building located to the left of the monument and dates 1715. .
Morphology of Powerscourt and Enniskerry.
The main agent of change to the area of Enniskerry and Powerscourt was the landlords over time. The term used for this type of landscape is a triad landscape because it has.
A large house or mansion.
A demesne.
A planned village or town.
As estate towns/villages they were well planned and structured taken from the ideas of Hippodamus" gridiron system. Within this there was a concern with symmetry and the aesthetical nature of the village.
Symmetry is one of the main features of estate villages and is evident here.
There was balanced composition and planning. In Powerscourt it is a Palladian style house where both sides are of equal dimensions.