New venue has a unique attraction
WELLS House and Gardens opened its doors on Sunday to the public for the official launch of their new events venue.
Robertson Hall, which holds 160 people, will cater for corporate gatherings, conferences, communions, confirmations, special occasions and weddings.
The main feature of Robertson Hall is the skeleton of a 200 million year old dinosaur that has been set into the wall of the venue.
The 10 foot Steneosaurus (narrow lizard), from the crocodile family, dates back to the Jurassic period when much of Europe was covered by a tropical sea.
Proprietor of Wells House Uli Rosler said his father, Gerhard Rosler, bought a collection of fossils in Germany and shipped them to Ireland in the seventies after he purchased the house in 1965.
The container was stored carefully in a garden shed at Wells after it was first shipped to Ireland. Sabine Rosler, Uli’s wife, said they were very excited to open the box once they found the perfect place for their dinosaur friend.
‘We decided to redevelop Robertson Hall from a old bowling alley to a large wedding venue,’ said Sabine. ‘ This is when we knew we had a chance to place the large fossil somewhere.’ The hall has since been named after Daniel Robertson, the architect who drew the plans for the house in 1836. Marketing Manager for Wells House and Gardens Niamh Carolan said the new venue will allow them to extend their season and develop the business throughout the autumn and winter months.
‘We are already busy with wedding bookings and spaces are filling up for 2019,’ added Niamh.