The Swastika Laundry was founded in 1912 and was one of many Laundry businesses in Dublin. Founded by John W. Brittain (1872 – 1937) from Manorhamilton, Co. Leitrim who was one of the “pioneers of the laundry business in Ireland” having founded the Metropolitian and White Heather Laundries in 1899. He was also the owner of a famous horse called Swastika Rose which was well known "to frequenters of the Royal Dublin's Society's Shows"
The company operated from Shelbourne Road Ballsbridge in Dublin 4. They used electric vans, that were painted in red with a black swastika on a white background, to collect and deliver laundry to customers. It was quite a sight to see the laundry labels and vans emblazoned with that most remarkable of symbols, the “Swastika”!.
The Laundry ceased to exist as a separate company in the late 1960s when it was bought out by the Spring Grove Laundry company which occupied the same site in Ballsbridge. Spring Grove continued to use the Swastika logo and name into the 1980s.
Following the closure of the laundry, and up to the 1987 the laundry chimney was emblazoned with a large white Swastika that could be seen from many places in the surrounding area. Spring Grove sold this property for redevelopment during the Dublin property boom of the 90s. The Laundry brick chimney was registered as a protected structure so the chimney exists today surrounded by a new office development called the "oval".
The company operated from Shelbourne Road Ballsbridge in Dublin 4. They used electric vans, that were painted in red with a black swastika on a white background, to collect and deliver laundry to customers. It was quite a sight to see the laundry labels and vans emblazoned with that most remarkable of symbols, the “Swastika”!.
The Laundry ceased to exist as a separate company in the late 1960s when it was bought out by the Spring Grove Laundry company which occupied the same site in Ballsbridge. Spring Grove continued to use the Swastika logo and name into the 1980s.
Following the closure of the laundry, and up to the 1987 the laundry chimney was emblazoned with a large white Swastika that could be seen from many places in the surrounding area. Spring Grove sold this property for redevelopment during the Dublin property boom of the 90s. The Laundry brick chimney was registered as a protected structure so the chimney exists today surrounded by a new office development called the "oval".
