The Wide Streets Commission had the authority to determine and regulate the facades of buildings erected along the line of new streets developed by it. The Commission decided on the heights of buildings, the number of houses in a terrace, the materials to be employed and the type and spacing of windows. Builders had to conform to specifications and the Commission could, and did, order re-building where its instructions had been flouted.

The Commission’s efforts resulted in the pattern of regular terraces, which came to characterise Georgian Dublin. After 1800, with its best work done, the Commission’s energies were diverted into resisting encroachment on the building line, although some re-development was carried on at Winetavern St. and elsewhere.

As a by- product of its interest in and impact on the architecture of Dublin in the period 1757-1849, the Wide Streets Commission amassed a total of 60 elevations of buildings and terraces. Many of these elevations were prepared on the Commission’s orders, as part of the building specifications – for example, Thomas Sherrard’s elevations of Sackville Street, dated 1789 (WSC/Maps/297/1 and 308). Other elevations were submitted for approval by intending developers, for example, George Papworth’s elevations for the Dublin Library, dated 1818 (WSC/Maps/119-121). A few elevations are of property which the Commission intended to demolish, for example, two cottages surveyed by Patrick Byrne in 1836. (WSC/Maps/458/1-3). A number of important buildings are included, such as Daly’s Club House (WSC/Maps/136/1 and 445/2) and Commercial Buildings, Dame St. (WSC/Maps/615).

The Wide Street Commission’s drawings include examples of the work of 22 architects and surveyors who were active in late 18th and early 19th century Dublin and offer some examples of the work of architectural firms. The Commission was not very interested in the lay-out of buildings behind the facades, so ground-plans are of less importance than elevations in the collection. A number of drawings do feature detailed and interesting ground plans, however: for example, John Louch’s design for the Northumberland Buildings in Beresford Place, dated 1834 (WSC/Maps/22).