Birr has been designated a Heritage Town for the quality, preservation and distinctive character of its Georgian architecture.Georgian Birr started to take shape in the 1740's.Town squares were then in fashion and so were houses in the Georgian style, influenced by the Italian architect Palladio whose distinctive style of architecture can be found in places as far apart as America, Italy, India, Birr, Bath, Dublin and Leningrad. John's Mall where this doorway is located, was begun in the 1830's and features many great examples of Georgian architecture.