Chapter 10.

Phibsborough,

where is a neat Roman Catholic church, and in the floor beneath are schools for children of both sexes. A savings’-bank was also established here in 1830.

The district, strictly called

Grange-Gorman,

succeeds, an ancient townland, now the property of the Earl of Rathdown.

The manor, which is otherwise called that of Glasnevin, comprehends a considerable portion of the modern city of Dublin. By a return from the Register, it is stated to contain to the north of the river Liffey, the whole of the wealthy and populous parish of St. George, including within it Mountjoy-square [365] and several of the adjacent streets, as far as the north side of Frederick-street; Great Britain-street from the Rotunda and the north side of Summerhill; the parish of Grange-Gorman, within which are Grange-Gorman-lane, Manor-street, Prussia-street, Aughrim-street, the village of Phibsborough, which may be considered a part of the city itself, and the parish of Glasnevin. Its limits are also said to extend over the baronies of Coolock and Castleknock, the important district of Kingstown, Killiney, Dalkey, Stillorgan, and other places of minor note as far as Bray, all in the barony of Rathdown. The authority, under which this jurisdiction is exercised, is stated to be a charter granted by King James the First in 1603 to the then newly incorporated body, the Dean and Chapter of the Cathedral of Christ Church, who are lords of the manor of Glasnevin, and of other manors within the liberty.

Grange-Gorman also gives its name to the parish, which, as the rectory is impropriate in the prebendaries and vicars-choral of Christ Church, ranks as curacy in connexion with the city of Dublin, and extends, or rather has been assessed to the public charges as extending, over 450 Irish acres. The census of 1831 states its population as 1382 persons. while the parliamentary return of 1820 mentions, that “the tithes arising out of it are paid to the dean and chapter of Christ Church, but whether it was ever considered as a parish is not known.” That body nominate the curate, and allocate a, salary of £10 pen annum for the performance of the duties. The Report adds, [367] that there are no traces of a church or churchyard here; but the Ecclesiastical Commissioners have recently granted £575 5s. 2d. for the erection of a church.

In 1178 Archbishop Laurence O’Toole, when confirming the possessions of Christ Church, enumerated amongst them the Grange of Grange-Gorman and its appurtenances, the wood of Salcock, &c., which title, Archbishop Luke about the year 1240 further ratified. Soon afterwards, Richard Tyrrel renounced all claim herein to the fraternity of Christ Church, [Liber Niger, fol. 92.] and it was, thereupon, taxed as four carucates of land, at 48 shillings, payable to that community, Glasnevin being distinctly rated at the same time, as before-mentioned at that locality.

At the time of the dissolution, the religious house of St. Wolstan’s was seised of one messuage and 14 acres of arable land here, [Inquis. in Offic. Rememb.] which were afterwards granted, with other possessions of that house, to Sir John Allen of Allenscourt in the county of Kildare.

In 1559 the dean and chapter of Christ Church received a royal mandate, directing them to confirm to Francis Agard, the manor, place, or farm of Grange-Gorman. His family were accordingly, at the commencement of the 17th century, found seised of this manor, one house, six messuages, and 200 acres, stated to have been so granted in the time of Queen Elizabeth to Francis Agard in fee, by the dean and chapter of Christ Church, Dublin, who had previously acquired same in frankaimoigne. [Inquis. in Canc. Hib.]

In 1663 Colonel John Daniel, in consideration of £126, sold part of the lands of Grange-Gorman, to be enclosed in the Phoenix Park.

In the 18th century, the principal part of the manor was the property of Mr. George Henry Monck, through whom it has passed to the present proprietor.

Grange-Gorman contributes £40 of its rental to the support of the Blue-Coat Hospital.

In Manor-street, within this district, there is Theological Seminary, established by the Irish Evangelical Society of London, who allow £200 per annum to the head-master, and £100 to his assistant. In 1826 it had but seven pupils.

In this district are also three establishments worthy of notice.

lst. The House of Industry, of which, Wakefield justly observes, “not merely in name, but in fact, a house of industry, an asylum for every person willing to labour; that receives a human being a prey to idleness, loaded with filth, and friendless, and returns the same individual to the world, industrious, clean, and healthy.” It was instituted in 1773, and since supported by parliamentary annual grants, latterly about £20,000. Annexed to the establishment are surgical and medical wards, fever hospitals, a lunatic asylum, a dispensary, a school &c. covering within the whole establishment eleven acres of ground. The Institution receives the interest of three valuable legacies, Baron Vryhoven’s £1,612 10s. 0d., Thomas Barry’s £1,496 14s. 10d, and General Lyons’s £1,131 10s. 5d., all vested in 3½ per cent. government stock; while the funds are managed with such economy and prudence, that it is calculated the moderate sum of £5 annually clothes and maintains each individual pauper.

2nd. The Richmond General Penitentiary, adjoining the House of Industry. Its front, towards [368] Grange-Gorman-lane, measures 700 feet, and consists of a centre of considerable breadth, crowned by a large pediment, the wings being also of great extent. The portals are at a distance from the main body of the building, and are connected by high curtain walls. There is an extremely handsome cupola, containing a clock with four dials, over the centre of the front, which is built of a black stone quarried in the vicinity of Dublin, the ornamental parts are all of mountain granite. The first stone of ‘this structure was laid in 1812 by the Duke of Richmond, then viceroy of Ireland. Its erection cost upwards of £40,000. At the rere, retired from all communication, are a number of cells, where the culprits are inclosed in solitary confinement on their first admission; if their conduct improves, they are gradually removed into other cells more cheerfully situated, and where they are permitted to associate.

3rd. The Female Orphan House, an establishment instituted in 1790, capable of accommodating 160 children, and having annexed a very handsome Gothic chapel. It has a permanent income by endowments of nearly £500 per annum, exclusive of casual resources, and had, heretofore, parliamentary grants to the total amount of £50,414 late Irish currency. The number educated and maintained here used to be about 150, but the administration of the establishment confined its benefits to Protestants. Its average yearly expenditure was in 1812, stated to be £1,633.

Ch. 11. Finglas.