Kilmainham and the Royal Hospital.

**

Kilmainham**

kilmainham1.gif (20677 bytes)Kilmainham and its vicinity was for centuries a place of great notoriety. At a very early period, (it is said as early as 606,) a priory was erected here by St. Magnend; and afterwards, in the year 1174, Strongbow established, on the site of the ancient building, a priory for Knights Templars, under the invocation of St. John the Baptist.

The Institution of the order of Knights Templars was peculiarly calculated to suit the romantic arid chivalrous age in which it arose, and so powerful was its influence, that during the 200 years which this order existed, it had actually acquired 16000 lordships.

Their conduct, however, afforded ample grounds to the avaricious and designing Philip of France, to impeach their reputation and upon charges of sorcery, idolatry, and other dreadful crimes, to confiscate their estates and imprison their per-sons.

Edward II. followed this example; and after a solemn trial held in Dublin, before Friar Richard Balbyn, minister of the order of Dominicans, the Templars were condemned, but more in conformity with the general feeling of the rest of Europe, than from any evidence of their infamy.

The lands and possessions of this priory were then be-stowed upon the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem by the Pope, and the grant confirmed by the king; and it became an hospital for guests and strangers, to the complete exclusion of the infirm and sick, who had been always received by the Knights Templars.

The County Gaol and Court-House, are now the most prominent objects in the view of Kilmainham; and as these differ little from the generality of such buildings, we feel it unnecessary to occupy our space with any description. Our engraving pourtrays them with sufficient accuracy,

Dublin Penny Journal, Vol. IV, No. 184, January 9th, 1836.

The Royal Hospital, Kilmainham.

royalhosp1.gif (25114 bytes)The Royal Hospital, Kilmainham is a pile of buildings of a quadrangular form, 506 feet by 288, having in its interior a handsome court-yard, 210 feet square, with grass plats; intersected by four walks meeting in the centre; this is surrounded on three sides and part of the fourth by a piazza (13 feet wide) formed by 59 Doric arches, and affording a covered passage to the dining hall, in the centre of the north front.

This hall, which is 100 feet by 50, has the lower half of its walls wainscotted with oak, and painted white. The guns, swords, &C are arranged as in an armoury; and on the upper part of the walls are 22 full length portraits.

A gallery leading from the apartments of the commander of the forces (who resides as master) to the chapel, runs along the south side of the hall, supported by brackets of carved oak, representing different figures as large as life.

The ceiling is in a very massive and heavy style, divided into three compartments, the centre one of which is occupied by the dial of a clock, about ten feet in diameter.

At the east end is a large door-way opening into the chapel, which is 80 feet by 40. The appearance of the chapel is extremely imposing and venerable; the large east window is ornamented with painted glass, and beneath is the communion-table, of carved Irish oak, beautifully executed.

The ceiling is coved, and divided into compartments of; perhaps, the richest stucco work in the kingdom. The master’s seat is beneath a canopy in the gallery at the west end of the chapel; and there are a few pews at either side, for the accommodation of the officers of the hospital.

The remainging part of the north side of the quadrangle is occupied by the commander of the forces. His apartments are beautifully situated, commanding a view of the Liffey, and of the grounds of the Phoenix Park, with the Wellington Testimonial, the Military Hospital, and Sarah Bridge.

The north front, which contains the master’s apartments, hall, and chapel, has a projecting centre, decorated with four Corinthian pilasters and a pediment. In this is a door-way, likewise adorned with pilasters and a semi-circular pediment; and above it are the arms of the Duke of Ormond: on either side is one large arched window. From this centre rises the steeple, the lower story of which is the square tower, with an arched window on each side, crowned with a heavy entablature, and an urn at each angle.

The second division is of less diameter and height, and contains a clock; the whole terminates in a short spire, with a ball and vane.

The front, on each side of the centre, has large circular-headed windows, nearly the height of the buildings; and in the roof, which is greatly elevated, are dormers.

The present establishment of the hospital is for five captains, an adjutant, and 200 invalid soldiers, selected from those on the out pension in Ireland, (whose number is at present about 20,000,) they are supplied with residency, clothing, diet, medical attendance, and every necessary comfort and accommodation, similar to that afforded at Chelsea Hospital, near London.

This hospital for in-pensioners, forms a highly valuable and essential part of the system adopted by government to provide for the deserving soldier, when worn out of disabled in his country’s service as in it he finds a retreat where everything his necessities require is provided for him, when he becomes, either from disease contracted in foreign climates, wounds, age or infirmities, incapable of contributing to his own support; or when, from the loss of family and friends, he finds himself destitute.

In the year 1833, the government intimated an intention of abolishing this institution, but the design was abandoned in consequence of the strong representation in its favour made by the then master of the hospital, Lieut.-General Sir Hussey Vivian, Bart. and the governor, backed by a petition to parliament from the nobility, gentry and merchants of Dublin and its vicinity; this proud monument of royal munificence, and national gratitude to the brave defenders of our liberties and laws, continues one of the noblest ornaments of the city.

At convenient distances round the hospital are different offices, viz. The deputy master’s house, the infirmary, &c. At the institution of the hospital, its expenses were defrayed by a deduction from the pay of the soldiers and officers on actual service, but this has been discontinued. The annual expense of the establishment, which is under £10,000, is now voted by parliament.

The approach was formerly through the most disagreeable and filthy part of the town, but this is rememied by a road through the hospital grounds, and Lord Galway’s Walk, and is now a pleasant drive on the banks of the Liffey, called the Military road, communicating with the Phoenix Park, by the bridge of King George the Fourth: the entrance is through an embattled gateway on Usher’s island, after a design of Francis Johnston, Esq.

The principal stone of the edifice was laid by his Grace, the Duke of Ormond, April 29th, 1680; and the second by Francis, Earl of Longford, master-general of the ordnance. It was built after a design by Sir Christopher Wren, and was completed in less than three years, for less than £23,000.

Dublin Penny Journal, Vol IV, No. 184, January 9, 1836.

To General Contents. .