Public buildings of Dublin

SECT X.

Of the Tholsel.

This pile was reared in the year 1683 at the charge of the city. It has it’s name from the old word toll-stall i.e. a stall or seat, where the toll-gatherers attended to receive the toll or custom, for such goods, as were liable to a city impost. Here delinquents are tried before the lord mayor, even for capital offences, (murder and treason excepted) and matters of property for any sum beneath 40s.

By a late act, commonly called the civil bill act, all debts where the sum litigated does not exceed 20 1. are determinable in this place, in a summary way, and at a trifling expence. Here the lord mayor, aldermen, commons and sheriffs meet to transact city business.

‘Tis besides the stadt-house or exchange for merchants, who have also a spacious hall in the upper part of this building. ‘Tis a large quadrangular pile of hewn stone, supported by arches and pillars, whose front has a magnificent appearance, elegantly enriched, and adorned with the statues of Charles II. in whose reign it was built, and of his brother James duke of Yorke, afterwards James 11.

SECT. XI.

Of the Barracks

An extensive building founded in 1706 at the expence of the crown, consisting of three courts open to the river Liffey, beside another fronting Oxmantown-green. It is pleasantly situate on an eminence near the water in a healthful air Here are generally quartered four battalions of foot and one regiment of horse: from hence the castle and city garrisons are relieved every day; it is said to be the largest and completest building of the kind in Europe.

**SECT. XII.

**Of the Custom-house.

A grand, and, at the time of its erection, in 1707, a most convenient structure; at present, indeed, ‘tis too small, particularly the quay, in consequence of the great increase of trade since that period. It stands on the south tide of the Liffey, near the middle of the city, and by the addition of some of the new buildings near Essex-bridge is much enlarged in its offices.

**SECT. XIII.

**Of bridges..

Of the five bridges over the river Liffey there is none so worthy note as Essex, having been re-built after the model of that at Westminster, with stone balustrades and foot-passages. It was first founded in 1676 by Humphrey Jervis (afterwards knighted when lord mayor in 1681) in the government of Arthur earl of Essex, and named after him.

The old foundation failing, the workmen began to take down the building January 19th 1753; they proceeded with much facility until they came to clear the old and lay the new foundation, which being several feet lower than the level of the river at the lowest ebb, occasioned much difficulty.

[The fate of the undertakers of this bridge was remarkably unlucky; Sir Humphry Jervis, the first builder, lay in gaol several years, and Mr. Robert Mack, a skilful mason, who executed the work to the satisfaction of the public, was a considerable loser, by a mistake in the contract, as well as some untoward accidents; and, were he not more happy in his credit than his engagement, must have undergone the same fate.]

As there is a great analogy between this bridge and that at Westminster, we cannot do greater justice to the curious than to give it in the words of the overseer of the work, as also his elevation of the new building, and the section of the foundation.

At Westminster-bridge moderate tides flow 11 feet, at Essex-bridge 10 feet.

The piers of Westminster-bridge were built in caissons (an old method of building in staunch floating chests, which sink at a venture to the bed of the river, according as the weight is increased in them.)

The thorough foundation and piers of Essex-bridge were built in coffer-dams. (An excellent new method of keeping off the water, ‘till the foundations are dug properly cleared out, and carefully and deliberately laid on the solid ground.) From their high water-marks, to the lowest bed of their masonry, the mean depth in Westminster-bridge is 23 feet ; and the same at Essex-bridge is 2 feet six inches; but the difficulties attending their working in the slow, clean, open river, at the former, were no ways adequate to those of the latter

Every stone in Essex-bridge is in exact similitude, and in respective proportions, with those in Westminster-bridge, and this proportion is taken from the spans of their middle arches, which are to one another as three are to five. Their lengths are as one to four.

The breadth of Westminster-bridge from out to out at the parapets or plinths under the balustrade, is 44 feet and the same dimension taken at Essex-bridge is 51 feet.

In point of view, Westminster-bridge appears to great advantage, being entirely (except part of the piers) above low water-mark: whereas full the one half of the cost of Essex-bridge has been expended for the works that are under low water-mark. The time spent from laying the first stone of Westminster-bridge to opening the same for carriages, was 11 years, nine months and 21 days: and the same at Essex-bridge was one year, five months and 21 days.

The neat cost of Westminster bridge was 218,800 1. sterl. The neat cost of Essex-bridge (by estimation) was 20,661 l. 11.s. 4d.

Beyond all contradiction, Westminster-bridge is actually the most majestick pile of the kind in all Europe; but although it appears extremely strong, yet it is evident, that on a critical review, it will demonstrably appear extremely feeble. Because, it is top-heavy and too narrow for its height and length, and the piers no way proportioned to the excessive weight they sustain, as they do not occupy nor take sufficient hold of the bed of the river, but stand loosely on the bottoms of the caissons in which they were built: and the remainder of the bed of the river continues naked and unguarded between all the piers.

And in case the bed of the river under any salient angles of the piers proves softer than the rest, which may not be improbable, then that softer part must yield and although the declination may at present prove imperceptible, even by a plummet; yet the immense weight of the superstructure and the scanty footing of the piers, may in time produce a very disagreeable effect. - Whereas the breadth of Essex-bridge is commodiously proportioned to its height, and counter-ballanced with a substantial thorough foundation, which most securely preserves the bed of the river between the piers, and puts the whole structure in a manner out of the power of time to destroy. - From whence it is evident, that building piers in caissons is liable to many objections and that much more might be offered in favour of coffer-dams.

The four other bridges over the river Liffey are Ormond’s, the Old-bridge, (This bridge was destroyed by the floods in October, 1763, and is now re-building by the name of the Queen’s-bridge) Arran-bridge and Bloody-bridge. The river through the whole length of the city on both sides is banked in; and there are spacious quays, where vessels below bridge unlade before the merchants doors and ware-houses; the defects of the harbour are greatly remedied by a prodigious work of stone of (The whole length of the stone work and piles from Ringsend to the new Light-house now erecting at the east end is three English miles) a considerable length and breadth, and piles of wood which extend almost to the bay: this work was executed in consequence of a statute of the 6th of queen Anne, called the ballast-act, and parliamentary aids.

**SECT. XIV.

**Of the Linen-hall.

This building was erected at the publick expence, and opened in the year 1728, for the reception of such linen cloths as were brought to Dublin for sale, for which there are convenient apartments judiciously laid out. It is intirely under the direction of the trustees for the encouragement of the linen manufactory of this kingdom, who are composed of the lord chancellor, the primate, the archbishop of Dublin, the principal part of the nobility and gentry of the several provinces; who, by a committee of any seven or more, have full power to constitute and appoint rules, orders, and directions for the governing the hall in respect to the goods lodged there, and directing the factors, officers and servants employed in or about it, and to alter or amend such as they shall think needful, under the restriction of first being approved of and confirmed by the lord high chancellor, the lord chief justice of the king’s-bench, the lord chief justice of the common-pleas, and the lord chief baron of the exchequer, or any two of them.

Business is here very regularly attended for from the 1st of October to the 1st of April, the hall is opened at nine o’clock in the morning, and attended until one in the afternoon; and from the 1st of April to the 1st of October, from the hour of eight in the morning until one in the afternoon; there are no holidays whatever admitted here, except sundays, for one month before the cloth fairs of Chester or Bristol and none at any other time but bankers holidays.

This national institution is productive of great advantages, by preventing many frauds which otherwise would be committed in a capital branch of trade, by which many thousands are employed, and the kingdom greatly enriched. The officers are, an inspector and store-keeper, a clerk, chamberlain, and clerk to the yarn-hall, with other necessary assistants.

**SECT. XV.

**Of St. Stephen’s-green.

This is a most extensive square, one of the largest in Europe being an English mile in circumference; situated at the east end of the city. It was levelled and laid out in walks for the recreation of the citizens in the year 1670.

It is enclosed by a low wall, with entrances from every quarter by gates and turn-stiles at proper distances. The outer walks are gravelled and planted with trees on each side; the interior walks (seldom used) are inclosed by thorn hedges on each side, and divided from the other by a fosse, which serves for a drain to carry off the water from the walks and green.

The inside is a spacious lawn (There is to be seen here, during the winter, an incredible number of snipes, invited by the swampiness of the green, during that season, and to avoid their enemies the sportsmen; this is an agreeable and most uncommmon circumstance, not to be met with, perhaps, in any other great city in the world.), at the centre of which is a curious equestrian brass statue of his late majesty king George II. by Van Nost, around which the several corporations assemble, well accoutred and mounted, to meet the lord mayor and sheriffs, when they perambulate the city liberties every third year: this part is very seldom open upon any other occasion.

In the walks may be seen, in fine weather, a resort of as much beauty and gaiety, as at Ranelagh-gardens, St. James’s-park, Bath-walks, or perhaps any other publick assembly. Many of the houses round the green are very stately, as has been observed already, the only defect discoverable, is a want of uniformity in the buildings.

**SECT. XVI.

**Of the City Basin.

‘Tis the pleasantest, most elegant and sequestered place of relaxation the citizens can boast of; the reservoir being mounded and terraced all around, and planted with quick-set hedges, limes and elms, having beautiful green walks between; in a situation which commands a most satisfactory prospect of a vast extent of fine country to the south, bounded by a view of that enchanting chain of hills, called Dublin mountains, with gardens, meadows and bleach-greens on the east and west sides. The entrance is elegant by a lofty iron gate.

The water that supplies it is conveyed from the neighbouring mountains. ‘Tis very capacious, capable of holding a supply for some weeks, when the springs from whence it is cherished are dry.

Some parts of the town are supplied with water from Island-bridge; but there is nothing remarkable here except the engine by which it is forced up a hill many feet higher than the level of the river.