Bridge

The National Monuments Service's description

Bridge on the E side of Patrick Street that crossed the Poddle stream that runs N to the River Liffey. Located immediately to the N of St Patrick’s gate (DU018-020037-) and to the W of the W gateway or gatehouse standing on the precinct wall or close of St Patrick’s Cathedral (DU018-020269-). The Poddle ran along the E side of St Patrick Street which was also known as the King’s Highway. This bridge may be the same bridge that is mentioned in 1371 in Archbishop Alen’s Register where it is described as located close to Talbot’s Mill (DU018-020629-) (Clarke 2002, 27). In 1371 the Archbishop of Dublin demised to john; ‘the site of the mill heretofore called Shyreclap in St. Patrick’s Street, Dublin, now altogether thrown down and void, to rebuild a mill there at his own expense as he thinks bets; and to have and to hold the said site and mill when rebuilt, with the ancient mill-course and current, ingress and egress (for all going to the mill and willing to grind there) by a certain bridge over the water-course beside the mill on the south, for 60 years, without rent for two years from Michaelmas next in consideration of his outlay; and after the two first years at 20s. a year in equal shares at Easter and Michaelmas.  Lest the water-course should be impeded the archbishop grants John custody of the pond, stone bridge and ‘flodrates’ [gates] during the term’ (McNeill 1950, 220).  The bridge was listed in the Urban Survey of Dublin City (Bradley & King 1988, Vol. 3, No 175, 196). This bridge is not depicted on Speed’s 1610 map of Dublin City (Speed 1611-12). Today there are no surface remains visible.

 

Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien

References

Bradley, J. & King, H. (1988) Urban Archaeological Survey, Dublin, Volume 4. A report commissioned by the Office of Public works (Unpublished).

Speed, J. 1611-12 The theatre of the empire of Great Britaine: presenting an exact geography of the kingdomes of England, Scotland, Ireland. Atlas.2.61.1, Cambridge University Library.

Clarke, H.B. 2002 Irish Historic Towns Atlas No. 11: Dublin, part I, to 1610. Royal Irish Academy. Dublin.

McNeill, C. (ed.) 1950 Calendar of Archbishop Alen's Register c. 1172-1534. Dublin. Royal Society of Antiquaries.