Prison

The National Monuments Service's description

De Courcy (1996, 46, 253) mentions that the City Marshalsea prison (Debtor's Prison) moved from Bridge Street to the S end of Merchants Quay in 1704. It was located between Skipper's Lane and Swan Alley and was closed in 1842. The Dublin Militia used it as a barracks in the later 19th century. It stood empty for some years before its demolition in 1975. Some of the stone went to repair the old city wall at Cook Street. According to Gilbert (1854, vol. 1, 373); 'The City Marshalsea was established, in 1704, on the Merchants' Quay, between Skipper's-lane and Swan-alley, where it was continued till 1805; and the passers-by were incessantly assailed by the cries of the inmates soliciting charity for their maintenance, or the discharge of their fees'. The building was described in 1825 as; 'Before the erection of this building, which is between the Sheriff's prison and the Sessions-house in Green-street, the poor debtors were confined in a wretched hovel on the merchant's quay, having a window without glazing, secured by iron bars here one or two of them stood, holding a box with a small hole in the top, and earnestly supplicated charity from every passer-by' (Wright 1825, 114).

Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien

Date of upload: 5 July 2023

References

De Courcy, J. 1996 The Liffey in Dublin. Dublin. Gill and Macmillan.

Gilbert, J.T. 1854-9 (Reprint 1978) A history of the city of Dublin, 3 vols. Dublin. Gill and Macmillan.

Wright, G.N. 1821 A guide to Dublin. Dublin.