Well

The National Monuments Service's description

The Obelisk Fountain (NIAH Reg. No. 50080307) on the W end of James's Street opposite St James' Church (DU018-020346-) was locally believed to have been built on the site of the medieval St James' Well that was described in 1610 (Branigan 2012, 82). However the fountain stands 320m W of St. James's Gate and this location does not match the description of the well in the 1620 lease to James Veldon which states that the well was around 14m away from the medieval gate. A medieval well (DU018-020055-) to the S of St. James's Gate matches the location described in the 1620 lease. In 1620 the Dublin Assembly Rolls recorded that; 'James Veldon, tanner, shall have a lease for tearme of fourscore and nyneteene yeares uppon a voyd plott of ground without Saint James gate [DU018-020035-], on the north side thereof, bonding from the said gate to a howse which the said James houldeth neere thereunto, contayneing in breadth from the said gate in the east to the said howse in the west twentie three foote [7m], and in the sowth and north end twentie eight foote [8.5m], and in length from the said gate in the sowth to the well called Saint James well in the north fortie five foote [13.7m] at the yearelie rent of twentie shillinges, sterling current mony in England (CARD Vol. 3, 127).
The fountain was described by the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage (NIAH) as a; 'Freestanding drinking fountain, erected 1790, comprising fluted Portland stone obelisk with projecting block and oval sundials to each face, ball finial to top, set on painted masonry plinth having carved human masks to each elevation, cast-iron wall-fountains to north, south and west elevations, plaque to east elevation. Surrounded by cast-iron bollards. Restored 1995' (www.builginsofireland.ie)

Cross-reference with DU018-020055-

Branigan, G. 2012 Ancient and Holy Wells of Ireland. The History Press Ireland. Dublin.

Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien

Date of upload: 21 April 2023

References

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

Calendar of Ancient Records of Dublin: In the Possession of the Municipal Corporation of that City.

Rich, B. 1610 A new description of Ireland. London.