House - 17th/18th century

The National Monuments Service's description

Ormond Bridge / Wood Quay Watch House 

 

Located on Wood Quay at the west end of Essex Quay on the southern bank of the River Liffey, immediately east of Ormond Bridge (DU018-020460-) now destroyed. Annotated W H on Rocque's 1756 map of the city and suburbs of Dublin (Rocque 1756). On this map a rectangular building aligned on an E-W axis is depicted standing parallel to the River Liffey.  A second Watch House is depicted on the northern side of Ormond Bridge, immediately west of the bridge on the northern bank of the River Liffey.  On the 12th of April in 1764 the plot of ground on which stood the Guard House was surveyed by Thomas Matthews who recorded that at ‘the spot where the Old Guard house formerly stood at the south end of Ormond bridge.  The house fell down some years ago  Plan of Guard House with lease to William Redmond shown at A dated Easter 1699 (DCLA C1 S1/116).  The Watch House depicted at the southern end of Ormond bridge on the 1756 Map of Dublin City may have replaced the ‘Old Guard House’ which fell down in the late 17th-century. This watch house appears to have been built to the east of the ‘Old Guard House’ which stood on the western side of Ormond Bridge, the Watch House was depicted to the eastern side of Ormond Bridge.

Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien

Date of Compilation: 13 November 2025

References

DCLA C1 S1/116 Dublin City Library and Archive, Dublin City Surveyor's maps and plans: Dublin City Royal Charters. Dublin City Surveyors: Map of the Old Guard House at Ormond Bridge in Lease to Will Redmond and the ground set to John Price Leading from the sd. Guard House to Pudding Row (Title on reverse). 

Rocque, J. 1756 An exact survey of the city and suburbs of Dublin in which is express'd the ground plot of all publick buildings, dwelling houses, ware houses, stables, courts yards &c / by John Rocque, chorographer to their Royal Highnesses, the late & present Prince of Wales, 1756 ; A. Dury Sculpt.