South William Street Area Study
History & Evolution of the Area
De Gomme’s Map of Dublin (1673) Illustrates Eastward Expansion
The Study Area’s Medieval Origins & Context
The study area is located to the east of the medieval city as denoted by the city walls (see below), lying within a district referred to in historical records as the land of ‘Tibb and Tom’. Whilst the precise function of the area is unclear, records suggest it was common ground for grazing and medieval pastimes such as archery. Indeed historical reference to the study area goes back as far as Viking times, where, to the east of the district lay a mound that had been used as a Viking compound referred to as the Thingmount, and which survived until the 17th century. Speed’s
To the immediate west of the present South Wil-
Map of Dublin (1610) depicts the extent of Medi-
liam Street Area, development began to occur on
eval Dublin where the open ground to the east had
the lands which belonged to the Aungier estate.
yet to be developed.
The emerging street pattern expanded over time from west to east.
Speeds Map of Dublin (1610)
Emergence of South William St. & Clarendon St.
Following the development of Grafton Street in the 17th and 18th Centuries, a distinct urban form emerged, encompassing the development of Drury Street (1673) South William Street (1676), Clarendon Street (1684) and Fade Street (1700). The early development of these streets took the form of simple terraces of single-plot houses, most likely to be gable-fronted in the ‘Dutch Billy’ manner. The next period of rapid development took place in the 18th Century, when the buildings lining these thoroughfares gradually grew grander in scale as leases expired and properties changed hands. Late 17 th Century Expansion
Brooking’s Map of 1728 (see right) illustrates that
Following the Restoration in the 1660’s, a surge
the present urban grain of the study had by then
of development occurred where clearly defined
become well established. Much of this development
streets replaced former medieval lanes. The emer-
can be seen today along the eastern side of South
gence of key developments east of the city wall,
William Street, where the exhibition rooms (City
namely Dame Street, Trinity College and St Ste-
Assembly House) were built in 1765. The street
phen’s Green (laid out as a square in 1664), pre-
was also given a fashionable boost by the decision
cipitated development and urban expansion east-
of Richard Wingfield, 3rd Viscount Powerscourt, to
wards. This area of development now forms the
build his town mansion there in the 1770’s.
City’s present commercial core. 04