A Royal Plate for a Royal Hotel in Valentia
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Where: Kerry, Ireland
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This fine Royal Plate from the Lawrence Collection is our offering for today. A magnificent hotel taken on a sunny and calm day with lots of activity on the nearby pier and water makes it look the perfect vacation destination! The activity on the fishing boat tied to the pier caused me to look at it closely and the rig appears unusual. I would love to have that rig and the nets over the side explained to me?
As with yesterday's image of Galway City, there is something of a sense of deja vu with this image of Knightstown on Valentia island - unsurprising given that we (and French, Mason and O'Dea) have visited several times before. This visit was perhaps early in the catalogue's c.1890-1910 range - as the clock tower (perhaps under constructions here) is dated by its NIAH entry to c.1870-1890....
Photographer: Robert French
Collection: Lawrence Photograph Collection
Date: Catalogue range c.1890-1910. Perhaps early in range (clocktower works)
NLI Ref: L_ROY_06993
You can also view this image, and many thousands of others, on the NLI’s catalogue at catalogue.nli.ie
Source: Flickr Commons
Views: 22002
As with yesterday's image of Galway City, there is something of a sense of deja vu with this image of Knightstown on Valentia island - unsurprising given that we (and French, Mason and O'Dea) have visited several times before. This visit was perhaps early in the catalogue's c.1890-1910 range - as the clock tower (perhaps under constructions here) is dated by its NIAH entry to c.1870-1890....
Photographer: Robert French
Collection: Lawrence Photograph Collection
Date: Catalogue range c.1890-1910. Perhaps early in range (clocktower works)
NLI Ref: L_ROY_06993
You can also view this image, and many thousands of others, on the NLI’s catalogue at catalogue.nli.ie
Info:
Owner: National Library of Ireland on The CommonsSource: Flickr Commons
Views: 22002
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ɹǝqɯoɔɥɔɐǝq
Looks like the clock tower is being built. When did that happen? See also reverse view - https://www.flickr.com/photos/nlireland/24109741898/
B-59
www.buildingsofireland.ie/niah/search.jsp?type=record&... says that the clock tower was built built c. 1880.
B-59
Streetview
ɹǝqɯoɔɥɔɐǝq
I never realized it is red! In 2014 via https://www.flickr.com/photos/roystonvasey/, who gives a little more history... https://www.flickr.com/photos/roystonvasey/15626563643/ "This Town Clock structure was built in the late 1800’s. The lower section original housed the scales for the weighbridge outside on the left. Initially there was just the lower section but the Knight of Kerry decided to make the building more aesthetically acceptable by adding the upper Clock Tower including a four faced clock. Unfortunately, the clock was put out of commission in 1922 by some Free State Soldiers or so the story goes. Like all stopped clocks, it remained an eternal liar up until 1990 when it was restored to full working order..."
ɹǝqɯoɔɥɔɐǝq
"First established in the 1830s, the Royal Hotel Valentia has played host to two future Kings of England in its time and took the name ‘Royal’ after a visit from Queen Victoria’s son, Price Arthur at the end of the 19th century. " From the Hotel's website - royalvalentia.ie/hotel/ , which also includes a similar view which another site dates as 1904 - www.rareirishstuff.com/kerry/royal-hotel-valentia-valenci... Edit - the image is this one - catalogue.nli.ie/Record/vtls000320496
ɹǝqɯoɔɥɔɐǝq
I don't know anything about the fishing boat or its nets, but it looks to be the same (apart from a few paint details) as one in these photos - T.1179 'Bluebell' - catalogue.nli.ie/Record/vtls000041644 catalogue.nli.ie/Record/vtls000320504
Niall McAuley
Niall McAuley
The NIAH says the entire hotel was build c.1880, but it has a big error bar, 1860-1900.
Niall McAuley
The OSI 25" at GeoHive shows the hotel but not the clocktower, and is allegedly from a survey of 1895. Doesn't match the NIAH for the clock.
Niall McAuley
The 25" shows a coastguard station, the NIAH says c.1880 (1860-1900) but the DIA records it as 1901 (with sources). I think the NIAH dates and OS survey date are a bit loopy today. EDIT: There are two parts of the coastguard station. The stepped roofs visible here are after the houses shown on the 25", are now an An Oige hostel per Google, and are 1901 per the DIA. So, we are after 1901.
Myrtle26
It looks as a charming young lady has just been rowed o'er the ferry from the mainland. The nets would be a buffer between the boat timbers and the stone pier.
Oretani Wildlife (Mike Grimes)
Regarding the rig of the boat, it is a ketch with a main and mizzen mast and probably a gaff rig such as Galway Hookers do, with a foresail and then a jib out to the bowsprit. The nets, as you call them, are probably the old style rope fenders and were perhaps on the outside to protect the boat from another which may have tied up alongside them, or might come alongside. The nets they are putting in the boat are probably for mackerel which was an important economic catch for the area, with salting factories along the Iveragh Pensinula and then the salted fish was put in barrels and sent via the train from Renard and Caherciveen to Cork and Dublin I believe.