Slums, Dublin City, Co. Dublin

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Where: Dublin, Ireland

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When: Unknown

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You would have to class this as an atypical Lawrence shot, we see very little interest in the camera or the photographer. I notice that the photo is labeled Brown Street, a street which is not immediately familiar to me. I suspect that we will find that not many of the buildings we see have survived over the last 100 years, or have they?

As per the 2014 Streetview, and the incredible insights from today's contributors, only the leftmost building seems to remain. According to the NIAH entry it was once a 'Female Penitent Asylum'. While 'slum' seems a tad harsh to modern ears, this part of Dublin mixed industrial with residential - in a way that zoning laws might preclude today. For example, within 2 streets of this image were multiple tanneries, a piggery, glue works, maltings, and a fertilizer works. And, per the comments below, a 'house of ill-fame' :) ....


Photographer: Robert French

Collection: Lawrence Photograph Collection

Date: Catalogue range c.1865-1914.

NLI Ref: L_ROY_07881

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 Commons
Source: Flickr Commons
Views: 25586
robertfrench williamlawrence lawrencecollection lawrencephotographicstudio glassnegative nationallibraryofireland brownstreetsouth dublin leinster tenements slums dutchbilly brownstreet coombe liberties houseofillfame brickfieldlane chimney femalepenitentasylum dulfourscourt lawrencephotographcollection

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  • profile

    ɹǝqɯoɔɥɔɐǝq

    • 02/Jun/2017 06:26:54

    Streetview ?? - goo.gl/maps/7zxPiH58J282 The four-storey terrace on the left corner is still there.

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    National Library of Ireland on The Commons

    • 02/Jun/2017 06:35:30

    https://www.flickr.com/photos/beachcomberaustralia I wonder why all the men are outside that house?

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    ɹǝqɯoɔɥɔɐǝq

    • 02/Jun/2017 06:49:04

    https://www.flickr.com/photos/nlireland It was the Dublin Academy of Corner Boys (DACB). The fellow in the bowler hat is their professor ... ;-)

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    ɹǝqɯoɔɥɔɐǝq

    • 02/Jun/2017 06:55:04

    **M U R D E R . . K L A X O N** "Fatal Quarrel on Christmas night" involving soldiers and a "house of ill-fame" in Fulham's Court, off Brown Street ... (1863) Read All About It ! - trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/66459620 Ed. Transcribed -

    FATAL QUARREL ON CHRISTMAS NIGHT. Several soldiers belonging to the 86th Regt., at present stationed in Dublin, were in a house of ill-fame, in Fulham's-court, off Brown-street, on Christmas night, when two of them, Henry Edwards and John McNamara, had a quarrel. The latter drew a knife, which the other and a woman endeavoured, but in vain, to wrest from him. Edwards soon afterwards left the house, but he was followed by McNamara, when the quarrel was resumed. Edwards ran away into Brown-street; the other pursued him, drew his knife, and stabbed him through the heart. He then tried to escape but he was arrested by the police with the aid of some civilians. It was Saturday morning when this occurred. The deceased was in coloured clothes. He was a waiter at the mess, and is said to have been much respected in the regiment: — A Coroner's jury returned the following verdict: 'That Henry Edwards, a private in the 86th Regt. of Foot, died on the morning of Saturday, the 26th of December, 1863, from the effects of a certain wound inflicted on him the same morning by John McNamara, a private soldier in said regiment, now in custody.' The prisoner was then committed on the Coroner's warrant for trial at the next Commission.

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    O Mac

    • 02/Jun/2017 07:01:18

    There was a Sunday school in the Dutch Billy across the road.... That building they're standing outside is still there and probably the only Georgian house left on the street. The lane next to it is Brickfield Lane. Pity about the Dutch Billy.

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    ɹǝqɯoɔɥɔɐǝq

    • 02/Jun/2017 08:11:27

    maps.osi.ie/publicviewer/#V2,714367,733195,12,9 - The OSI 25" map shows the tall chimneys "Chy.", see notes. The ladies outside the printing works look ca. 1910 to me - a good deal of ankle and boater hats.

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    j.coffey78

    • 02/Jun/2017 09:18:19

    Thom`s Official Directory 1919: 1 Brown Street ; IRISH CURLED HAIR COMPANY ; Phone 1577. Are these men waiting outside?

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    National Library of Ireland on The Commons

    • 02/Jun/2017 09:21:00

    https://www.flickr.com/photos/91549360@N03 Never heard of a Dutch Billy before, fascinating!.

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    ɹǝqɯoɔɥɔɐǝq

    • 02/Jun/2017 09:40:51

    [https://www.flickr.com/photos/91549360@N03] [https://www.flickr.com/photos/nlireland] Yes, I had to look Dutch Billy up - this was helpful - irisharchaeology.ie/2012/03/dublins-forgotten-buildings-t... Ed. And this - archiseek.com/forum/topic/origins-of-term-dutch-billy/

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    RETRO STU

    • 02/Jun/2017 10:06:58

    That 'Dutch Billy' must be the oldest house on the street. They pre-dated the Georgian houses.

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    Peter Denton

    • 02/Jun/2017 20:16:16

    All I can say is that this image is crying out for some 'before and after' photographic attention!

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    O Mac

    • 02/Jun/2017 21:25:36

    Brown Streetview The NIAH in it's appraisal of the tall building on the left says.... "An imposing building of considerable size, probably originally built as a pair of houses. It was in use as a 'Female Penitent Asylum' of the Parish of Saint Catherine in the mid-nineteenth century." It probably wasn't used as such after 1875 when the Convent of Mercy on Brickfield Lane opened as a night Refuge for Homeless Females. It would appear from the 1901 census that there was only a solitary person living in that big house. He was manager of a printing works.....

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    National Library of Ireland on The Commons

    • 03/Jun/2017 15:29:02

    Thanks all! Map/tags/etc all updated. What do we think about date?

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    maorlando - God keeps me as I lean on Him!!

    • 03/Jun/2017 21:52:35

    l did not get the email you sent!! Please resend via Flickr mail!!! Thanks so much!!!

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    National Library of Ireland on The Commons

    • 04/Jun/2017 10:42:46

    https://www.flickr.com/photos/maorlando https://www.flickr.com/photos/47297387@N03 We will get back to you. Mary

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    National Library of Ireland on The Commons

    • 05/Jun/2017 11:38:19

    I have added quite a few photos to our "Less than 5 comments" Album. Some of them have no comments whatsoever, please have a look and please feel free to change that fact. https://www.flickr.com/photos/nlireland/sets/72157651352773330

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    Dr. Ilia

    • 06/Jun/2017 09:00:04

    Amazing shot

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    BlueisCoool

    • 07/Jun/2017 18:11:08

    What a wonderful black and white street photograph.

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    silverio10

    • 10/Jun/2017 21:54:47

    Buenas fotos antiguas .

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    davidwilkes2

    • 29/Sep/2017 15:45:01

    is this the Brown Street please ? www.libraryireland.com/Dublin-Street-Directory-1862/184.php David