Dublin once boasted a large number of ornate cage-work houses.
Bernard Morgan wrote in the Irish Independent on 5th April 1949 about one particular one in Cook Street off Winetavern Street. When it was demolished in 1745 the:
…timber was found to be a state of reasonable preservation. An oak beam, carried over the width of the house, bore a Latin inscription, the English rendering being “Thou Who made the heavens and the earth, bless this house which John Lutrel and Joan caused to built in the year of Our Lord 1580”.
The last surviving cage-work house was situated on the corner of Castle Street and Werburgh Street. Just opposite the Lord Edward pub and Burdocks chipper. The house lasted all the way up until 1812 when it was demolished by order of the Commissioners of Wide Street and the materials sold for £40.
Thomas Cromwell in Excursions Through Ireland: Province of Leinster, published in 1820, described this house as being:
…of Irish oak and from the date in front it appeared to be erected in the reign of Edward II, the arms were those of the Fitzgerald family. Oliver Cromwell, according to tradition, occupied the house while he was in Dublin. It is somewhat singular, as a proof of the superior of cage-work houses, that none of the erections in the time of Elizabeth’s successor, James, in which brick and stone was first adopted, are thought to be standing to this day.
Cromwell is likely to be incorrect by stating that house dates back to Edward II’s time i.e. 1272–1307. Perhaps it was just typing error? The vast majority of Dublin’s cage work houses were built in the The Elizabethan era(1558–1603)
Keep up the good work, loving your posts.
Did you know…
When Dublin Civic Trust purchased Number 4 Castle Street in 1997 they discovered a number of beams of the former cage houses on the site embedded in the walls and remnants of the former house in the basement. This allowed No. 4 (then threaten with demolition) to be declared a national monument (ie predating 1700) and saved it from the wreckers ball and the Trust went on to restore the house and still occupies it as its headquarters.
Interestingly the case planner at the time was a Mr Dick Gleeson! Now city planner of course.
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