Cross Poddle
Cross Poddle, an important location in Dublin’s history, has transformed significantly over the centuries. Cross Poddle was a crucial junction where Dean Street meets Patrick Street, this area is deeply connected with Dublin’s development and the River Poddle.
In 1766, the area gained notoriety when Dennis Sullivan was publicly whipped from Cross Poddle to Harold’s Cross for stealing meal, a punishment overseen by Mr. Justice Drury. The event, reported in Faulkner’s Dublin Journal, underscores the area’s role in early judicial practices.
In May 1826, the Wide Street Commissioners renamed Cross Poddle to Dean Street as part of an urban improvement project. Before this change, Cross Poddle was known for being a narrow bottleneck, less than 25 feet wide. This congestion was highlighted in an 1814 letter to the Paving Board, which described the chaos caused by snow accumulation and suggested solutions to ease traffic and improve trade.
The Poddle was also known for flooding, which caused significant damage to nearby structures, including St. Patrick’s Cathedral. This issue was so severe that in 1687 the cathedral was reported to be flooded to a depth of five feet.
In 1901, City Surveyor Spencer Harty uncovered the site of the ancient well of St. Patrick during drainage works near the Poddle’s arched culvert. This discovery included a granite stone with an inscribed cross, marking the location of the vanished well. The Poddle’s diversion, likely from the time of Charles II, powered mills and influenced the naming of Cross Poddle.
Cross Poddle was more than just a crossing point; it was a hub of commerce and daily life. The area, lined with industries and mills, was bustling but also polluted, leading to the Poddle becoming dirty and undrinkable by the 18th century. Efforts were made to cover the river to address this issue.

Association with Poddle
Cross Poddle, now Dean Street, was historically significant due to its intersection with the River Poddle. This junction marked a crucial crossing point over the Poddle, which once served as Dublin’s primary water source. Known for frequent flooding, the river significantly impacted the area, leading to its renaming in 1826 by the Wide Street Commissioners. The name “Cross Poddle” reflects its role as a key location where the Poddle intersected with major streets, influencing local commerce and urban development.
What the Newspapers Say
- In 1766, Dennis Sullivan was publicly whipped from the Cross Poddle to Harold’s Cross for stealing meal. Mr. Justice Drury oversaw the punishment, which included tying a bag of meal around Sullivan’s neck during the whipping. This incident, reported in Faulkner’s Dublin Journal, highlights the harsh penal practices of the time and the significance of public punishment as a deterrent.
- An inhabitant of the Cross Poddle wrote to the Paving Board in 1814, highlighting the chaos caused by snow accumulation in the narrow street. The Cross Poddle served as a crucial passage to six major streets, creating traffic issues as carriages couldn’t pass or return. The writer suggested that if residents, including dairy men, each removed one cartful of snow, the area could be cleared in two hours. They emphasised that clearing snow from the Cross Poddle and Poddle streets would benefit businesses by easing access, improving trade, and preventing delays like those recently faced by Commissariat carts.
- In 1901, during drainage works at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, City Surveyor Mr. Spencer Harty uncovered the site of the ancient well of St. Patrick. This discovery, detailed by Sir Thomas Drew, revealed a causeway 6 feet below present-day Patrick Street and an ancient cross inscribed on a granite stone. The well had disappeared, likely due to a diversion of the Poddle, which flowed through an arched culvert along the cathedral’s west front. This diversion, dating to the time of Charles II, powered mills and gave its name to the Cross Poddle. The well was rediscovered on June 18, 1901.
- The article highlights historical connections between St. Patrick’s Cathedral and the Poddle River. In 1901, Spencer Harty, City Surveyor, discovered the ancient well of St. Patrick during construction near the Poddle’s arched culvert. This diversion, likely from the time of Charles II, powered mills and named the Cross Poddle. The well had vanished, but a granite stone with inscribed crosses was found, marking its location. The article also recalls Daniel O’Connell’s anger at the cathedral bells celebrating the Act of Union and the Anglo-Normans’ decision to build the cathedral despite its flood-prone location near the Poddle.
- This article traces the history of the Cross Poddle area, where Dean Street intersects with New Street South. Formerly called Cross Poddle until 1826, the area was renamed by the Wide Street Commissioners. The intersection of New Street, Patrick Street, and Dean Street was once a narrow passage called Freestone Alley, later known as Freeman’s Stone. Historical records from 1603 mention this stone as a boundary marker between the City and the Archbishop’s jurisdiction. The hostelry at this corner has been owned by various publicans, starting with Charles Ryan in the 1850s.
- The article recounts the history of Dean Street, formerly known as Cross Poddle until May 1826 when the Wide Street Commissioners renamed it. Once a narrow bottleneck less than 25 feet wide, it is shown as “Poddle” on John Rocque’s 1756 map. The “Cross” in Cross Poddle may refer to the Church property (Cross-land) or the crossing of the Poddle stream, which flowed from Harold’s Cross. Historically, the Poddle was a distinguished address in Dublin, but its frequent flooding, including severe floods in 1701 and 1762, regularly submerged St. Patrick’s Cathedral and its surroundings.
- The article explains that Dublin, 1,000 years ago, was a thriving Viking port connected to a global trading network. The Poddle River played a significant role in shaping the city, forming a pool called “Linn Dubh,” or “black pool,” which gave Dublin its name and provided safe anchorage for ships. The Viking settlement expanded along the Poddle, with its first stronghold nearby. Over time, the area around Cross Poddle evolved, including the site of St. Patrick’s Cathedral, which was later affected by frequent floods caused by the Poddle, significantly impacting Dublin’s medieval infrastructure.
- The article traces the history of the River Poddle, once a vital water source for medieval Dublin. Known by various names, including “Salach” or “dirty,” it was later diverted through a man-made canal called the City Watercourse. The Poddle, prone to flooding, shaped areas like St. Patrick’s Cathedral, built on an island between its two strands. Frequent floods inundated the cathedral, with significant flooding reported in 1687. The junction of Patrick’s and Dean Street was once called Cross Poddle, a key crossing point over the river. Industrial pollution eventually led to the Poddle being covered in the 18th century.