Wellington Quay

Wellington Quay

Wellington Quay, a significant street in Dublin, marks the point where the River Poddle flows into the River Liffey. Historically known as Custom House Quay until 1817, Wellington Quay has long been a vital area of the city. The Poddle, which once flowed openly though various parts of Dublin such as Crampton Court, Dame Street, and Ship Street, now flows underground and enters the Liffey through a notable archway at Wellington Quay with a metal portcullis. In 1881, workers installed  high iron grille with heavy locks was installed to secure this entrance for protection of Dublin Castle. The lower length of the Poddle is enclosed in a large brick tunnel, which extends nearly three miles from Harold’s Cross to the quays, offering a unique historical perspective on Dublin’s waterways.

Wellington Quay was partially blocked off by buildings as late as 1797, as shown on Faden’s map, with the Liffey’s present Metal Bridge marking the beginning of Crampton Quay.

In the 1990s, at a city council meeting, a proposed Poddle pedestrian bridge by Temple Bar Properties was rejected. While 24 of 42 councillors supported the copper-topped design, it did not achieve the required three-quarters majority due to its conflict with the city’s Development Plan.

 

Association with Poddle

The Poddle enters the River Liffey at Wellington Quay.

What the Newspapers Say

  • Most of the articles mention that the Poddle enters the Liffey at the portcullis at Wellington Quay.
  • For the past two days, workmen had been cutting through the only subterranean passage connecting to Dublin Castle. This archway, visible at all tides and nearly opposite Swift’s Row, served as the outlet for the River Poddle. The Poddle flowed beneath Crampton Court, Dame Street, Exchange Court, Ship Street, and other areas before reaching the Castle. Adventurous individuals could once traverse the Poddle’s bed between tides, though the path was infested with rats and foul odours. The archway was high, but often submerged at high tide. Recently, a high iron grille with heavy locks was installed to secure the entrance.
  • Wellington Quay was called Custom House Quay up to 1817 It was sealed off by buildings at the eastern end as late as 1797 when Faden’s map shows the Liffey as the present Metal Bridge, where Crampton Quay begins.
  • You can see the heavy iron grating in the quay wall below Wellington Quay
  • At a recent Dublin city council meeting, the controversial Poddle pedestrian bridge proposed by Temple Bar Properties was rejected. Despite 24 out of 42 councillors supporting the copper-topped bridge, the project failed to secure the required three-quarters majority due to its conflict with the city’s Development Plan. The vote effectively halted the proposal. However, some councillors expressed openness to a revised bridge design connecting Wellington and Ormond Quays, suggesting that a new proposal might gain approval.
  • It emerges at Wellington Quay – so the grate you see there is not a sewer pipe. In case you ever wondered. Interestingly, much of the lower length of the Poddle is in a large brick tunnel; you can actually walk along it for almost three miles from Harold’s Cross to the quays.
Related newspaper articles
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Mysterious Precautions
18 Jun 1881

For tho past two days workmen have been engaged in cutting the only subterranean communication with the Castle which existsin tho city. Most people in Dublin have noticed a large…

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Gossip of the day
5 Mar 1900

In connection with the building of the Bride’s Alley area artisan dwellings an interesting work is being performed. This is the changing of the course of the River Poddle that…

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A Glance Backward – Ye Old Citie
31 Aug 1901

The Poddle River – It’s Historic Association The following description of the Poddle is taken from an old History of Dublin:—”The great water course which cleanses the Liberties and the…

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Removal of the old houses on Patrick Street
1 Mar 1902

A London weekly in commenting on the removal of the old houses on Patrick Street says – “Few of the inhabitants of Dublin are aware of the existence of the…

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Seen and Heard – Notes on notions for Men and Matters
20 Jun 1923

An adequate supply of clear water is one of the first essentials looked for by colonists, and the early visitors to what is now the city of Dublin found that…

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Two level streets
14 May 1970

A clear explanation of how Dublin has spread east at the expense of Dublin Bay is seen now when you stand in East Essex Street and look towards the Liffey…

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Across The River…
4 Jun 1970

We crossed the Liffey last night from Capei Street to Wellington Quay to visit the new offices of the Irish Life Assurance Company, who were holding a small party to open the…

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New Dublin District Office For Irish Life
9 Jun 1970

LATEST and most impressive milestone in the continuous progress of the Irish Life Assurance Company Limited is the opening of the company’s new Dublin District Office at 16/19 Wellington Quay. Rising high in…

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Where’s Standfast Dick?
26 Aug 1971

When walking along Wellington Quay at low-tide, look over the quay wall and you will see this outcrop of limestone rock extending far out into the bed of Anna Liffey,…

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A nun who dipped into history and got wet
16 Jun 1973

I FELL IN LOVE with a nun last night Sister Ann Dominica Fitzgerald endeared herself to me forever when she grinned with fiendish glee and described how she fell in…

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And whatever the fare it flows
15 Feb 1975

The Olympia Theatre has some unusual features, including a stage that is situated at the front of the building, instead of the back. But until this week, when I went…

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The Dublin rivers that vanished from sight
14 Aug 1984

THE PODDLE RIVER was the most important to old Dublin. It came down from above Tallaght, through Templeogue and Kimmage and Harold’s Cross, through the Coombe, and Bride Street, to…

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Viking Dublin
25 Oct 1988

A THOUSAND years ago Dublin, though smaller and mainly built on the south side of the Liffey, was as thriving a port as it is today. Viking longships sailed from…

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Bridging the gap: what Dubliners think
29 Oct 1994

It has been nicknamed the Drunken Bridge and The Wave Across The River due to its controversial design. It will cost £750,000 of European money to build and will span…

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Councillors vote down bridge
16 Dec 1994

TEMPLE Bar Properties’ controversial Poddle pedestrian bridge was torpedoed by Dublin city councillors at last night’s full monthly meeting of the council when they failed to give the project the…

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Liffey bridge plan appealed
13 Jan 1995

TEMPLE Bar Properties has lodged an appeal with An Bord Pleanala against Dublin Corporation’s refusal of planning permission for a footbridge, to be called Poddle Bridge, over the Liffey at…

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Liffey bridge architect hits back at objectors
12 Apr 1995

THE proposed new footbridge over the Liffey will be totally accessible to the disabled and parents with buggies, its architect said. The 48 metre, canopied Poddle Bridge is designed to…

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Appeal on Dublin Footbridge
13 Apr 1995

The designer of a proposed pedestrian bridge, between Ormond Quay and Wellington Quay, Mr Michael McGarry, said the Poddle Bridge could do for the city what the East Link did…

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How history flows through Dublin
10 Feb 2004

The River Poddle has been known by several different names over the centuries such as the Puddle, Pottle and the Podell. It was known as the Tiber and also as…

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The River Poddle
22 Apr 2010

Forget the Liffey: the Poddle is the reason our whole city is here. This river, which rises in the Dublin mountains, provided drinking water for early settlers and even formed…

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€7m work on Poddle protect 800 homes
11 Sep 2019

Sean McCarthaigh MORE than 800 homes on Dublin’s southside are to get improved flood protection with planned upgrade of defences on the River Poddle. Work on the €7m project, funded…

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