Left from the tannery

15 Sep 1973

THIS SLENDER factory chimney, with an elaborate coping in the Industrial Decorated ” style of the 19th century, stands in Cork Street, behind the premises of the Court Furniture Company. It was originally part of the tan-yard here, owned by J. and T. Ord, which afterwards became a dye-works for Eustace Brothers.

Some interesting aspects of old Dublin industrial life were found when changing the place to its present use. Around this yard, were found several deep vats, dug out either for the tanners or the dyers, some of them were full of ox-skulls (surely a trace of the tannery!) Both these industries required plenty of water, so I was not surprised to hear that the River Poddle flows under this yard though it is not shown on a map of the underground rivers of Dublin, made about 1860 by Parke Neville, the City Engineer . But of it,late Father M. V. Ronan knew and showed it on a map he made for the journal of the Society of Antiquaries of Ireland. This stream is a branch of the Poddle, called the Commons Water, and it flows down to link up with the Poddle again at Ardee Street. Also in this yard there were once sundry bunk houses for the Wexford men who drove their cattle up to the tannery.

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