Amory Grant

Last updated

The Amory Grant is the name given to a stretch of land on the north side of the River Liffey in Dublin that was leased to Jonathon Amory in 1675 on a 299-year lease. The annual rent was set at 50 shillings and two fat capons each Christmas to the Lord Mayor of Dublin. [1] When the lease ran out in 1974 the value of the land had increased to millions of pounds. [2]

Contents

Jonathon Amory

Jonathon Amory was born in Bristol on 14 March 1654. His father was a merchant and the family had land holdings in County Kerry. [3] Amory is recorded as the purchaser from the city of part of the north strand of the river Liffey. [1] This land was tidal and a mud flat. [4]

“It is also ordered and agreed upon, by the authoritie aforesaid, that Jonathan Amory, merchant, shall have a lease of that part of the Strand on the north side of the river Liffey, situate, betwixte the wall of the Pill, in the possession of the lord Sangtry and the water mill lately built by Mr. Gilbert Mabbot, containing in breadth at the west end, along the lord Santrys wall, and from the wall there lately built by the lord Power, earle of Tyrone, in the north, to the low water marke in the south, the number of eight perches or thereabouts, and in length eastward to the cross wall over against Dirty lane, alias Hog Lane, fiftie four perches or thereabouts; at which place it contains in breadth, from the earle of Tyrone his wall in the north, to the low water marke in the south, eleven perches or thereabouts, then leaving two perches for a passage or way to the ford and Dirty lane, and also leaving sixtie foot for a highway thence all along to the corner of the wall beyond the said mill, built by the said Mr Mabbott, it conteines in breadth at the west end the number of sixteen perches or thereabouts, to the low water mark in length eastward to the ferry, over against Mr Hawkshaw his buildings, seventie two perches or thereabouts leaving sixtie foot for highway as aforesaid, from which place it is further in length eastward, a little beyond the said mill, sixtie perches or thereabouts, Which is the furthest extent eastward, and at this end it is in breadth, from the sixtie foot left for a highway to the low water marke, fourteen perches and a half, or thereabouts, for the tearme of two hundred ninetie nine yeares, at the yearly rent of fiftie shillings, sterling, to be paid to the treasurer of the cittie for the use of the cittie, and a couple of fatt capons, or five shillings, sterling, in liew thereof, every Christmas to the Lord Mayor of the cittie for the time being”. [1]

The grant extended almost 1,200 metres (3,900 ft) in length and amounted to about 100 acres (40 ha). The land is described in terms of local landmarks, none of which are visible in the maps of Dublin drawn by John Rocque starting in 1756. The width of the stretch of land, described in perchs, was based on the high and low watermarks of the Liffey. The length of a perch was 7 yards (6.4 m), today it is 5.5 yards (5.0 m).

Humphrey Jervis

In 1676 the beneficial ownership in the lease passed to Humphrey Jervis. Although Amory's name remained attached to the lease he faded out of the story and Jervis went on to build two bridges over the Liffey and became a very successful developer. [5] Jervis was one of the sheriffs of Dublin at the time the lease was granted. [1] He was later elected Lord Mayor and received a knighthood. Jervis Street in Dublin runs north from the Liffey through part of the land described in the grant. The building of quay walls turned the tidal mud flats into valuable development land.

The exact relationship between Jervis and Amory is difficult to establish. However, a connection may be established from the will of a David Houston. In this will Jervis and a Mr. Glandys were appointed to assist Houston's widow, Rebecca, in managing his affairs. A marriage licence application exists between Jonathon Amory and Rebecca Houston on 31 May 1677. The licence mentions John Glandys. [3]

Amory after the grant

The marriage of Amory and Rebecca Houston produced at least two children. Judith Amory was baptised on 1 April 1680. Thomas Amory was baptised on 12 May 1682. [3]

Sometime after the birth of Thomas the family, Jonathon, Rebecca, Judith, Thomas and Ann Houston, Rebecca's daughter, departed Ireland for the West Indies. It is believed that Rebecca died in Barbados sometime around 1685. [3] Jonathon then married Martha. Most sources do not give a surname for Martha but one suggests Schenking. [6] Sometime before 1691 Jonathon arrived in the Province of Carolina. By November 1691 he was a known inhabitant of Charleston or Charles Town. In 1692 Jonathon Amory was returned as a member for Berkley County to the assembly of Carolina. He was elected speaker and is noted for presiding over them as they prepared a statement of grievances and of their claims under the Provincial Constitution. Jonathan Amory, Speaker, signs this first American Bill of Rights. [3] In 1696 as Speaker he signed the address to Governor Archdale on the occasion of the governor's return to England. [3] In 1697 Jonathon was appointed Advocate General in South Carolina under commission from the King. He was also Public Treasurer. [3]

Amory died in Charles Town, Carolina in 1699 from “a most infectious and detrimental distemper”. [3] Soon afterwards his wife Martha died having settled the distribution of Jonathon's will in favour of his three children still living: Thomas (grandfather of Thomas Coffin Amory), Robert and Sarah. There is no mention in the will of any land in Dublin. His name does, however, appear on some maps of Dublin, even as late as 1756. [7] “Amory’s Ground” is found on a plot of land now occupied by Gandon's Custom House.

Amory Grant in the 20th Century

In 1988 the Amory Grant was a prize winning project in a nationwide history competition organised by the Irish Times. The project won the Lord Mayor's Millennium Award for a project on Dublin and also the Dublin City Libraries’ Award for Best Project on Dublin. The project was submitted by Linda Dolan, Linda Doyle, Denise Memery and Bernadette Roe from Rosary College, Edenmore, Dublin. [8]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">River Liffey</span> River in Dublin in Ireland

The River Liffey is a river in eastern Ireland that ultimately flows through the centre of Dublin to its mouth within Dublin Bay. Its major tributaries include the River Dodder, the River Poddle and the River Camac. The river supplies much of Dublin's water and supports a range of recreational activities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Custom House</span> Government building in Dublin, Ireland

The Custom House is a neoclassical 18th century building in Dublin, Ireland which houses the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. It is located on the north bank of the River Liffey, on Custom House Quay between Butt Bridge and Talbot Memorial Bridge.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kilmainham</span> Suburb of Dublin, Ireland

Kilmainham is a south inner suburb of Dublin, Ireland, south of the River Liffey and west of the city centre. It is in the city's Dublin 8 postal district.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Palmerstown</span> Suburb of Dublin, Ireland

Palmerstown is a civil parish and suburb in western Dublin on the banks of the River Liffey. It forms part of the South Dublin local authority and the Dublin Mid-West parliamentary constituency. The area is bordered to the north by the River Liffey and the Strawberry Beds, to the west by Lucan, to the south-west by Clondalkin, to the south by Ballyfermot and to the east by the village of Chapelizod. Palmerstown village is situated near the Liffey Valley Shopping Centre. The area is situated near the major junction of the M50 motorway and the N4. It lies approximately 7 km west of O'Connell Street in Dublin city centre. The Old Lucan Road, once the main route from the city to the west, passes through the centre of Palmerstown village.

Shelbourne Road is a road in Ballsbridge, in the southeast part of Dublin, Ireland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clonliffe</span> Inner city area of north Dublin, Ireland

Clonliffe is an area on the Northside of Dublin, Ireland, between Ballybough and Drumcondra in the Dublin 3 postal district.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chapelizod</span> Northside village suburb of Dublin city, Ireland

Chapelizod is a village preserved within the city of Dublin, Ireland. It lies in the wooded valley of the River Liffey, near the Strawberry Beds and the Phoenix Park. The village is associated with Iseult of Ireland and the location of Iseult's chapel. Chapelizod is under the administration of Dublin City Council.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Wall, Dublin</span> Northern inner district of Dublin, Ireland

North Wall is an area east of the inner north side of Dublin, along the River Liffey where it forms one of the Dublin quays.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">River Poddle</span> River in Dublin, Ireland

The River Poddle is a river in Dublin, Ireland, a pool of which gave the city its English language name. Boosted by a channel made by the Abbey of St. Thomas à Becket, taking water from the far larger River Dodder, the Poddle was the main source of drinking water for the city for more than 500 years, from the 1240s. The Poddle, which flows wholly within the traditional County Dublin, is one of around a hundred members of the River Liffey system, and one of over 135 watercourses in the county; it has just one significant natural tributary, the Commons Water from Crumlin.

The Great South Wall, at the Port of Dublin, extends from the tip of the Poolbeg peninsula more than four kilometres out into Dublin Bay. It was the world's longest sea wall at the time of its construction and remains one of the longest in Europe. It faces the newer Bull Wall, and has one of four port lighthouses at its end.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sir John Rogerson's Quay</span> Street in Dublin, Ireland

Sir John Rogerson's Quay is a street and quay in Dublin on the south bank of the River Liffey between City Quay in the west and Britain Quay. Named for politician and property developer Sir John Rogerson (1648–1724), the quay was formerly part of Dublin Port. It has some of the few remaining campshire warehouses in Dublin.

The barony of Castleknock is one of the baronies of Ireland. Originally part of the Lordship of Meath, it was then constituted as part of County Dublin. Today, it is in the modern county of Fingal, Ireland. The barony was originally also a feudal title, which became one of the subsidiary titles of the Viscounts Gormanston.

The Priory of All Hallows was a monastic foundation just outside of the walls of Dublin, Ireland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Agharaskilly</span> Townland in County Cavan, Ireland

Agharaskilly is a townland in the civil parish of Tomregan, County Cavan, Ireland. It lies within the former barony of Loughtee Lower.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gortnaleck</span> Townland in the civil parish of Templeport, County Cavan, Ireland

Gortnaleck is a townland in the civil parish of Templeport, County Cavan, Ireland. It lies in the Roman Catholic parish of Templeport and barony of Tullyhaw.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Humphrey Jervis</span> Lord Mayor of Dublin, Ireland

Humphrey Jervis (1630–1707) was one of the first notable private developers in the history of Dublin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tyrone House, Dublin</span> Palladian Georgian house in Dublin, Ireland

Tyrone House is a Georgian mansion townhouse built for Marcus Beresford, 1st Earl of Tyrone in 1740. It was constructed on lands bordering Marlborough Street in what was to become a fashionable part of North Dublin city off Sackville Street. It was one of the first substantial aristocratic houses built on the North side of Dublin city.

Achmet Borumborad, Achmet Borumbadad, or sometimes simply Dr. Achmet or Mr. Achmet, was the assumed name of an eccentric medical con-artist, or quack, operating in late 18th-century Dublin, who succeeded in gathering financial support for the construction of a Turkish bath on the banks of the River Liffey. Purportedly a doctor, he claimed to have been born in Constantinople (Istanbul) from which he had subsequently fled. In reality, he was the fictitious creation of one Patrick Joyce of Kilkenny, or possibly a William Cairns of Dublin. Adopting the persona of a native Turk, his unusual dress style, turban, and exotic affectations attracted much attention in the city at the time, and he was noted as "the first Turk who had ever walked the streets of Dublin in his native costume."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Old Custom House, Dublin</span> 1707 building in Dublin, Ireland

The Custom House was a large brick and limestone building located at present day Wellington Quay in Dublin, Ireland which operated as a custom house, hosting officials overseeing the functions associated with the import and export of goods to Dublin from 1707 until 1791. It also served as the headquarters of the Revenue Commissioners, as a meeting place and offices for the Wide Streets Commission and was said to be Dublin's first dedicated office building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ormond Square, Dublin</span> Square in Dublin, Ireland

Ormond Square is a square on the northside of Dublin city.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Weldrick, John Francis; Gilbert, Mulholland (1889). Calendar of Ancient Records of Dublin: In the Possession of the Municipal Corporation of that City. Vol. 5. J. Dollard. p. 58.
  2. The Irish Times 13 February 1974 page 20
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Meredith, Gertrude Euphemia (1901). The Descendants of Hugh Amory 1605-1805. Priv. print. at the Cheswick Press. pp. 15–35.
  4. The Irish Times 9 April 2003 page 3
  5. Dublin : Peter Somerville-Large page 127
  6. "Sarah Amory 1690-1722 - Ancestry®".
  7. John Rocque Map of Dublin and Environs 1756
  8. Irish Times 31 May 1988