Charles Brooking's map of Dublin (1728)

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Charles Brooking's map of Dublin (1728) is an early map of Dublin, Ireland, and was one of the first detailed attempts at mapping the city of Dublin.

Contents

Background

The map was completed by Charles Brooking (1677–1738), an engraver, illustrator and map maker of English origin, and printed in London by John Bowles at The Mercer's Hall in 1728. [1] Brooking is recorded as working at Greenwich Hospital (London) between 1729 and 1736 as a painter and decorator. He had earlier been active in Plymouth and Dublin where he is recorded as working at Trinity College Dublin in 1723–25. [2]

It is likely his son was Charles Brooking, a notable painter of marine scenes in his own right, who was earlier apprenticed to his father.

The map was one of the first accurate maps of the modern Dublin Georgian streetscape and includes 20 notable Dublin buildings and structures which are embedded as vignettes within the borders of the map. [3] [4] [5] As of 2024, a number of these structures remain intact. The map also contains the coats of arms of the various Guilds of the City of Dublin.

It was the first detailed map of Dublin carried out since John Speed's map of 1610.

List of illustrations

OrderIllustrationTitle (Sic)Building or structureStatusDate of constructionNotes
1 Lord Mayors House, Dublin (1728).jpg Lord Mayors House Mansion House Intact1700Much altered but now used as the official residence of the Lord Mayor of Dublin.
2 Statue of George I on Essex Bridge, Dublin.jpg The Statue of King George Ye 1st on Essex Bridge Equestrian statue of George I, Dublin Intact1722Intact but transferred to a different location in Birmingham, England in 1937. It was originally commissioned in 1717.
3 Linen hall, Dublin.jpg The Linnen Hall Linenhall Demolished1722Destroyed by fire during the Easter Rising. Some of the gates and arches remain intact.
4 Dr Steevens' Hospital (1728).jpg Dr. Stevens's Hospital Dr Steevens' Hospital Intact1719Still fully intact and used as a governmental administrative office still related to health and hospital use.
5 The city bason (city basin), Dublin.jpg A Prospect of the City Bason The City Basin Demolished1721Some elements of the basin remain below ground level but have now mostly been replaced with apartments. The limestone gateway and iron gate were purchased by Desmond Guinness in the 1970s and are now a feature in the grounds of Leixlip Castle. [6]
6 The Custom house (1707).png The Custom House The Old Custom House Demolished1707Demolished in the early 19th century around 1815 as it was deemed structurally unsound. Part of the site now forms the location of the Clarence Hotel on Wellington Quay.
7 St. Ann's Church, Dawson Street (1728).jpg The Front of St. Ann's Church St. Ann's Church, Dawson Street Demolished1720Some elements of the original baroque structure remain within the structure of the modern church which was constructed in the second half of the 19th century.
8 St. Werburgh's Church, Dublin (1728).jpg The Front of St. Werburghs Church St. Werburgh's Church Partially Intact1719The bottom section of the church is still in existence. The spire was demolished in the late 18th and early 19th century as it was feared the position overlooking Dublin Castle created a potential security risk from snipers.
9 The hospital in Steven's Street.jpg The Hospital in Stevens Street Mercer's Hospital Demolished1724The building was demolished in the years following the map and was replaced by a modern Georgian hospital building in 1759 the facade of which still stands today and forms part of a complex of buildings owend by the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. The image was later copied and used as the illustration on tickets for Handel's Messiah in 1742.
10 Corn Market House, Dublin 8.jpg The Corn Market House in Thomas Street Cornmarket House Demolished1727Located on Thomas Street, the building was demolished at some stage during the middle of the 19th century after closing in 1800 with some of the business moving to a dedicated corn exchange on Burgh Quay.
11 The foundation of the Hospital and Free school of King Charles II., Oxmantown Dublin - commonly called the Blue coat school - with notices of some of its governors, and of contemporary events in (14595731190).jpg Blew Coat Boys Hospital Blue Coat School Demolished1673The building on Queen Street was replaced with a Georgian building on nearby Blackhall Place in the second half of the 18th century which still exists and now houses the Law Society of Ireland.
12 Trinity College Dublin, West front (1728).png Front of the Colledge Trinity College Dublin, West frontDemolished1697Demolished in the second half of the 18th century to be replaced with the current Georgian west front.
13 The Poor House, Dublin.png The Poor House Foundling Hospital Demolished1704Demolished only in the second half of the 20th century after later forming part of the South Dublin Union. Many of the buildings which made up the original South Dublin Union and Foundling Hospital still exist and form part of the St James' Hospital campus.
14 The Tholsel (1728).jpg The Tholsel The Tholsel Demolished1682Demolished around 1812 whereupon many of its functions had moved into separate buildings. The coat of arms on the front of the building is still in existence and is stored in the crypt of Christchurch cathedral.
15 Colledge Library.jpg The Colledge LibraryOld Library of Trinity College Dublin Intact1715Still exists and is now generally referred to as the Old Library. The building contains the famous long room and the Book of Kells.
16 Prospect of St Stephens Green.jpg A Prospect of St. Stephens Green St Stephen's Green Intact1663Still exists as a public city park and green area. It was originally first enclosed as a common in 1664.
17 Royal Hospital.jpg The Royal Hospital Royal Hospital Kilmainham Intact1684Still exists and houses the Irish Museum of Modern Art.
18 Dublin barracks.jpg The Barracks Royal Barracks Intact1701Now usually referred to as Collins Barracks except in historical accounts.
19 Dublin Castle illustration.jpg The Castle Dublin Castle Partially Intact1204Most of the key buildings which made up the castle campus are still in existence and have been restored. [7]
20 King William of Orange, College Green.jpg The Statue of King William on Colledge GreenStatue of King William of Orange on College Green Demolished1701It was severely damaged in an explosion in 1928 and was removed entirely in 1929.

See also

References

  1. "LAND SURVEYING IN EIGHTEENTH AND EARLY NINETEENTH-CENTURY DUBLIN" (PDF). www.maynoothuniversity.ie. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
  2. "Charles Brooking". www.dia.ie. Retrieved 6 May 2024.
  3. "The earliest map to portray Dublin on such a large and detailed scale". Crouch Rare Books. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
  4. "Charles Brooking Map of Dublin 1728". Dublin Port Archive. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
  5. "A Map of the City and Suburbs of DublinA Map of the City and Suburbs of Dublin". www.archive.org. 1728. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
  6. FUSIO. "Leixlip Castle, LEIXLIP DEMESNE, Leixlip, KILDARE". Buildings of Ireland. Retrieved 2025-01-13.
  7. "View of Dublin Castle from Charles Brooking's map of Dublin, c.1728 | Dublin Castle" . Retrieved 9 August 2024.