Gateway in Unknown Townland

The 15th century gate on Hammond Lane then known as Hangman's Lane was probably located on the corner of Hangman-lane in a building known as 'Shelton's house'. This family are listed in the 17th century as the leaseholders of land either side of the Hangman Gate. In 1466, the Dublin Assembly Roll recorded that it is ordained ' by the saide semble that the maystres of the workes of the saide citte make a yate [gate] of lyme and stone in the Hangmanes lane' (CARD, 1, 322). In 1600, the Dublin Assembly Roll recorded that 'William Shelton, merchant, made humble suyt for a lease of threscore and one years upon booth seides of the gate in Hangman lane, alledging the same was formerlie graunted to his father, Henry Shelton, for that [term of] years, at the rent of eight pence, Irishe, per annum'. It was agreed by the Assembly that William should keep; 'uppe the gate, and to make good, stronge leavis or shutterings for the same, and to keape it in reparacion from time to time, and to paie the arreradges due sithins the graunt, with other convenants and condicions to be incertid in his lease' (CARD, 2, 550-1). In 1623, the location of Shelton's House was described in a petition from Eugene Matthews, archbishop of Dublin who wrote that the one of the places which priests resort for Mass in Dublin was; 'Shelton's house, beyond the bridge, at the corner of the so-called Hangman-lane' (Moran 1864, 1, 28). (Bradley and King 1987, 3, 190, No.5; Clarke 2002, 22). See attached section of Rocque's 1756 Map of Dublin showing Hammond lane, Brooking's 1728 Map of Dublin and the Irish Historic Town Atlas map of Medieval Dublin showing possible location of 15th century Hangman's Gate Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 13 December 2022