Indicated — Unknown Townland

The lands of the Priory of Kilmainham were seised N of the Liffey by the crown in the early 17th century in order to create a royal deerpark around the Phoenix and viceregal country residence built on the site of the present magazine fort. Its construction began in 1662 with the erection of an enclosing stone wall. The deerpark wall was worked on by stonemason, Henry Gamble in 1664/5, an account of his petition regarding the commencement of these works was described in 1664/5. On the 6th February 1664 a petition from Henry Gamble (Gambel) for ‘his makeing parte of the Parke wall at the rate of fower shillings six pence per perch [5m] according as hee sets forth in his petition. And, the petitioner entred on the said worke, and did make parte of that which he agreed for about five foote [1.5m] high. Soe much as did amount unto the summe of fower hundred twentie-three pounds or thereaboutes according to the rates aforesaid. But, soe it is, may it please your Excellency, that two third partes of the said wall which was made by your petitioner as aforesaid was taken downe and made up againe, and cost the summe of one hundred thirty-two pounds or thereabouts, which summe added to his receipt makes up five hundred and twelve pounds. Soe that, as the state of the worke now standeth, the petitioner hath received, more than his agreement, the summe of eighty-nine pounds besides, some other parte of the wall made by the petitioner must be taken down and new wrought, and which is not in this account. And furthermore, may it please your Excellencie, I did severall times desire the petitioner to take the wall downe and to make it up againe himselfe, but I could not get him to doe it. All which I humbly submit to your Excellencie's further consideration. Dated this 28th day of February 1664-5 – William Dodson’ (Anon. 1884, 161). The dispute over the workmanship of the wall and payment for these works continued into 1663 when the following details were recorded; 'According to your Lordship's order of the 10th of June 1663, we have veiwed and measured soe much of the work in the certificate hereunto annexed as hath been performed by Henry Gamble, mason, in the said certificate also named, according to certaine articles of agreement made between William Dodson, Esquire, on behalfe of his Majestie and the said Henry Gamble, and wee find that soe much of his Majestie's park wall in the said certificate also mentioned as hath been erected by the said Gamble, pursuant to the said articles, extendeth itself from the river Liffie, beneath Bowbridge [DU018-020287-], by the old wall of St. John's Chapple [DU018-020286-] neere Killmainham, to the new bridge [DU018-027003-/074] of Chapple-Izod, and contayneth in length by measure 320 perches [1,600m], at the least, besides 43 perches [216m] more, the said Henry Gamble affirming and produceing witneses to prove the same to have bine done and performed by him, and the said Mr. Dodson utterly denying the same; wee likewise finde, upon serious view and consideration of the whole matter to us referred, that that part of the said wall which is now defective was not occasioned through any neglect of the surveyor, or the said Henry Gamble, or any others under them or either of them imployed in the said work, which was well and in workmanlike manner performed by the said Henry Gamble as a dry wall, but meerly occasioned by reason the stones were not laid in mortar, they being of a soft and mouldring condition and not able to endure the sunn and weather without it. And wee further find that that part of the wall which hath been since done and performed by the said Henry Gamble conteyneth throughout five foot from the ground upwards, and is of more thickness and substance than that upper part of the said wall which hah bine since and coped by other men at day-work, which the said Henry Gamble ought likewise to have performed; and therefore wee think it just and meet to allow unto the said Henry Gamble one perch in five in regard thereof throughout the said work, which cometh to 64 perches [321m] more, which makes the whole work performed by the said Henry Gamble besides the 43 perches [216m] in dispute to amount to 384 perches [1,931m] accounting the same at 22s. 6d. each perch [5m] grosse, which cometh in the whole to 432 pounds sterling, besides the said 43 perches [216m] in difference, whereof wee find the said Henry Gamble hath received of the said Mr. Dodson the summ of 380l. sterling and noe more; soe that there remaineth due to the said Henry Gamble from the said Mr. Dodson, upon the whole accompt, besides the said 43 perches [216m] in dispute, the summe of 52 pounds sterling. Dated 28 August 1665’ (Gilbert 1885, 4-5). However, there was a second phase of wall building in 1680 AD (Ball 1906, IV, 181, 184, 189). The present wall encloses an area of 1,752 acres. It is coursed masonry with a stone capping (H 2.74m). There are 8 gates; at Parkgate Street, Chapelizod, Castleknock, North Circular Road, Cabra, Ashtown, Knockmaroon and Island bridge (Lord Killanin & Duignan 1967, 258-259, Mc Lysaght 1979, 235; Litton-Falkiner 1901, 465-88). In 1662 the exact bounds of the stone wall ran along the old Castleknock road to the meadows of the Liffey where Heuston Station stands. In 1671 the walls were straightened and left until 1680 when the lands south of the Liffey enclosing the Royal Hospital were extended and the Chapelizod road was taken as the boundary. This section of wall was built by Sir John Temple. There are private entrances in the western portion at Farmleigh and Mount Sackville Convent and Marlborough Cavalry Barracks (Cosgrave-Dillon 1909, 17-25). Anon. 1884 Appendix to Ninth Report of the Royal Commission on Historical Manuscripts Commission, Part II. Gilbert, J.T. 1885 The Manuscripts of the Most Honourable the Marquis of Ormonde, Kilkenny Castle. Historical Manuscripts Commission, Tenth Report, Appendix, Part V, 1-106. Compiled by: Geraldine Stout Revised by: Caimin O'Brien Date of revised upload: 31 January 2023