Gateway in Unknown Townland

The precise location of the extramural gate on the outer or suburban defences of the Dublin City walls known as the 'Gate of the Crokers Bars' has not been identified (Clarke 2002, 21). Croker's Lane is shown on the 25 inch ed. OSi 6-inch map where it is shown as the lane adjoining onto the W end of Marshal Lane which runs parallel to the N of St. Thomas Street. Croker's Lane was the back lane which ran parallel to the N of St Thomas Street and was also known as 'vicus pottorum' 'vicus figulorum' or 'Street of the Pots' (Clarke 2002, 14-5). A fortification known as 'Le Barris [Bars] and ditch' is mentioned in 1267 (Brooks 1936, 1). In 1320 the Mayor of Dublin granted William le Mareschal land in the vicinity of the Abbey of St Thomas the Martyr which included; 'the fosse towards the north near the gate at the Barrs. Permission is given to Le Mareschal to conduct and discharge at his will the overflow water through the fosse' (CARD Vol. 1, 114). In 1318 the Mayor of Dublin granted John Le Blound; 'a plot of ground near the tower at the Bars, which Philip le Toller held from the citizens at their will' (ibid. 117). In 1462 the Dublin Assembly Roll, granted that; 'the gardeyn that ys on the north side of the yat [gate] of Crokarys barrys [Crokers Bars] be seyst... to the town by autorie of thys semble, and Rogere Penkyston and Thomas Cromall to make a wall of cley [clay] on the west syd of the sayd gardeyn for the defens of the town, and thay to have the sayd gardeyn tyll thay have har costs that thay done on the wall' (CARD Vol. 1, 314). In 1466 the Dublin Assembly Roll recorded that; 'the yate of the Crookerres barres, the wyche is rwynous, that hitt be the firste worke that shalbe made in the saide citte' (ibid. 322). In the same year the Dublin Assembly Roll recorded that; 'as the citte hath done grete cost on the Crokker ys barres and Woder ys heyres haith a titill to the yate [gate], and if hitt be bilded with a towr will entre into hit, a relece be suet fro them, othyr els the towr be made in suche a place that the rent therof may cum to the tresury' (CARD Vol. 1, 324). In 1503 the Dublin Assembly Roll recorded a grant to Thomas Moyr, a merchant, 'the towre over the yate of Crokeres Barres for terme [of] xxxi. yere next folowyng payn therfor yerly xiid. to the citte durying the sad terme, etc.' (CARD Vol. 1, 389). Medieval gate described in the Urban Survey of Dublin City as follows; 'This gate is mentioned in the fiants of Elizabeth I, in 1568, when it was said to be in St James' parish. It presumably stood at the western end of Crocker's Street, which ran along the line of the present Cromer and Marshall Lanes' (Bradley and King 1987, Vol. 1, 56). Compiled by: Geraldine Stout Revised by: Caimin O'Brien Date of revised upload: 28 April 2023