Outlined — Unknown Townland

The present Augustinian friary of St John the Baptist and the buildings of John's Lane Distillery occupies the site of the 12th century friary and hospital (Fratres Cruciferi/Crutched Friars) which was situated outside the Newgate [DU018-020377-] on the N side of Thomas Street (Gwynn & Hadcock 1970, 212; Bradley and King 1987, 147-8). According to Clarke (2002, 28) St John the Baptist's Hospital (Fratres Cruciferi) was established in 1174 on land 'aside for hospital for males and females'. McNeill (1925, 58) stated that the hospital had been, 'established and at work for some time before 1188, when it received formal confirmation and substantial privileges from Pope Clement III'. The hospital was founded by; 'Ailred the Palmer, of whom Ware states that he was an Ostman, one of the Norse citizens of Dublin before the Anglo Normans seized the city. His wife also was a native of Dublin, and inherited a burgage within the walls. Their residence, how ever, was outside the West Gate, afterwards known as the New Gate, and was on the northern side of the road leading to Kilmainham. On their curtilage without the West Gate they constructed at their own expense a double hospital and religious house for men and for women. They themselves took monastic vows and gathered about them a number of fellow-workers under the same obligation. On this establishment they bestowed all their lands and goods, and they obtained from their over-lords, Milo le Bret, for Tech Guaire, Stahgori or Palmerstown by Chapelizod, and Richard de Stotesden, Chamberlain of Hugh de Lacy, for Glenn Uisce or Palmerstown in Fingall, releases of their superior rights by way of grants in frankalmoign to the new Hospital; the King of England, as supreme feudal lord, made the same grant, and thus appears as an original founder. It was separately organised to be a house of Canons Regular of S. Augustine, though afterwards it adopted the rule of the Cruciferi, Cross-bearing Crouched Friars' (ibid.). The siting of the hospital was described by McNeil (1925, 59) as follows; 'the site of the new hospital appears to have been at that time very suitable for its purpose. On the east it was bounded by the city wall and ditch, on the south by S. Thomas Street, always a wide thoroughfare and market-place outside the walls, on west mostly by open fields, and on the north by the potters' quarter, the Vicus figulorum of Latin deeds, in daily use called Crockers' Street or Crockers' Lane [Mullinahack]'. The parish boundaries between 'S. Audoen's and S. James's running from the now Cornmarket northerly direction for about 500 feet, then turning at a right and running west; these two lines with S. Thomas Street give the eastern, northern and southern limits of S. John's House; the western boundary is confused by buildings, rebuildings and alterations. Down to 1748 the site remained undivided in the possession of the family which had bought it from the Crown in Edward VI's reign. It came then to be sold as an encumbered estate by the Court of Chancery, and was advertised as "the Cite, Ambit and Precinct of the late dissolved Hospital, Priory or Religious House of St. John the Baptist, situate, lying and being without Newgate, in the County of the City of Dublin, bounded on the north to Crokers Lane, bounding on Captain Molyneux his Malt House, containing about five Hundred Feet in length; on the south to the King's Pavement in St. Thomas Street, containing four Hundred Feet or thereabouts, and on the west to Mr. Pearson's Buildings, containing seven Hundred Feet or thereabouts. Within these bounds the area is something over four statute acres. The tower of the church stood until about the year 1800, and was then pulled down. Thus vanished the last visible memorial of one of the earliest charities in the City of Dublin devoted to the relief of the poor and suffering. The site is now in a great part covered by the buildings of John's Lane Distillery and partly occupied by the Church and Monastery of SS. Augustine and John belonging to the Order of Augustinian Hermits'. In 1400 papal indulgences were granted to 'penitents who from the first to the second vespers of, and during the two days which follow, either of the two feasts of the Nativity and Beheading of St. John Baptist, visit and give alms for the conservation of the church, and for the sustentation of the poor, of the poor hospital of St, John Baptist, called a priory, outside the new gate of Dublin, of the order of Crouched Friars, under the rule of St. Augustine; with indult for the master, called prior, and four other priests, secular or religious, deputed yearly by him, to hear the confessions' (Cal. papal letters, Vol. 5, 303). Described in the Urban Survey of Dublin City as; 'This priory and hospital, known as "Palmer's hospital", was situated outside the New Gate. It was founded by Ailred the Palmer between 1185 and 1188. Both Ailred and his wife took monastic vows together with a number of fellow workers, who became brother and sisters. The hospital was for the poor and infirm. The sisters appear to have looked after the sick and it is clear from the register of the hospital that they had a say in its management (Brooks 1936). In 1308, John Decer, mayor of Dublin, built a chapel of St Mary in the hospital but in 1316 the church of St John and the chapel of St Magdalen were burnt down when the citizens set fire to the Thomas Street suburbs, on the approach of Bruce's army. According to Ware, 155 sick and poor were sustained apart from chaplains and brethern, in the reign of Edward III (1327-77). The hospital was dissolved in 1539 after which the church was demolished and its materials granted to William Brabazon under Treasurer of Ireland. The monastery was granted to Maurice , Earl of Thomond in 1544 and to James Sedgrave in 1552 when it still had a house with fifty beds for sickmen (Gwynn & Hadcock 1970, 212). The site is now occupied by the Augustinian friary of St John' (Bradley and King 1987, vol. 2, 147-8). Saint John's House was in possession of the watercourse (DU018-020374-/0739-) located to the W and N of the religious house which is depicted on Speed's 1610 map of Dublin City. In 1457 the Dublin Assembly Roll recorded the granting to Saint John's House 'the cowrs [course] of the watyr, lyke as they had of old tyme, beryng therfor yerly xl.s.; and they to bryn har dede by the post semble. And yf thay wold noght pay the sayden xl.s., that then John [Staines plummer] shall have the sayd water for the terme of xl. wyntyr' (CARD Vol. 1, 295-6). A year later in 1458 the Dublin White Book recorded a leasing agreement between the Mayor of Dublin and and the Prior and brethren of the house of the Hospital of Saint John the Baptist which related to the watercourse and watermills (DU018-020226-/0096-/230-) of St. John's. The conditions of the 40 yeare lease recorded the following conditions that; 'the Prior and his brethren the running water and its course from the small house called le watyrhouse, near Crokkers Barres [Gate], passing through the King's street called Saint Thomas strete and by the house of St. John the Baptist so far as the water-mill [DU018-020226-/0096-/230-] of that Hospital. The Prior and brethren may construct a fosse, from their mill [Mullinahack?] near their cemetery of the Hospital so far as the city ditch, on the south side of the bridge of Gormones [Ormonds] gate [DU018-020029-], and the water is to have free course to the Aniliffy [Liffey]. The Mayor and commonalty are, as of old, to be supervisors and of the water, to have right to easements such as washing and wringing, and to ensure that nothing noxious nor obstructive shall be cast into it. The Mayor and commonalty may also, in time of need, divert the water to fill the city ditch. Annual rent, forty shillings of silver' (CARD, Vol. 1, 171). In 1536 the Mayor and citizens of Dublin City petitioned the king; 'to graunt unto them the possessyons of the