![[Cat crossing archway, Marshalsea Barracks, Dublin]](/IIIF/000050000/000049272/vtls000049272_001.jp2/full/800,/0/default.jpg)
[Cat crossing archway, Marshalsea Barracks, Dublin]
[graphic]
| In collection: | The Wiltshire Photographic Collection |
|---|---|
| Format: | Photo |
| Published / Created: |
1969
|
| Subjects: | |
| Notes: | Additional information about this photograph is available on the National Library of Ireland's Flickr Commons photostream http://www.flickr.com/photos/nlireland/8674872910 Physical description: 1 photographic negative film 6 x 6 cm. more |
Very atmospheric photo altogether taken by Elinor Wiltshire at Dublin's Marshalsea Barracks.
Because of Little Dorrit, Marshalsea conjures up the idea of a debtors' prison for me. Is that what it originally was, does anyone know, even if it was an ex-Barracks by the time this was taken in 1969?
Photographer: Elinor Wiltshire
Date: 1969
NLI Ref.: WIL 59[7]
Tags:
Cat, Marshalsea Barracks, Dublin, Ireland, Leinster, Archway, Gutters, Block E, Derelict, Galvanised Metal, 1969, 1960s, Sixties, Barracks, The Marshalsea, Debtors' Prison, Bridgefoot Street, Bonham Street, Marshalsea, National Library of Ireland, Wiltshire Photographic Collection, Elinor Wiltshire, Elinor O'Brien Wiltshire, 20th Century
Comments
mogey
Looks a ghastly place....very Dickensian as you say, Carol
Posted: 23.04.2013
DannyM8
A cat?
Posted: 23.04.2013
National Library of Ireland on The Commons
@mogey Oooh, thanks! Have to run now, but will have a proper read of that later. Huzzah for @archiseek/!
Posted: 23.04.2013
ccferrie
from Archiseek: "Robert Emmet used the Marshalsea as an arsenal" - the area is now called Robert Emmet Close
Posted: 23.04.2013
FrigateRN
That just can't be any old cat, it is someone's familiar!
Posted: 23.04.2013
National Library of Ireland on The Commons
@alimarante Or it could be the ghost of this poor feline (albeit with lameness in the left fore paw miraculously cured) still stalking the streets of the North inner city...
Posted: 23.04.2013
ninakuriloff
I like this photograph a lot!
Posted: 23.04.2013
oaktree_brian_1976
Ye olde debtor's prison, "From at least the 14th century until it closed in 1842, it housed a wide variety of prisoners, including men under court martial for crimes at sea and "unnatural crimes," and well-known intellectuals and political figures accused of sedition. It became most closely associated with imprisoning London's debtors, the length of their stay determined largely by the whim of their creditors." Apparently a Mr. Dickens knew the place, his father was there for a while.
Posted: 24.04.2013
DannyM8
Some other photos on Flickr
@aworthycause/4746913154/in/photostream/
@10938211@N03/6163427515/
@aworthycause/4746280777/
Posted: 24.04.2013
MKSeery
In 1776, the Lord Mayor and Sheriffs "fined the butchers in the New Market for causing obstruction; the fine consisted of joints of beef, which the mayor then sent to the
City Marshalsea to be enjoyed by the debtors." (Dublin in 1776, JG Simms)
So not all bad!
Posted: 25.04.2013
John Spooner
Mansion of Misery
A letter to Freeman's published July 25 1820 begins:
MY LORDS AND GENTLEMAN - I beg leave to draw your attention to the filthy and wretched approaches leading to the Four-court Marshalsea. There are three avenues to that mansion of misery; that which is most used is the one leading from Thomas-street, which is scarcely nine feet wide, and from its confined situation, is the constant receptacle of dirt and night soil of the most offensive description. It is a melancholy spectacle to see females of respectability passing through such a place, in order to pay the necessary attention to their fathers, husbands, or brothers, most of whom had seen better days, but who, from the pressure of the times, have become inmates of the "Prison House."
Posted: 25.04.2013
MKSeery
Mansion of Misery! Great title.
Posted: 25.04.2013
John Spooner
A December 31 1841 article in Freeman's entitled 'Dublin Prisons' lists both the City of Dublin Marshalsea and the Four Courts Marshalsea, both debtors prisons. Which one is this?
Posted: 25.04.2013
John Spooner
Joshua Jacob and Mr Mulligan, the tumbler - a scene at the Four-Courts Marshalsea .
Well worth the read, even if it might not be the right Dublin Marshalsea. Especially recommended for all merryandrews.
Warning: contains mountebanks, "deluding vagabonds" and attempted assault with a wooden spoon
Much as I admire his writing and enjoy (some of) his novels, even Dickens never came up with anything as good as this.
Posted: 25.04.2013
tame scarf
Great shot :-)
Posted: 25.04.2013
John Spooner
Imprisonment for debt was done away with in 1874/5, and prisoners were removed from both Dublin Marshalseas were in that year. Pauper debtors were transferred to Kilmainham.
By February 1877 there are reports of recruits assembing at Marshalsea Barracks.
Posted: 25.04.2013
National Library of Ireland on The Commons
@johnspooner @39393844@N04 With apologies to the Freeman's Journal, but I'm completely stealing Mansion of Misery as a new title for this photo!
Posted: 25.04.2013
National Library of Ireland on The Commons
@johnspooner Will in future be shaking my wooden spoon menacingly in the air rather than my fist when I am displeased! As you say, better than Dickens...
Posted: 25.04.2013
John Spooner
@nlireland I think that tomorrow I shall wear a spangled waistcoat and filthy inexpressibles of Russia duck. (OED Russia duck n. now hist. a strong linen duck)
Posted: 25.04.2013
Yose Rizal (rizalflex)
mystical moment!, nice photo selection.
Posted: 27.04.2013
excellentzebu1050
Beautiful picture !!!
Posted: 02.05.2013
Architecture of Dublin
[https://www.flickr.com/photos/dublincitypubliclibraries/51666460728/in/gallery-186395973@N06-72157720331132381/]
Posted: 06.07.2023
