Deanery of St Patrick
Encyclopedia
The Deanary of St. Patrick was one of several manors
, or liberties, that existed in Dublin, Ireland
since the arrival of the Anglo-Normans in the 12th century. They were town lands united to the city, but still preserving their own jurisdiction. The Lord of the Manor
was the Dean and Chapter of St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin
. In the 19th century it was the smallest of the liberties of Dublin.
, established the church that became St. Patrick's Cathedral
, he bestowed upon the church a plot of ground surrounding it to the extent of about five and a half acres, which formed the liberty of the Dean of St. Patrick's. His jurisdiction was recognized many times in Acts of Parliament and Letters Patent, and was considerable in its powers. Not only did the privilege of sanctuary prevail here, but the goods as well as the persons of law-breakers were secure within the Dean's Liberty, which was independent of the Archbishop as well as of the Sheriff of the county.
By 1800 the manor was inhabited by some of the poorest people in the city, and the court of the manor has been discontinued. The only advantage its poor inhabitants possessed was that they were exempt from the jurisdiction of other courts, so they could elude the clutches of the bailiff by flying for refuge to the confines of their own manor.
These rights and privileges ended in 1840.
, registrar and marshal
, who were appointed by the Dean and Chapter of St. Patrick's.
In 1813 the population of this manor was 981 males and 1,265 females.
Manorialism
Manorialism, an essential element of feudal society, was the organizing principle of rural economy that originated in the villa system of the Late Roman Empire, was widely practiced in medieval western and parts of central Europe, and was slowly replaced by the advent of a money-based market...
, or liberties, that existed in Dublin, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
since the arrival of the Anglo-Normans in the 12th century. They were town lands united to the city, but still preserving their own jurisdiction. The Lord of the Manor
Lord of the Manor
The Lordship of a Manor is recognised today in England and Wales as a form of property and one of three elements of a manor that may exist separately or be combined and may be held in moieties...
was the Dean and Chapter of St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin
St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin
Saint Patrick's Cathedral , or more formally, the Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St Patrick is a cathedral of the Church of Ireland in Dublin, Ireland which was founded in 1191. The Church has designated it as The National Cathedral of Ireland...
. In the 19th century it was the smallest of the liberties of Dublin.
History
When the first Anglo-Norman Archbishop of Dubin, John ComynJohn Comyn (archbishop)
John Comyn , born in England, was Archbishop of Dublin, Ireland.-Life:He was chaplain to King Henry II of England and on his "urgent" recommendation was elected Archbishop of Dublin following the death of St...
, established the church that became St. Patrick's Cathedral
St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin
Saint Patrick's Cathedral , or more formally, the Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St Patrick is a cathedral of the Church of Ireland in Dublin, Ireland which was founded in 1191. The Church has designated it as The National Cathedral of Ireland...
, he bestowed upon the church a plot of ground surrounding it to the extent of about five and a half acres, which formed the liberty of the Dean of St. Patrick's. His jurisdiction was recognized many times in Acts of Parliament and Letters Patent, and was considerable in its powers. Not only did the privilege of sanctuary prevail here, but the goods as well as the persons of law-breakers were secure within the Dean's Liberty, which was independent of the Archbishop as well as of the Sheriff of the county.
By 1800 the manor was inhabited by some of the poorest people in the city, and the court of the manor has been discontinued. The only advantage its poor inhabitants possessed was that they were exempt from the jurisdiction of other courts, so they could elude the clutches of the bailiff by flying for refuge to the confines of their own manor.
Location
The manor consisted of only a few streets in the neighbourhood of St. Patrick's Cathedral. It was surrounded by the manors of St. Sepulchre and Thomas Court. The area covered today by St. Patrick's Park was part of the liberty, and in former times had been reserved for the use of various Cathedral officials. But from the beginning of the 19th century it was occupied by miserable tenement houses, and was reckoned one of the poorest districts in the city of Dublin.Privileges
In return for the support of the Lord of the Manor, or to alleviate certain hardships suffered by Englishmen or the church in Ireland, privileges were granted to the manor. These allowed the manor to have its own courts of justice, where they were allowed to try a limited number of crimes, mainly dealing with bad debts.These rights and privileges ended in 1840.
Administration
The officers of the manor consisted of a seneschalSeneschal
A seneschal was an officer in the houses of important nobles in the Middle Ages. In the French administrative system of the Middle Ages, the sénéchal was also a royal officer in charge of justice and control of the administration in southern provinces, equivalent to the northern French bailli...
, registrar and marshal
Marshal
Marshal , is a word used in several official titles of various branches of society. The word is an ancient loan word from Old French, cf...
, who were appointed by the Dean and Chapter of St. Patrick's.
In 1813 the population of this manor was 981 males and 1,265 females.