House of Industry (Dublin)
Encyclopedia
A House of Industry was established in Dublin by an act of parliament in 1703 for the removal from the streets of objectionable objects such as the destitute and vagabonds. It was located at the present site of St. James's Hospital
, James's Street, and included 14 acres (56,656 m²) of land. The upkeep of this institution was paid for through a taxes levied on sedan chairs and hackney coaches and a property tax applied throughout the city.
In 1729 the House of Industry became a foundling hospital.
Another House of Industry was founed in 1773 in Channel Row, or modern day North Brunswick Street, on the north side of the city.
In 1796 it accommodated more than 1,700 people. Following an Act of the Irish Parliament
, responsibility for its management was assumed by seven 'governors', elected annually by, and out of, the members of Dublin Corporation
. At about this time, a number of mechanical innovations by Benjamin Thompson
were incorporated into the building for improved ventilation, cooking and heating.
This building was later used as the Foundling Hospital
following the construction of a new adjacent Poorhouse. Described as 'the Dublin Poor House', it was visited by the French political theorist, Alexis de Tocqueville
in 1835, during his investigative tour of Ireland. Tocqueville described the conditions of the inmates there as 'the most hideous and disgusting aspect of destitution'. The food provided was soup rendered from left-overs collected in a wheelbarrow from the wealthy.
With the passage of the Irish Poor Law in 1838, the House of Industry on James's Street became the South Dublin Union and the one on Channel Row became the North Dublin Union.
St. James's Hospital
St. James's Hospital , also known as SJH, is the largest university teaching hospital in Dublin, Ireland. Its academic partner is the University of Dublin...
, James's Street, and included 14 acres (56,656 m²) of land. The upkeep of this institution was paid for through a taxes levied on sedan chairs and hackney coaches and a property tax applied throughout the city.
In 1729 the House of Industry became a foundling hospital.
Another House of Industry was founed in 1773 in Channel Row, or modern day North Brunswick Street, on the north side of the city.
In 1796 it accommodated more than 1,700 people. Following an Act of the Irish Parliament
Parliament of Ireland
The Parliament of Ireland was a legislature that existed in Dublin from 1297 until 1800. In its early mediaeval period during the Lordship of Ireland it consisted of either two or three chambers: the House of Commons, elected by a very restricted suffrage, the House of Lords in which the lords...
, responsibility for its management was assumed by seven 'governors', elected annually by, and out of, the members of Dublin Corporation
Dublin Corporation
Dublin Corporation , known by generations of Dubliners simply as The Corpo, is the former name given to the city government and its administrative organisation in Dublin between 1661 and 1 January 2002...
. At about this time, a number of mechanical innovations by Benjamin Thompson
Benjamin Thompson
Sir Benjamin Thompson, Count Rumford , FRS was an American-born British physicist and inventor whose challenges to established physical theory were part of the 19th century revolution in thermodynamics. He also served as a Lieutenant-Colonel in the Loyalist forces in America during the American...
were incorporated into the building for improved ventilation, cooking and heating.
Observations of Thomas Bernard 1799 p156
It is to be observed, that this institution differs very materially from any poorhouse, or other institution, in Great Britain, both in its object, its government, and its resources. In Ireland there are no poor laws, or local taxes, for the support of the poor. This institution was provided for the purpose of providing employment, and for the maintenance of the poor of Dublin, and for the punishment of the vagrants and beggars who infested the streets of that city.
This building was later used as the Foundling Hospital
Foundling Hospital
The Foundling Hospital in London, England was founded in 1741 by the philanthropic sea captain Thomas Coram. It was a children's home established for the "education and maintenance of exposed and deserted young children." The word "hospital" was used in a more general sense than it is today, simply...
following the construction of a new adjacent Poorhouse. Described as 'the Dublin Poor House', it was visited by the French political theorist, Alexis de Tocqueville
Alexis de Tocqueville
Alexis-Charles-Henri Clérel de Tocqueville was a French political thinker and historian best known for his Democracy in America and The Old Regime and the Revolution . In both of these works, he explored the effects of the rising equality of social conditions on the individual and the state in...
in 1835, during his investigative tour of Ireland. Tocqueville described the conditions of the inmates there as 'the most hideous and disgusting aspect of destitution'. The food provided was soup rendered from left-overs collected in a wheelbarrow from the wealthy.
With the passage of the Irish Poor Law in 1838, the House of Industry on James's Street became the South Dublin Union and the one on Channel Row became the North Dublin Union.
Sources
- Chapter X from Life in old Dublin by James Collins 1913