The Back of the Pipes, Dublin
Encyclopedia
The Back of the Pipes is the name of a district in Dublin, Ireland
, located between Dolphin's Barn
and James Street. It takes its name from an important part of the Dublin water supply originally erected in 1245. The name also refers to a nearby stretch of the Grand Canal (now filled in).
. Due to increased growth and development after their arrival it became imperative for the authorities to provide a greatly increased water supply. The monks of the Abbey of St. Thomas
in 1242 diverted part of the River Dodder via a man-made channel to the River Poddle at Balrothery
near Firhouse
. This canal passed through Templeogue
and flowed into the River Tymon, which flowed into the Poddle. The flow was separated at Mount Argus, near Mount Jerome Cemetery
, by a construction known as the Tongue, one third of the flow being allocated to the city cistern. This part of the flow left the Poddle proper and proceeded to St. James Terrace, Dolphin's Barn. It advanced on to James' Walk on the summit of an elevated rampart of earth and stone which became known as the "Back of the Pipes" or the "Ridges", to a cistern near the present Waterworks Headquarters at Marrowbone Lane
.
The ancient records of Dublin city have numerous references concerning the upkeep of these water works. One of the earliest is a request from King Henry III in 1245 for a supply of water for the King's Hall. The lead pipe which carried this supply was uncovered in Castle Street, next to Dublin Castle, in 1787, with an inscription from the 13th century. The rebel followers of Silken Thomas in 1534, according to Hollinshed's Chronicles, "cut the pipes of the conduits whereby (the city) should be destitute of fresh water".
In 1721 the Corporation reconstructed and raised the level of the City Basin at St. James Gate. This was the final stage of the development of the Poddle supply.
and Lourdes Road backed on to the "Pipes". This part of the Grand Canal has been filled in and the Luas
now runs along it. The visitors' centre at Guinness's brewery is a few minutes walk away from the other end of the "Pipes".
The Back of the Pipes was a popular meeting place for courting couples in the 19th century. A place nearby where they would stroll was called the "Stone Sofa", located at St. James Walk.
In Dublin slang "at the back of the pipes" became a response to an enquiry regarding the unknown whereabouts of an object or person.
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...
, located between Dolphin's Barn
Dolphin's Barn
Dolphin's Barn is an inner city suburb of Dublin, Ireland, situated on the Southside of the city in the Dublin 8, and partially in the Dublin 12, postal district. Its name derives from a family named Dolphyn who once owned a storehouse there. Surrounding areas include The Liberties, Inchicore,...
and James Street. It takes its name from an important part of the Dublin water supply originally erected in 1245. The name also refers to a nearby stretch of the Grand Canal (now filled in).
The Watercourse
The main water supply for the city of Dublin prior to the arrival of the Anglo-Normans in the twelfth century was the river PoddleRiver Poddle
The River Poddle , is one of the best known of the more than a hundred watercourses of Dublin. It is the source of the name "Dublin", the city being named after a pool that was once on its course...
. Due to increased growth and development after their arrival it became imperative for the authorities to provide a greatly increased water supply. The monks of the Abbey of St. Thomas
Liberty of Thomas Court and Donore
The Liberty of Thomas Court and Donore was one of several manors, or liberties, that existed in Dublin, Ireland since the arrival of the Anglo-Normans in the 12th century...
in 1242 diverted part of the River Dodder via a man-made channel to the River Poddle at Balrothery
Balrothery
Balrothery is a village located in Fingal, Ireland. The name Balrothery comes from the Irish Baile an Ridire or Baile Ruaderai.The village is located about 2 km south of Balbriggan on the old N1 Dublin Belfast road....
near Firhouse
Firhouse
Firhouse is a small outer suburb of Dublin, in South Dublin County, Ireland, developed from what was historically a rural village. It is located just south of the River Dodder, and is in the postal district of Dublin 24...
. This canal passed through Templeogue
Templeogue
Templeogue is a suburb of southwest Dublin, Ireland. The original Irish name Teach Mealóg refers to a chapel named after Saint Mel that was built there in about 1273....
and flowed into the River Tymon, which flowed into the Poddle. The flow was separated at Mount Argus, near Mount Jerome Cemetery
Mount Jerome Cemetery
Mount Jerome Cemetery is situated in Harold's Cross on the south side of Dublin, Ireland. Since its foundation in 1836, it has witnessed over 300,000 burials...
, by a construction known as the Tongue, one third of the flow being allocated to the city cistern. This part of the flow left the Poddle proper and proceeded to St. James Terrace, Dolphin's Barn. It advanced on to James' Walk on the summit of an elevated rampart of earth and stone which became known as the "Back of the Pipes" or the "Ridges", to a cistern near the present Waterworks Headquarters at Marrowbone Lane
Marrowbone Lane
Marrowbone Lane is a street off Cork Street in Dublin, Ireland. The name is a corruption of St. Mary Le Bone; it was known as Marrowbone Lane as far back as 1743....
.
History
This watercourse supplied the city for four hundred years. It also supplied the mills of the Abbey of St. Thomas at Thomas Court, and was a source of bitter contention between the citizens and the Abbot; the latter eventually agreeing to pay "yerly out of ther myllis without any contradiction, unto the Keper of the watyr of the cittie for the tyme beyng eyght busselis of corn, that ys to say four peckes of whet and four peckes of malt," for the use of the said water-course. In 1555 the Mayor of Dublin was given authority to keep the whole course from the Dodder to Dolphin's Barn. However disputes arose between the city authorities and the Earl of Meath, who controlled the Liberty of St. Thomas, so that in the 18th century it was the joint property of the city and the Earls of Meath.The ancient records of Dublin city have numerous references concerning the upkeep of these water works. One of the earliest is a request from King Henry III in 1245 for a supply of water for the King's Hall. The lead pipe which carried this supply was uncovered in Castle Street, next to Dublin Castle, in 1787, with an inscription from the 13th century. The rebel followers of Silken Thomas in 1534, according to Hollinshed's Chronicles, "cut the pipes of the conduits whereby (the city) should be destitute of fresh water".
In 1721 the Corporation reconstructed and raised the level of the City Basin at St. James Gate. This was the final stage of the development of the Poddle supply.
The locality
The locality contained the Old Leinster Cinema (later the Dublin Ice Rink, now modern apartments) near Reuben Street and Emerald Square. Fatima MansionsFatima Mansions (housing)
Fatima Mansions is an extensive public housing complex located in Rialto, Dublin. In recent years it has undergone a substantial urban renewal programme with the assistance of public and private funding.All existing apartment blocks were demolished to make way for 600 accommodation units,...
and Lourdes Road backed on to the "Pipes". This part of the Grand Canal has been filled in and the Luas
Luas
Luas , also promoted in the development stage as the Dublin Light Rail System, is a tram or light rail system serving Dublin, the first such system in the decades since the closure of the last of the Dublin tramways. In 2007, the system carried 28.4 million passengers, a growth of 10% since...
now runs along it. The visitors' centre at Guinness's brewery is a few minutes walk away from the other end of the "Pipes".
The Back of the Pipes was a popular meeting place for courting couples in the 19th century. A place nearby where they would stroll was called the "Stone Sofa", located at St. James Walk.
In Dublin slang "at the back of the pipes" became a response to an enquiry regarding the unknown whereabouts of an object or person.