The Liminal Situation of Mrs. Elizabeth Fagan; Developer of Dublin’s Eighteenth-century Coastal Housing Estates

Finola O’Kane,School of Architecture, Planning & Environmental Policy, UCD

Women and the Sea Conference26.9.2015

Patrick Roe, ‘A Map of Baggotrath, Mt. Merrion, Booterstown….the Estate of Lord Viscount Fitzwilliam’, 1774

William Duncan’s 1812 map overlaid with the Jonathan Barker’s 1762 Fitzwilliam estate map

Jonathan Barker, ‘An Abstract of the Estate of Lord Viscount Fitzwilliam’, 1762

Jonathan Barker, ‘An Abstract of the Estate of Lord Viscount Fitzwilliam’, 1762

The Cittizens of Dublin, have ... taken a Humour/I cant tell how long It may hold/To visite Irishtowne, and for this Season, all the little Cabbins, are hired by Lodgers, to have the Advantage of Bathing in the Salt Water .... This Place will Rise/ if encouraged/ and in some measure make Amends, for the Ruins att Ringsend, The Sea broke In, last Winter, pressd by a Violent Storm, I resolved to run out a rampart, for the Protection of the Place, on my View thereof, behold a Proposal comes to me, to take the whole Sand Banke on a Building Lease. If ye Lordsp remembers, the place, it's where the Rope Walke now subsists ....I go this same morning to measure the same, and lay out the ground with stakes .... On this advance, or Proposal, I droppd my Thoughts of a Rampart and tosse the Expence on this Projector

Aug. 27, 1747, Richard Mathew to Lord Fitzwilliam

We have other bargains in View, and we are endeavouring to rise our price. Where I intended building we have agreed for 50 feet at seven shillings; but to say the truth I think we are Jews. No matter. I'll get as much as I can. What a fine rise yr Estate will have. Tis the luckiest thing in the world for you that I am here to catch at and conclude bargains while People are in the Mind, & not give them time to cool or reflect. I think the present building madness can never hold; but however to keep it up for our own sakes as long as possible, I think I have hit on what will be an Inducement; I'll mention it to you, and desire your directions. My proposal is; that you will lower the fines on the Brickmakers

William Fitzwilliam, Dublin to his brother the Rt. Hon. Viscount Fitzwilliam, Jermyn St., St James, 28 Sept., 1752

A Plan of Merrion Street and the Adjacent Neighbourhood, Jonathan Barker 1762

Bryan Fagan: 'Tennant to yr Lordp for Morgan Byrnes late holding neare the Castle of Old Merryon' where Richard Mathews made him 'obliged on agreement to Expende the Sum of One hundred Pounds on a house, and walling, he alreddy has Expended the same, but being a Roman he could not take a longer Term than 21 years'.

Richard Mathew to Lord [Fitzwilliam], Dec. 24, 1737

Mr William told me very lately, yr Lordp Intends, for this Place, sooner then I expected, and the bringing over a Coach, and horses, and spoke, of takeing Lodgeings, Coach house, Stable &c.; I dare say yr Lordsp does not Choose, to be lesse Convenient, and att greater expence, besides, an additional nombre of servants, which certainly will more or lesse Invade yr quiet and ease; And equal to the above Inventory of Disquiets, on takeing Lodgeings in a strange house, you will be invaded, by a nombre of Impertinent Petitioners. If you resort to Fagan, he will defend yr Lordsp and save you a Multitude of words, besides the expence of Freight for Coach, and Horses, a smart Duty, on the Import, and the same Trouble, on return

97/46 /1 /2/5/72, Dec. 2nd, 1749, Bryan Fagan to Lord Fitzwilliam

97/46/1/2/7/65 Dublin Oct. 25th, 1755,' I saw Judge French ....intends going to see your lodge as you call it near the Black Rock; so I must tell you tho' I diminished yr plan, tis still rather a Palace, than anything else: I am actually ashamed of it, & think I must find out some scheme, to get it off your hands to advantage. Tis much too grand for the design'd use'