Material relating to the a new ‘Master’s House’ for the Drogheda Free School, Laurence Street, Drogheda, Co. Louth.
TitleMaterial relating to the a new ‘Master’s House’ for the Drogheda Free School, Laurence Street, Drogheda, Co. Louth.
Reference0092/024-
Date
[1728]
Creator
Scope and ContentUnsinged and undated front elevation and basement plan for ‘a house for the master of the Drogheda school’ (92/42.1). Also, transverse section of the same building (92/24.2), ‘Bill of scantling for the schoolmaster’s house of Drogheda’ detailing the dimensions of the timber elements of the building(92/24.3), and a map of the school site bounded to the south by ‘St. Laurence street’, to the east by ‘Mr Singleton’s ground’, to the north by a lane and to the west by ‘School Lane’ (92/24.4). The ‘Master’s House’ is shown at the southern end of the site fronting Laurence Street. Behind this is a large garden while the school , school yard, stable yard and stables are grouped towards the back or northern end of the site. The Archive holds a photograph of a copy of this map without the Master’s House (2/70 P1) bearing the inscription ‘Survey’d 21st March 1728 by John McDowell. A copy’
In or just after 1728 Michael Wills produced drawings for the master’s house at Drogheda Grammar School. The school was established by the Erasmus Smith Trust, which itself was established by Royal Charter in 1669 to build schools so that children ‘inhabiting upon any part of [the King’s] lands in Ireland should be brought up in the fear of God… and to speak the English tongue’. Smith, a Cromwellian adventurer, had amassed considerable estates in Ireland and proposed to use the income from these to fund the Trust’s educational work. Aside from Drogheda, the Trust established grammar schools at Galway, Tipperary, and Ennis, and nearly 200 ‘English Schools’ throughout the 32 counties of Ireland.
Wills was active as an architect in Dublin from the 1720s to the 1770s. His proposals for Drogheda – a three storey house with vaulted basement and distinctive high-pitched roof – appear to include accommodation for residential pupils as well as their master. By the time Wills’s building was completed the school was known as Mr Clarke’s Free School, after Samuel Clarke who became headmaster in 1728. The school still survives, but the master’s house, and the neighbouring Singleton House, which had between them accommodated the school until the 1970s, were demolished in July 1989.
In or just after 1728 Michael Wills produced drawings for the master’s house at Drogheda Grammar School. The school was established by the Erasmus Smith Trust, which itself was established by Royal Charter in 1669 to build schools so that children ‘inhabiting upon any part of [the King’s] lands in Ireland should be brought up in the fear of God… and to speak the English tongue’. Smith, a Cromwellian adventurer, had amassed considerable estates in Ireland and proposed to use the income from these to fund the Trust’s educational work. Aside from Drogheda, the Trust established grammar schools at Galway, Tipperary, and Ennis, and nearly 200 ‘English Schools’ throughout the 32 counties of Ireland.
Wills was active as an architect in Dublin from the 1720s to the 1770s. His proposals for Drogheda – a three storey house with vaulted basement and distinctive high-pitched roof – appear to include accommodation for residential pupils as well as their master. By the time Wills’s building was completed the school was known as Mr Clarke’s Free School, after Samuel Clarke who became headmaster in 1728. The school still survives, but the master’s house, and the neighbouring Singleton House, which had between them accommodated the school until the 1970s, were demolished in July 1989.
Extent4 itmes
Physical description92/24.1-2 have been treated by a professional conserevator and widow mounted. 92/24.3-4 have folds and minor tears to edges, and some foxing.
LanguageEnglish
Level of descriptionfonds
