Garter Lane and the Quakers

Extract taken from Views from the Brasscock by Joe Falvey, published in the Munster Express on the 15th May 2009.

This week we return to our local tourist trail of discovery under the expert guidance of the esteemed and distinguished director of the self same Waterford Treasures. This time we are just popping down O’Connell Street to yet another historic gem of a building which in recent times has housed Garter Lane. This is accessed through an 18th century archway which leads to a small courtyard area. Here we find a fine building that was originally built as a Quaker Meeting House in 1792. The entrance gives no idea at all of the size of the 18th century building behind. Its size gives ample testimony to the size and wealth of the Quaker community then in Waterford.

Economic Contribution

It was in this newly developed area outside the old medieval city, and in streets like King Street (now called O’Connell Street) and Hanover Street, where most of the Quaker merchants of Waterford had their homes and business premises. Names like Penrose and Gatchell, both of glass-making fame, Jacob of biscuit fame - it was in Waterford that Jacob produced the first cream cracker as ship’s biscuit and White the ship -builders were all to be found here. The name of Grubb still features trading on this street. The building which housed original home of the Jacob founding brother is still in daily use as a business premises.

In total the Quakers made up just 2 percent of the city’s population but their economic contribution proved enormous and thus far outweighed their small number. Streets in this Quaker quarter still echo their presence and their metiers: Glasshouse Lane, Penrose Lane, Dyehouse Lane and of course, Meeting House Lane. A Penrose flint glass decanter, crafted in the nearby works, dating from 1790 is on display among the Waterford Treasures in the Granary. We have not even mentioned the towering influence of the Malcolmson family, some descendents of whom are still giving service to their community today. Remembered too is their great contribution in this city of life-saving sustenance to the poor and hungry during the terrible famine of the late 1840’s which the members of the Quaker community both financed and operated.

Interestingly, the previous Meeting House had been in the Manor Street area established in the late 17th century - to the rear of this was the original Quaker cemetery. This old and venerable grounded was granted to the City Corporation back in the middle of the last century - in recent times and belatedly was developed as Wyse Park - a civic amenity space. I say interestingly because before the move to King/O’Connell Street area the previous meeting house stood at the centre of then trading focus of the previous Quaker community with their tanning, milling and weaving activities.

New Spaces and Faces

After nearly two hundred years in O’Connell the Quaker community acquired a site from Newtown School and built a fine new meeting house to an interest modern tri-part design in the early 70’s which has been giving good service for nearly 40 years now to its community up Newtown way. But the old building too has continued to serve as a thriving centre of the Arts. Before that it served as a court house while the main one was refurbished - I remember the general election count of ‘82 being held in its large meeting room with a dramatic re-count that went into the early hours ach sin sceal eile, as they say.

The meeting house building now called Garter Lane Arts Centre is in many ways the centre of artistic and cultural life in Waterford ( The Granary/Waterford Treasures is a rich addition to the repertoire). The acquisition by the City Council and the subsequent conversion of this building two centuries after it was built to an arts centre has had a tremendous spin-off in theatre, dance music, youth drama and a visual arts programme for the city. The founding of Red Kettle which in turn flowed from the Arts for All movement inspired the need and subsequent provision of this wonderful arts facility of Garter Lane - one of the good things that flowed from the last recession!

The Corporation of the day deserve great credit for their far-seeing and imaginative development of this building. I have no doubt but that the Quaker community who owned and worshipped here for nearly two centuries would have heartily approved. The name by the way comes from a famous, or should I say, infamous lane that once stood in the present-day John Robert’s Square, one of many removed by the Wide Street Commission during the mid-nineteenth century. Remember the triangular area there which became a small car-park in the pre -Red Square days, well a block of tenement houses occupied that space. The original Garter Lane, as it was quickly dubbed, ran along here between Supermacs and MacDonald’s restaurants - even then a place for hanging out. But historically it was the ‘ladies of the night’ sporting their alluring garters that did the hanging out - nuff said! Plus la change…

Jim Daly

I dedicate this column today about Garter Lane to our good and dear friend, the late Jim Daly for his work here was very much a labour of love and so lit our lives and imaginations with his artistry. His wonderful wife Bernie has also played a vital role in the world of Waterford theatre and long may she do so.

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Photo's of times Past: Ballybricken Fair c1880

One of the earliest references to the existence of a market on Ballybricken was in 1680 when the Market House outside Saint Patrick's Gate was mentioned. Over a long period Ballybricken was the centre of the pig and bacon industry for which Waterford was famous. As early as 1831 there were twice weekly pig markets held on the Green.

The development of farming and the extension of the railways in the second half of the 19th century led to a system of monthly fairs being introduced. In 1853 there were three fairs held during the year in Ballybricken, the first on the 4th of May, the second on the Feast of St. John the Baptist on 24th June and the third, the onion fair, on 25th of October.

Shadows of the Past a photographic stroll through old Waterford began as an exhibition mounted by Waterford Civic Trust as part of the Tall Ships Festival in Waterford City during July 2005. The tremendous success of the Tall Ships for the city was mirrored in the success of the exhibition. The huge public response to these photographs prompted the Trust to publish Shadows of the Past.

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Tipperary: The golden vale of the Suir

Tipperary is the largest inland county in Ireland and its name comes from the Gaelic Tiobraid Arann, meaning well of Era. Tipperary was controlled by the Kings of Munster until the ascension of Brian Boru. The county remained predominately free from Viking exploitation, and the coming of the Anglo-Normans saw Tipperary placed in the protective custody ofthe Butlers until the forces of Oliver Cromwell ravaged Ireland.

South Tipperary is an administrative county in Ireland, consisting of 52% of the land area of the historical county of Tipperary. South Tipperary was established in 1898, and has had a county council ever since, with separate assize courts since 1838. The county seat is Clonmel; other important urban centres include Carrick-on-Suir, Cashel, Cahir, and Tipperary.

Although local people's identification is generally with the historic (and sporting) county, nevertheless North and South Tipperarry are run as two completely separate counties, in different government regions, for all administrative purposes. The different regions refer to the fact that South Tipperary County is legally defined as being in the southeast' and falls under the control of that regional authority, while North Tipperary County is regarded as being in the midwest.

The Golden Vale of Tipperary, famed for its fertility, stretches from Fcthard westward by Cashel and Tipperary town to Kilmallock. Except for Lough Derg on the Shannon, which flows along the north-western edge of the county, lakes are almost absent. The county is drained by tributaries of the Shannon in the north and by the Suir in the centre and south.

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Waterford Watercolours: Presentation Convent

The Presentation nuns established their first school in Waterford in 1798, and moved to their present convent in 1848. It was designed by the famous Victorian architect Augustus Welby Pugin, and has been described as one of his most convincing works on account of its good proportion, solid construction, and contrast between the rich brown stone of the main walls and the cool grey of the dressings.

This painting is part of a collection of watercolours of Waterford by local artist John O'Regan, commissioned by Waterford Civic Trust and sponsored by local bodies and companies. This particular painting was sponsored by the I.D.A.

The watercolours were published in a diary for 1992,'93 and '94 after which they were donated to the municipal art collection of Waterford City Council.

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Wexford origins: The lake of Garman

In a country steeped in myth and legend Wexford's history is no exception. A story tells of its origin in the mists of time, when Garman Garbh was drowned on the mudflats by waters released by an Enchantress. The vast expanse of harbour thus created was named "The lake of Garman" or Loch Garman, the Gaelic name for Wexford.

The origins of Wexford as a centre for trade can be traced back to Celtic tribes who moved westward across Europe who were initially attracted to the county because of its natural harbour on Ireland's south east coast.

The Norsemen are accredited with introducing towns to Ireland, and Wexford was among the first, dating back to the early 900's. From marauding warriors, the Vikings became citizens and traders of early Wexford and their legacy includes the narrow winding streets and town name including Wexford itself, derived from the Norse, Weissfiord - inlet of the mudflats.

In the Spring of 1169, the then prosperous town was taken by an invading force of Norman knights, who over the following centuries enclosed the town and regulated trade.

The 1600's brought suffering. Wexford became a chief naval base for the Confederate Government in its war with the Parliament Forces and this led to a massacre in 1649, when Wexford fell to the army of Oliver Cromwell. Following this disaster, the town was relatively calm for over a century, but in the hot Summer of 1798, it exploded once more onto the stage of Irish history. In that year of insurrection, many of the woes of previous decades came to the surface, with violent results on both sides.

For more info about Wexford and its history log on to wexfordweb.ie.

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