Dublin in the 19th century

The 19th century was a period of great change for Dublin. By 1800 the population of Dublin had risen to around 180,000. To meet the needs of the growing population, fever hospitals were opened in Dublin in 1803 and 1804. The most common fever was typhus, sometimes called gaol fever, because it was so common in prisons.

In the early 19th century several new bridges were built across the River Liffey to improve transportation in Dublin. O’Donovan Rossa bridge was built in 1813; Ha’Penny Bridge (also called Liffey Bridge) opened in 1816 and Kingsbridge opened in 1828. This later had its name changed to Heuston bridge). Queen Victoria bridge, now Rory O’More Bridge was built in 1859. The Royal Canal was opened in 1817.

A column with a statue of Nelson on top was erected in 1808. It was destroyed in the 1960s. In 1855 the fair which had been held each year since the 13th century was stopped. In 1825 St Mary’s Protestant Cathedral was built.

In 1824 a gasworks was built in Dublin and gas was used to light the streets from 1825. The first electric lights in Dublin were switched on in 1881 but electric light was a rare novelty until the early 20th century. In the early 19th century sewers were laid but only in the middle class districts (poor areas could not pay the necessary rates). The sewers were extended in the 1850s, 1860s and 1870s.

The railway reached Dublin in 1834 when a line to Kingsbridge was built. Horse drawn buses began running in Dublin in 1840. They were followed by horse drawn trams in 1872.

From 1838 there were workhouses in Dublin where the destitute were fed and housed. During the potato famine they were overwhelmed by the numbers fleeing starvation in the countryside. Soup kitchens had to be set up in the streets to try and feed them. Although the population of Ireland fell sharply after the famine the population of Dublin actually rose because of the number of starving people fleeing to the city.

In 1853 an industrial exhibition was held in Dublin on Leinster Lawn. The Zoological Gardens opened in Phoenix Park in 1830. Portobello Gardens opened as a park in 1839. A Natural History Museum opened in 1857. The National Gallery of Ireland opened in 1864. The National Museum of Ireland opened in 1890. The Gaiety Theatre opened in 1871. In 1882 a memorial to O’Connell was erected in O’Connell Street.

The Catholic University was founded in 1845. Catholics were allowed to attend Trinity College after 1873 but the Catholic church disapproved of Catholics going there. Glasnevin Catholic cemetery opened in 1832. In 1892 a new fruit and vegetable market opened and in 1897 a new fish market opened.

March 12th, 2008 admin
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