Liberty of Thomas Court and Donore facts for kids
The Liberty of Thomas Court and Donore was a special area in Dublin, Ireland. It was like a mini-state with its own rules, even though it was right next to Dublin city. People also called it the Earl of Meath's Liberty.
These "liberties" were old areas that had their own local laws. They were set up when the Anglo-Normans arrived in Ireland in the 1100s. Even when Dublin city grew around them, these liberties kept their own separate legal powers.
At first, this liberty was part of a larger area called Uppercross. But in 1774, it became its own separate area, known as the Barony of Donore. The special rights of the liberty ended in 1840. The barony itself was removed in 1842, and the area became part of Dublin city.
Contents
History of the Liberty
How the Liberty Started
The story of this liberty began in 1177 with the founding of a church. This church was called St. Thomas and was built on what is now Thomas Street. It was founded by William FitzAldelm, a relative of King Henry II.
The church was named after Thomas Becket, who was a saint. He had been killed in his church in England not long before. The church in Dublin became a very rich and powerful monastery. It was home to a group of monks called the Canons of St. Victor.
Changes Over Time
In 1538, King Henry VIII decided to close down many monasteries. This included the Abbey of St. Thomas Court. At that time, the abbey owned a lot of land and buildings. Most of this land was in other parts of Ireland, like Meath and Kildare.
The king gave these lands to different people. Sir William Brabazon, who was an ancestor of the Earl of Meath, received a large part of it. He was given all the abbey's lands and its special rights and powers. This gift was confirmed in 1609 to his son, Sir Edward Brabazon, 1st Baron Ardee.
In 1579, Dublin city tried to claim that the abbey was part of the city's control. However, they lost their case. From then on, the main leader of the liberty was the Earl of Meath.
Where Was the Liberty Located?
The Liberty of Thomas Court and Donore was on the south side of Dublin city. It included the area around St. Luke's and most of the area around St. Catherine's. This meant it covered places like The Coombe, Dublin and Thomas Street.
The liberty was divided into four smaller parts. These were called Upper Coombe, Lower Coombe, Thomas Court, and Pimlico.
Special Rights and Courts
What Were the Privileges?
The abbey, and later the Earl of Meath, had special "privileges." These were like special permissions given by the king. They allowed the abbey to have its own courts of justice. In these courts, they could deal with certain types of crimes, especially those about unpaid debts. The Earl of Meath took over these rights when he gained control of the land.
The Courthouse Building
The main courthouse for the liberty was in a place called Thomas Court Bawn. This was off Thomas Street. For a while in the 1760s, this courthouse was even used as a church. This happened while St. Catherine's Church was being fixed up. Later, it became a Sunday school.
A famous historian named James Whitelaw was in charge of the courthouse in 1809. The building slowly fell apart and was taken down in 1897. All these special rights and courts finally ended in 1840.
How the Liberty Was Run
Who Ran the Liberty?
The Earl of Meath chose the people who ran the liberty. These officers included a seneschal (like a judge or manager), a registrar (who kept records), and a marshal (who helped keep order).
The main courthouse was on Thomas Court Bawn. The gaol, which was the local jail, was located on Marrowbone Lane. In 1760, the courthouse was made nicer to be used as a temporary church. This was while St. Catherine's Church was being rebuilt. Later, a Reverend E Powell started a Sunday school there in 1786.
In 1813, about 10,910 people lived in this special area. There were 4,639 males and 6,271 females.
