The Back of the Pipes, Dublin facts for kids
The Back of the Pipes was the name of a special lane in Dublin 8, Ireland. It was located between two places called Dolphin's Barn and James's Walk. This lane used to be part of a branch of the Grand Canal. It helped carry water to the Dublin city basin, which was a big water storage area.
The lane ran behind the gardens of houses on Rubens Street, starting near the Leinster Cinema. It continued past the back of Fatima Mansions and other houses. It even went past a spot called the "stone sofa" before ending at James's Walk. This path got its name because it was an important part of Dublin's water supply system, which started way back in 1245.
Dublin's Ancient Water Supply
Before the Normans arrived in the 1100s, Dublin mostly got its water from the River Poddle. The bigger River Liffey had salty water near the city, so it wasn't good for drinking. As Dublin grew, people needed a lot more fresh water.
Around 1242, some monks from the Abbey of St. Thomas helped out. They dug a channel to move water from the River Dodder near Firhouse to the River Poddle in Kimmage. This new channel flowed through Templeogue and joined another small river, forming the Poddle.
Near Mount Jerome Cemetery, the water flow was split at a place called "the Tongue." One-third of this water went to the city's main water tank, or cistern. This part of the water left the Poddle and traveled to Dolphin's Barn. It then continued along a raised path of earth and stone to James's Walk. This raised path was known as "The Back of the Pipes" or "the Ridges." It led to a large water tank near where the Waterworks Headquarters is today at Marrowbone Lane.
History of the Watercourse
This special water system supplied Dublin with water for over 500 years! It also provided water for the mills owned by the Abbey of St. Thomas. Sometimes, there were arguments between the city people and the Abbot (the head of the Abbey) about who could use the water. Eventually, the Abbot agreed to give the city some corn each year for using the water.
In 1555, the Mayor of Dublin was put in charge of keeping the whole water path clean and working. However, more arguments happened between the city and the Earl of Meath, who controlled the area around the Abbey. By the 1700s, the water system was owned jointly by the city and the Earls of Meath.
Old city records show many notes about fixing and maintaining these water pipes. One of the earliest notes is from King Henry III in 1245. He asked for water for his royal hall. In 1787, a lead pipe from the 1200s was found in Castle Street, near Dublin Castle. It even had an old message carved into it!
In 1534, a rebel group led by Silken Thomas caused trouble. They "cut the pipes" that carried water to the city, trying to stop the water supply. In 1721, the city rebuilt and raised the level of the City Basin, making the Poddle water supply even better.
Today, the lane itself has mostly been built over by nearby properties. But you can still see parts of the raised path at the back of some gardens where the lane used to be.
The Local Area Today
The area around The Back of the Pipes has changed a lot. The Old Leinster Cinema, which was once an ice rink, is now modern apartments. Fatima Mansions and Lourdes Road used to back onto the "Pipes."
The part of the Grand Canal that the lane replaced has been filled in. Now, the Luas (Dublin's tram system) runs along that path. The visitors' center for the famous Guinness brewery is also just a short walk from one end of where the "Pipes" used to be.
In the 1800s and even into the 1900s, The Back of the Pipes was a popular spot for young couples to meet and walk. A nearby place they would stroll was called the "Stone Sofa," located at St. James Walk.
In old Dublin slang, if someone asked where something or someone was, a common funny answer was "at the back of the pipes." It meant that the location was unknown or a bit mysterious!
