Lady Well

Holy Well dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary also known as Lady Well stood on the S side of a stream which marks the boundaries of the Liberties of Dublin City. Annotated 'Lady Well' on the Duncan's 1820 map of Dublin and outlined on the 1837 ed. OSi 6-inch map where it is shown standing in the townland of Priesthouse, in the parish of Donnybrook. In 1603 'Our Lady's Well' is mentioned in the Record of the Riding of the Franchises of the City of Dublin which described the boundaries of the Liberties of the City of Dublin which stated that; 'leaving that diche on their right hand till they came to our Lady[s] well, whear they stoode, and the trompett sownded, and from thens downe a short meire north-west to the meddowe, under that; and soe over the meddowe to a faier broad meare norwest of that, and alongest uppon that meare to the gate of Smothe's Courte [DU018-063001-]' (CARD, Vol. 1, 192). Described by Joyce (1912, 27) as; 'The Well of the Blessed Virgin, otherwise called Lady Well, stood beside the path exactly at the point where the Parliamentary boundary turns abruptly to the north-west, but it has now disappeared, its source having probably been disturbed by drainage operations. This well is marked on Duncan's Map (1820), and its site can be found on the six-inch Ordnance Survey Map by following the Parliamentary Boundary to where it turns at right angles, one hundred and fifty yards south of a point about midway on Aylesbury Road. It was destroyed by drainage works at the turn of the century (Joyce 1912, 27). Site of well now located in the playing fields of St Michael's College off Ailesbury Road. No surface remains visible of this well which stood on the boundary of the Liberties of the City of Dublin.