- Reference Code: IE LA HG HC
Collection Content
This collection consists of plans and drawings of houses constructed by Limerick Corporation during the period 1886 until 1932. The plans were generally drawn by the city surveyor. Researchers should also consult L/SMIN for Minutes of the Housing of the Working Class Committee, L/CS City Surveyors’ Department, and L/HG for additional Limerick City Council Housing Collections
In the nineteenth century, the biggest social problem in Limerick City was the large numbers of people living in filthy and disease ridden slums, without adequate sanitation or even the basic necessities of life.
The first series of legislative enactments dealing with housing was passed in the 1850’s- 1870’s, however little was accomplished under these acts. The Housing of the Working Classes Act, 1890 was a more comprehensive measure which repealed practically all of the preceding acts and authorized local authorities to build houses for workers and their families living and working in urban areas. It authorized borrowing in the same manner as public health purposes, and if income from rents were not sufficient to meet the loan repayments, then the loss would be met out of the rates.
Between 1887 and 1895 Limerick Corporation borrowed a total of £5,100 and constructed 44 units of social housing. No more were to be built until 1911.
The next important piece of legislation dealing with urban housing was the Housing of the Working Class Act (1908). This act set up the first subsidy system for urban housing and also defined ‘working classes’ to include tradesmen, laborors, and other wage earners and self-employed persons such as hawkers, whose income does not exceed thirty shillings (this was raised to £3 in 1931). Under this Act, the Irish Housing Fund was established, and a sum of £180,000 invested.
In 1911 Limerick Corporation borrowed £4000 to purchase and clear a plot of ground on John Street, and to build 23 houses on this site. In 1912, £15,000 was borrowed and the most ambitious housing program to date, consisting of 66 houses, was begun in 1913. 48 houses were built in Prospect and were named Quins Cottages, and eighteen houses were built in Garryowen, near the Haymarket. The rents charges per week were 3 shillings and 6 pence for the four roomed houses and 4 shillings for the 5 roomed houses. These high rents meant that only prosperous working men in receipt of a comparatively high and reliable source of income could afford to be housed in the new schemes.
During the period between 1918 and 1922, hardly any new houses were built in Ireland either by local authorities or the private sector. In 1920 Limerick Corporation abandoned plans to build houses at Farranshone, and in 1922 plans to acquire land at Sarsfield Barracks for housing were also rejected by central government.
Then in 1922 the newly Independent Irish Government introduced the ‘Million Pound Scheme’. This scheme allowed local authorities to raise money for social housing through raising a rate of one shilling per £1, borrowing, and a grant from central government. In 1922 under the scheme, Limerick Corporation built
18 houses in Church Street, Kings Island, 28 houses on Cassidys Lane (now Garryowen Road), and 18 houses in Mulgrave Street, St. Lelias Street, and Clare Street.
Between 1931 and 1932 Limerick Corporation borrowed £20,000 and built 32 houses in Rosbrien and 42 in Mulgrave Street.
PDF File: L/HG/HC/1/1. 1886-1888
Plans and specifications for eighteen ‘Housing of the Working Classes’ dwellings at Sir Harry’s Mall, and Long Lane, St.Mary’s Parish, Limerick. Includes site map, ground plan, elevation, sectional plan, drawing of privy and ashpit. Plans and specifications drawn by William E. Corbett, city surveyor. Contractor for building work was James Mulcahy. Ink colour.
PDF File: L/HG/HC/1/2. 1888
Plans and specifications for six ‘Housing of the Working Classes’ Dwellings at Athlunkard street and Meat Market Lane, Limerick. Plans include site map, ground plan, elevation and sectional plan, and privy and ash pit. Plans drawn by William E. Corbett, city surveyor. Contractor for building work was Richard A. Gleeson. Ink colour.
PDF File: L/HG/HC/1/3. 1893
Plans and site map for seven ‘Housing of the Working Classes’ artisans dwellings on Mary street, between Mary street and Gaol Lane, St. Mary’s Parish, Limerick. Includes site plan, ground plan, sectional plan, and elevation. Plans drawn by William E. Corbett, city surveyor. Contractors for building work was George and Patrick Ryan. Ink colour.
PDF File: L/HG/HC/1/4. 23 April 1903
Plan for dwellings to be erected at Garryowen, Limerick for Alderman P. Mc. Donnell, high sheriff. Includes ground plan, front and back elevation, and sectional plans. Plan drawn by H.F. J. Fisher. Ink colour.
PDF File: L/HG/HC/1/5. 1907-1922
Bound volume containing Model Plans of Labours’ Cottages issued by the Local Government Board of Ireland (1907) and plans for Limerick County Borough Housing Schemes (1907-1922).
Includes Limerick County Borough Housing Scheme plans in ink colour which are titled ‘Pair Of Cottages Class D’ and ‘Pair of Cottages Class C’. Both plans showing front elevation, side elevation, back elevation, roof plan, first floor plan and ground plan and were drawn by J.J Peacock (architect), at scale 8 feet: 1 inch.
Includes ink colour plan titled ‘Limerick County Borough Housing Scheme 1922: Pair of Four Roomed Cottages’ which shows front and back elevation, section view, and plan of ground and upper floors, which was drawn by J.J Peacocke at scale 8 feet: 1 inch.
Includes Limerick County Borough Council Housing Plans Class C and B (parlor house) which shows a block of six cottages to be erected at Sarsfield avenue, Cassidys Lane, Garryowen number five site, and one block of eight to be erected at Mulgrave street number six site. Plan shows the back and front elevation, and first and ground floor plans, and were drawn by J.J Peacock at a scale of eight feet : 1 inch (May 1922).
Includes ink colour plan for five roomed terraced cottages for Michael Dwyer, showing front elevation, transverse section, ground and first floor plan, drawn by Edward Ryan (architect and surveyor), at scale 4 feet to 1 inch.
Includes plan of Limerick County Borough Council Housing Plans Class C, block of four cottages to be erected at Nicholas street. Plan shows back, front, and end elevation, section plan, and first floor and ground floor plan, which was drawn by J.J Peacocke, at scale eight feet to one inch (May 1922).
Includes ink colour plan of Limerick Borough Council, Housing of the Working Classes, proposed dwelling in John Street area. Plan shows cottages with 15 ½ feet frontage, and cottages with 20 ½ feet frontage, with ground and upper floor plans, section plan, and front and back elevation, drawn by J.J Peacocke, at a scale 8 feet to 1 inch (21 August 1907).
PDF File: L/HG/HC/1/6. c. 1906-1911
File of plans and drawings for proposed twenty one ‘Housing of the Working Classes’ dwellings in the John street area, Limerick.
Includes block plans showing site layout and house type for twenty one houses in John street area, and ashpitts, water supply, and drainage system for John street and Nicholas street area (scale 44 feet to 1 inch). Streets in John street area are marked ‘street d’, ‘street e’ and ‘street f’.
Includes plan of front and back elevation, ground floor plan, and upper floor plan for houses number 1-10, North Block, streets ‘D’ and ‘E’ (scale 8 feet: 1 inch).
Includes plan of front and back elevation of houses number 6-10, North Block, street ‘E’ (scale 8 feet: 1 inch).
Includes plans for cottages with 15 ½ feet frontage and plans for cottages with 20 ½ feet frontage.
Includes plans for house type A1, three- roomed, 1 storey house (4 feet to one inch).
Includes plans for house type A2, 3 roomed, 2 storey house (4 feet to one inch). Includes plans for house type B, 4 roomed, 2 storey house (4 feet to one inch).
Plans generally drawn by J.J Peacocke with ink colour.
PDF File: L/HG/HC/1/7. 1912
File of plans for county borough council of Limerick housing schemes at Prospect Hill, Ballinacurra road, and Haymarket, Garryowen. Plans are referenced sheet one to sheet five. Includes block plan of proposed housing scheme at Prospect Hill showing section of roadways and footpaths, lay-out and type of houses to be built, gates and fence wall, and doors to passages (sheet 4, scale: 44 feet to one inch).
Includes block plan of proposed housing scheme at Haymarket showing site lay-out and type of houses to be built, section of external yard walls, section of boundary wall, and doors to passages. (sheet 5, scale 44 feet to one inch).
Includes plan of house class A, 4-roomed , showing ground plan, staircase, front and back elevation, attic plan, and front gate (sheet 1, scale 4 feet to one inch).
Includes plan of house class B, 5 roomed house, showing plan, staircase, front and back elevation, attic plan, and front gate (sheet 2, scale 4 feet to one inch).
Includes plan of details for houses such as drawings of internal doors, front door, back door attic window, small windows, windows on ground floor, and section of gable (sheet 3, scale 2 feet to one inch).Includes ink colour plans, and copy plans on tracing paper. Drawings by J.J Peacocke.
PDF File: L/HG/HC/1/8 1913 (-1922) (also see L/HG/HC/1/11)
File of plans for Limerick County Borough Council proposed cottages at Kilalee Housing Scheme. File includes drawing showing floor plan, front and back elevation and sectional view of the house (scale: 4 feet to one inch).
Includes colour plans of details for cottages with drawings of windows, front door, scullery door and food cupboard.
Includes plan titled ‘Kilallee Number 2 Housing Scheme’.
Also includes drawing of Limerick County Borough Council Houses in Blocks Class C Designs, Sheet III, dated May 1922 (scale four feet to an inch). Drawings by J.J Peacocke.
PDF File: L/HG/HC/1/9. 1915
Plans for three room dwellings, type c cottage, Limerick County Borough Council, Housing of the working classes.
Includes ground plan, first floor Plan, front elevation, back elevation, and section view. Scale is 4 feet to one inch. Drawings in colour and by J.J Peacocke.
PDF File: L/HG/HC/1/10. 1918
File of plans of various house types for Limerick County Borough Council Housing Scheme 1918.
Includes plan for pair of 3 roomed cottages, type A, each containing living room, 2 bedrooms, scullery with bath, food and fuel stores and W.C (scale 8 feet to one inch). Includes plans for pairs of 4 roomed cottages type B, type C and type D. Each cottage contains a living room, 3 bed room, scullery with bath, food and fuel stores and W.C.
Includes plans for pairs of 5 roomed cottage, type F and type G. Each cottage contains a living room, parlour and 3 bedrooms, scullery, bathroom, food and fuel stores and W.C. Includes drawings in colour and on tracing paper. Drawings by J.J Peacocke.
PDF File: L/HG/HC/1/11. May 1922 (also see L/HG/HC/1/8 and L/HG/HC/1/13)
File of plans relating to Limerick County Borough Council Housing Schemes at eight sites including Church street, Nicholas street, Mary street, St. Leila street (adjacent to town wall), Mulgrave street (adjacent to Market field), Cassidy’s lane (Garryowen), Clare street and John street.
Includes layout plan of sites (scale 44 feet to one inch). Includes housing plans for block of 3 cottages, class C, south aspect to be erected at Clare street and block of three cottages, class C, north aspect to be erected at John street (88 feet to one inch).
Includes housing plans for block of six cottages, class C and D to be erected at Cassidy’s lane, Garryowen, and block of eight cottages to be erected at Mulgrave street (Market Field).
Includes plan titled ‘Limerick County Borough Council, Housing of the Working Classes, Houses in Blocks Class C, Sheet 2’.
PDF File: L/HG/HC/1/12. c.1913-1930
File of miscellaneous Limerick County Borough Council Housing Plans, mainly drawn by J.J Peacocke city surveyor and architect.
Includes plan of proposed cottages at Kilallee showing plan, front and back elevation, scale 4 feet to one inch (3 September 1913).
Includes plan for block of six cottages showing front and back elevation, first floor plan, and ground floor plan, scale 88 feet to one inch (May 1922).
Includes plans of 4 roomed houses for Limerick County Borough Council Housing Scheme 1929 showing front and back elevations, and ground floor and upper floor plans, scale 4 feet to one inch, (18 November 1929).
Includes plans (in colour) for pairs of cottages, class C and class D, scales 8 feet to one inch (undated).
Includes plan showing design of working class houses, 3 roomed, 4 roomed and 5 roomed houses. Plan show ground plans, attic plans, section view, and front elevation for each house type (undated).
Includes plan of Housing Plans Class A, North Aspect showing front and rear elevation, ground floor and first floor, and section views (undated).
PDF File: L/HG/HC/1/13. November [c.1930] (also see L/HG/HC/1/11)
Plan titled ‘Four Roomed Houses, Type 4 and Type 8’, showing front, back, and end elevation, ground floor plan and first floor plan. Plan drawn by C. Stenson, city surveyor and scale is ¼ inch to one foot. Annotated at rear with comment ‘cottages at Clare Street, 1922’