WHY IS IT NAMED CROSS GUNS BRIDGE
Today I explored a short stretch of the Royal canal between Shandon Gardens and Cross Guns Bridge.
The canal bridge and adjacent lock were named for the Earl of Westmoreland, who laid the first stone at this site in 1790. The present bridge structure appears to be a rebuild, probably of about 1864, when the adjacent railway line and bridge were constructed, in order to provide a level road surface across railway and canal. The quality of the ashlar stonework is high and the cast-iron parapets, by Ross & Walpole Ltd Engineers Dublin, and the light standards, add decorative interest. The setting of the lock is enhanced by the presence of a significant group of industrial structures nearby, including Westmoreland (now 5th) lock, the adjacent canal and railway bridge, the former North City Flour mills and a former railway siding. The Royal Canal Company was established in 1789 to construct a canal to provide freight and passenger transport between Dublin and the River Shannon.
There are a few theories about why Cross Guns Bridge in Dublin is named as such, with the most compelling being rooted in local history:
Cross Guns as a Village: Historical evidence, including Tony O'Doherty's research and maps from the 1750s and 19th century, suggests that Cross Guns was once a distinct village within the Manor of Glasnevin. This predates the canal and the bridge's construction.
The Cross Guns Inn: It seems highly likely that the village, and subsequently the bridge, took their name from an old inn called "The Cross Guns." Inns were common landmarks and often influenced place names throughout Ireland.
The Earl of Westmoreland: The most common and most unlikely explanation is that it was originally/officially named Westmoreland Bridge after John Fane, the 10th Earl of Westmoreland and Lord Lieutenant of Ireland from 1790 to 1795. However, the locals nicknamed it "Cross Guns Bridge," possibly due to a misunderstanding of his coat of arms or as a simple description of intersecting elements of the bridge design.
The canal bridge and adjacent lock were named for the Earl of Westmoreland, who laid the first stone at this site in 1790. The present bridge structure appears to be a rebuild, probably of about 1864, when the adjacent railway line and bridge were constructed, in order to provide a level road surface across railway and canal. The quality of the ashlar stonework is high and the cast-iron parapets, by Ross & Walpole Ltd Engineers Dublin, and the light standards, add decorative interest. The setting of the lock is enhanced by the presence of a significant group of industrial structures nearby, including Westmoreland (now 5th) lock, the adjacent canal and railway bridge, the former North City Flour mills and a former railway siding. The Royal Canal Company was established in 1789 to construct a canal to provide freight and passenger transport between Dublin and the River Shannon.
There are a few theories about why Cross Guns Bridge in Dublin is named as such, with the most compelling being rooted in local history:
Cross Guns as a Village: Historical evidence, including Tony O'Doherty's research and maps from the 1750s and 19th century, suggests that Cross Guns was once a distinct village within the Manor of Glasnevin. This predates the canal and the bridge's construction.
The Cross Guns Inn: It seems highly likely that the village, and subsequently the bridge, took their name from an old inn called "The Cross Guns." Inns were common landmarks and often influenced place names throughout Ireland.
The Earl of Westmoreland: The most common and most unlikely explanation is that it was originally/officially named Westmoreland Bridge after John Fane, the 10th Earl of Westmoreland and Lord Lieutenant of Ireland from 1790 to 1795. However, the locals nicknamed it "Cross Guns Bridge," possibly due to a misunderstanding of his coat of arms or as a simple description of intersecting elements of the bridge design.
WHY IS IT NAMED CROSS GUNS BRIDGE