Manor of St. Sepulchre

{{Use Hiberno-English|date=February 2022}}

{{Use Hiberno-English|date=February 2022}}

{{Dublin Liberties}}

{{Dublin Liberties}}

The '''Manor of St. Sepulchre''' (also known as the '''Archbishop's Liberty''') is one of several [[Manorialism|manors]], or [[Liberty (division)|liberties]], that existed in [[Dublin]], [[Ireland]] since the arrival of the [[Anglo-Normans]] in the 12th century. They were [[townland]]s united to the city, but still preserving their own jurisdiction. St. Sepulchre's was under the jurisdiction of the Archbishop of Dublin, although from time to time the Dublin city government claimed ownership of it.Parliamentary Papers: Reports from Commissioners, Vol. 24. Session: 4 February - 20 August 1836. House of Commons, London. Parts of the manor are still preserved to this day, and are one of the oldest surviving buildings in Dublin's City Center.{{Cite web |title=Kevin Street Garda Station |url=https://www.rte.ie/archives/2023/0514/1380695-kevin-street-garda-station/ |access-date=2026-04-03 |website=RTÉ Archives |language=en}} It is now used by one unit of [[Garda Síochána]] and is not accessible to the public.{{Cite web |last=Kelly |first=Olivia |title=Kevin Street Garda station’s walls hide medieval palace |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/heritage/kevin-street-garda-station-s-walls-hide-medieval-palace-1.2289094 |access-date=2026-04-03 |website=The Irish Times |language=en}}

The '''Manor of St. Sepulchre''' (also known as the '''Archbishop's Liberty''') is one of several [[Manorialism|manors]], or [[Liberty (division)|liberties]], that existed in [[Dublin]], [[Ireland]] since the arrival of the [[Anglo-Normans]] in the 12th century. They were [[townland]]s united to the city, but still preserving their own jurisdiction. St. Sepulchre's was under the jurisdiction of the Archbishop of Dublin, although from time to time the Dublin city government claimed ownership of it.Parliamentary Papers: Reports from Commissioners, Vol. 24. Session: 4 February - 20 August 1836. House of Commons, London. Parts of the manor are still preserved to this day, and are one of the oldest surviving buildings in Dublin's City Center.{{Cite web |title=Kevin Street Garda Station |url=https://www.rte.ie/archives/2023/0514/1380695-kevin-street-garda-station/ |access-date=2026-04-03 |website=RTÉ Archives |language=en}} It is now used by one unit of [[Garda Síochána]] and is not accessible to the public.{{Cite web |last=Kelly |first=Olivia |title=Kevin Street Garda station's walls hide medieval palace |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/heritage/kevin-street-garda-station-s-walls-hide-medieval-palace-1.2289094 |access-date=2026-04-03 |website=The Irish Times |language=en}}

[[File:Irish researchers and academics at St Sepulchre's Palace in Dublin.jpg|thumb|Photograph of one of the surviving and preserved buildings of St Sepulchre's Palace (in 2024)]]

[[File:Irish researchers and academics at St Sepulchre's Palace in Dublin.jpg|thumb|Photograph of one of the surviving and preserved buildings of St Sepulchre's Palace (in 2024)]]

==History==

==History==

The district was originally known as the Manor of Colonia (or the lordship of Colonia).{{cite book |last=Wood |first=Herbert |title=Court Book of the Liberty of Saint Sepulchre within the Jurisdiction of the Archbishop of Dublin, 1586-1590 |year=1930 |publisher=Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland |url=https://archive.org/stream/courtbookofliber00wood/courtbookofliber00wood_djvu.txt |pages=xi–xv}} The transition to the name ''Saint Sepulchre'' occurred during the late 13th century; by 1301, manorial receipts were formally recorded under the name ''Manor of St. Sepulchre with Cullen''. The nomenclature is attributed to the influence of the [[Crusades]]; in 1184, [[Heraclius of Jerusalem|Heraclitus, the Patriarch of Jerusalem]], visited England and Ireland to seek military aid for the recovery of the], an event that likely prompted [[John Comyn (archbishop)|Archbishop John Comyn]] to name his new palatial seat in its honor.{{cite web |url=https://poddle.crumlinwalkinstownhistory.ie/news/historic-palace-is-now-garda-station/ |title=Historic Palace is now Garda Station |publisher=Crumlin Walkinstown History |date=1 September 1967 |access-date=2024-05-22}}

The district was originally known as the Manor of Colonia (or the lordship of Colonia).{{cite book |last=Wood |first=Herbert |title=Court Book of the Liberty of Saint Sepulchre within the Jurisdiction of the Archbishop of Dublin, 1586-1590 |year=1930 |publisher=Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland |url=https://archive.org/stream/courtbookofliber00wood/courtbookofliber00wood_djvu.txt |pages=xi–xv}} The transition to the name ''Saint Sepulchre'' occurred during the late 13th century; by 1301, manorial receipts were formally recorded under the name ''Manor of St. Sepulchre with Cullen''. The nomenclature is attributed to the influence of the [[Crusades]]; in 1184, [[Heraclius of Jerusalem|Heraclitus, the Patriarch of Jerusalem]], visited England and Ireland to seek military aid for the recovery of the], an event that likely prompted [[John Comyn (archbishop)|Archbishop John Comyn]] to name his new palatial seat in its honor.{{cite web |url=https://poddle.crumlinwalkinstownhistory.ie/news/historic-palace-is-now-garda-station/ |title=Historic Palace is now Garda Station |publisher=Crumlin Walkinstown History |date=1 September 1967 |access-date=2024-05-22}}

​Archaeological evidence indicates that before the formal enclosure of the palace precinct, the area was settled in the late 12th century as a rural landscape of property plots. Excavations conducted by Linzi Simpson between 2004 and 2008 discovered a ritual deposit from this early phase containing a male human skull with violent sword trauma buried alongside a fully fleshed dog skeleton.{{cite web |url=https://www.dublincity.ie/sites/default/files/media/file-uploads/2018-06/DCAA.01.34_Kevin_St_Garda_Station.pdf |title=Kevin Street Garda Station (04E0294) Collection |author=Linzi Simpson |publisher=Dublin City Archaeological Archive |access-date=2024-05-22}} Following this period, the palace was enclosed by a substantial defensive ditch along the alignment of modern Kevin Street and Bride Street.

Archaeological evidence indicates that before the formal enclosure of the palace precinct, the area was settled in the late 12th century as a rural landscape of property plots. Excavations conducted by Linzi Simpson between 2004 and 2008 discovered a ritual deposit from this early phase containing a male human skull with violent sword trauma buried alongside a fully fleshed dog skeleton.{{cite web |url=https://www.dublincity.ie/sites/default/files/media/file-uploads/2018-06/DCAA.01.34_Kevin_St_Garda_Station.pdf |title=Kevin Street Garda Station (04E0294) Collection |author=Linzi Simpson |publisher=Dublin City Archaeological Archive |access-date=2024-05-22}} Following this period, the palace was enclosed by a substantial defensive ditch along the alignment of modern Kevin Street and Bride Street.

​In 1326, an inquisition following structural damage sustained between 1315–1318 described the palace as having a "stone hall, badly roofed with shingles and weak," alongside a chapel and kitchen in poor repair, and a manor prison that had been "broken and thrown to the ground."

In 1326, an inquisition following structural damage sustained between 1315–1318 described the palace as having a "stone hall, badly roofed with shingles and weak," alongside a chapel and kitchen in poor repair, and a manor prison that had been "broken and thrown to the ground."

=== Tudor and early modern transition ===

=== Tudor and early modern transition ===

During the 16th century, the Archbishops of Dublin were frequently displaced from the palace due to administrative shifts. Under [[Edward VI of England|Edward VI]], the palace was assigned as the residence for the [[Lord Lieutenant of Ireland]] (the "Deputy of our Realm"), forcing the Archbishop to move to the Deanery.{{cite web |url=https://wideandconvenientstreets.wordpress.com/2014/04/05/the-kevin-street-medley-1-st-sepulchres-palace/ |title=The Kevin Street Medley: St Sepulchre’s Palace |publisher=Wide and Convenient Streets |date=5 April 2014 |access-date=2024-05-22}} Although the Archbishop was briefly reinstated under [[Mary I of England|Mary I]], the palace was used again by the Archbishop in the early Elizabethan period. By the late 16th century, Archbishop Adam Loftus restored the complex, which was then described as a "semi-regal abode."

During the 16th century, the Archbishops of Dublin were frequently displaced from the palace due to administrative shifts. Under [[Edward VI of England|Edward VI]], the palace was assigned as the residence for the [[Lord Lieutenant of Ireland]] (the "Deputy of our Realm"), forcing the Archbishop to move to the Deanery.{{cite web |url=https://wideandconvenientstreets.wordpress.com/2014/04/05/the-kevin-street-medley-1-st-sepulchres-palace/ |title=The Kevin Street Medley: St Sepulchre's Palace |publisher=Wide and Convenient Streets |date=5 April 2014 |access-date=2024-05-22}} Although the Archbishop was briefly reinstated under [[Mary I of England|Mary I]], the palace was used again by the Archbishop in the early Elizabethan period. By the late 16th century, Archbishop Adam Loftus restored the complex, which was then described as a "semi-regal abode."

By the late 17th century, the palace outbuildings were replaced by brick houses along the street frontage, built by Dutch immigrants escaping religious persecution.

By the late 17th century, the palace outbuildings were replaced by brick houses along the street frontage, built by Dutch immigrants escaping religious persecution.

The associated judicial jurisdiction was formally abolished by the ''Manor Court of St. Sepulchre Abolition Act 1856'' (19 & 20 Vict. c. 57).{{cite web |url=https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/isbc/bps1856.html |title=Manor Court of St. Sepulchre Abolition Act 1856 |publisher=Irish Statute Book |access-date=2024-05-22}} In 1925, the DMP merged with the OPW (Office of Public Works), which maintained the station as its divisional hedquarters.

The associated judicial jurisdiction was formally abolished by the ''Manor Court of St. Sepulchre Abolition Act 1856'' (19 & 20 Vict. c. 57).{{cite web |url=https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/isbc/bps1856.html |title=Manor Court of St. Sepulchre Abolition Act 1856 |publisher=Irish Statute Book |access-date=2024-05-22}} In 1925, the DMP merged with the OPW (Office of Public Works), which maintained the station as its divisional hedquarters.

​In 2019, the OPW completed a new contemporary Divisional Headquarters on the site.{{cite web |url=https://www.gov.ie/en/office-of-public-works/news/kevin-street-garda-station/ |title=Kevin Street Garda Station |publisher=Office of Public Works |date=23 January 2020 |access-date=2024-05-22}} This was followed by the opening of the Walter Scott House facility in November 2022, which allowed for the relocation of several specialised units.{{cite web |url=https://www.garda.ie/en/about-us/our-departments/office-of-corporate-communications/press-releases/2022/november/an-garda-siochana-officially-open-walter-scott-house-friday-25th-november-2022.html |title=An Garda Síochána Officially Open Walter Scott House |publisher=An Garda Síochána |date=25 November 2022 |access-date=2024-05-22}} The OPW has stated its intention to identify a "suitable heritage purpose" for the medieval palace fabric once its temporary use by police concludes.

In 2019, the OPW completed a new contemporary Divisional Headquarters on the site.{{cite web |url=https://www.gov.ie/en/office-of-public-works/news/kevin-street-garda-station/ |title=Kevin Street Garda Station |publisher=Office of Public Works |date=23 January 2020 |access-date=2024-05-22}} This was followed by the opening of the Walter Scott House facility in November 2022, which allowed for the relocation of several specialised units.{{cite web |url=https://www.garda.ie/en/about-us/our-departments/office-of-corporate-communications/press-releases/2022/november/an-garda-siochana-officially-open-walter-scott-house-friday-25th-november-2022.html |title=An Garda Síochána Officially Open Walter Scott House |publisher=An Garda Síochána |date=25 November 2022 |access-date=2024-05-22}} The OPW has stated its intention to identify a "suitable heritage purpose" for the medieval palace fabric once its temporary use by police concludes.

==Location==

==Location==