Corpus of Electronic Texts Edition
Diary of a Tour in 1732 through parts of England, Wales, Ireland and Scotland (Author: John Loveday)
Entry 12
Wednesday, 14. — Cork, which far exceeds any City in ye Kingdom but Dublin, is encompass'd with a Water that also crosses it, so it is only accessible by bridges. And 'tis inclos'd with Walls, ye North & South Gates are large & handsome Stone buildings, Both us'd for Jails; & just out of Each of 'em is a fair stone-arch'd Bridge; over both these bridges ye principal Street of ye City is continu'd to a great length up ye Suburbs; for as soon as You pass either Gate, ye Ground rises very considerably; ye Northern Suburbs are much ye largest, & indeed are remarkably large. In Camden's time This was a little trading Town, and Boate (at p. 5, 6.) mentions It as less than Waterford & Limerick. The Buildings are of Brick & Stone. Cork is seated many Miles from ye Sea; it's Key with all ye Docks is very large; It doubles much, it's direct Length in any part not very great. Within ye City & Suburbs are (as I understand) 6 Churches; of which One without ye Walls, & in ye Southern Suburbs, is ye Cathedral, call'd St Barry's, more properly St Finbarry's, from St Barr or Finbar, their first Bishop. It is a mean & small building, and of great age. The Pillars in ye Nave are large & inelegant, this part of ye Cathedral is a Parish-Church provided with a Pulpit, Font &c. but no Pews; It has been disus'd a long time, so ye Parishioners sit in ye Choir. There was no Monument that I saw for any Bishop in ye whole Church, (tho' Several according to Sir J. W. are bury'd here), except in ye Nave — The Tomb-stone of Dr Edward Synge, Bishop of Cork, Cloyn, & Ross, who dy'd in 1678, since then ye Bishoprick of Cloyn has continu'd separate: Remarkable that This Prelate's Son & Grandson, Both of ye same Christian name, are also Bishops;
p.38
And His Elder Brother, Georg Synge was Bishop of Cloyn, Both of 'em English men. The low Case of Stalls is plain, an Organ here, but no Choir-Service; ye Choir only is ciel'd. The Chapter-house, us'd also for ye Bishop's Court, is new & sash'd. No Presbytery here, nor one Monument with recumbent Effigies throughout ye Church. The Tower of ye Cathedral is mean enough. The Palace, call'd Bishop's-Court, is a large house; but Bishop Browne has built an handsome Palace as well as Church at Balanaspy, now call'd Bishop's Town, 2 Miles off, where He resides. The Revenues of ye Bishoprick between 1100 & 1200 £ per Annum — of ye Deanery about 100 £ per Annum. The Dean's house, Mr Robert Carleton's, is an handsome pleasant Place. There is a School, & Library over It for ye Church, almost finish'd. Gille-Abbey18 Ruins — a Tower &c. — are in these Suburbs, as are also ye Barracks just without ye Gate, two large & good Buildings, opposite to one another; Centinels are planted in every part of ye City. Christ-Church in ye prime Street is ye best Church in Cork, a late handsome Stone-building, but so slight ye work, that it is already repairing. St Paul's is ye newest Church. St Peter's, St Nicholas', & Shandon are ye other 3. So large a Town without an high Steeple is an odd sight. There is not a Ring of Bells in ye City. The Tolsey, with ye Town-house over it, is a large & good Structure of Stone, in ye principal Street; but It is pretty much hid by ye Houses. On ye Key, is a very large, & as handsome, a Custom-house of Brick with 3 Fronts. To ye South of ye Town are Walks. A good number of Chairs attending in Cork Streets.