Drury Street
 Drury Street in July 2020 | |
  | |
| Native name | Irish: An Bóthar Beag or Sráid Drury |
|---|---|
| Namesake | William Drury or Drury Lane |
| Location | Dublin, Ireland |
| Coordinates | 53°20′32.44″N 6°15′47.77″W / 53.3423444°N 6.2632694°W |
| North | Exchequer Street |
| South | Stephen Street |
| Other | |
| Known for | retail rag trade Victorian architecture bars and restaurants George's Street Arcade |
Drury Street (Irish: An Bóthar Beag, meaning 'the small road')[1] is a narrow and partially pedestrianised retail street in the centre of Dublin, Ireland.
The street is connected to Exchequer Street at its northern end and Stephen Street at its southern end. It is intersected by Fade Street and Castle Market and runs parallel to South William Street.
History
[edit]Early history
[edit]Drury Street, situated in Dublin's south inner city, traces its origins to the early 17th century and was originally outside of the city walls close to the medieval church and hospital of Saint Stephen. The street is referred to as "Little Boater Lane" on maps from 1673 and 1756.[2] "Boater" may be derived from the Irish word "Bóthar", meaning "road" or alternatively may be sourced from butter or booter which it is referred to on early maps.[3][4][5] Drury Street was later referred to as "Drury Lane" before being mainly referred as Drury Street from the middle of the 18th century onwards.
The name "Drury" may reference Sir William Drury, an English statesman and soldier who served as Lord Justice of Ireland in the late 16th century.[3] Alternatively, the name may be a reference to Drury Lane in London or have been influenced by London naming conventions.
19th Century: Victorian transformation
[edit]The street underwent significant changes during the Victorian era, transitioning from a narrow lane to a more structured thoroughfare. In the early 1800s, the area was primarily a hub for the meat trade, with Drury Street and its neighbouring lanes lined with butcher shops and abattoirs. By the late 19th century, many of these businesses had closed or become derelict, leading to the purchase and demolition of numerous buildings to clear space for the construction of George's Street Arcade.[2]
The development of George's Street Arcade in 1878, resulted in Victorian commercial buildings characterized by red brick and terracotta details dominating the street.[6]
19th and 20th centuries: Industrial hub
[edit]In the late 19th century, Drury Street became a hub for industry. Notably, in 1889, Powers Distillery established its bottling hall and warehouse between Fade Street and Drury Street. This site is credited with the creation of the world's first miniature spirit bottle, known as "Baby Powers", catering to the needs of grooms and coachmen who required portable whiskey flasks.[7] Other Whiskey Distillers using the street included Roe's and Jameson.[2]
By the early 20th century, Drury Street had become a key node in Dublin’s garment industry, colloquially known as the "rag trade". The street’s architecture reflected this shift, with many buildings housing tailoring workshops and clothing warehouses. One notable example is the Drury Buildings; now a well-known restaurant and venue, the premises originally operated as a clothing factory from the 1940s onwards.[2]
21st century
[edit]In response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the need for outdoor dining spaces, Dublin City Council initiated pedestrianisation trials in 2020, including Drury Street. These trials received overwhelming public support, with 95% of respondents in favour of permanent pedestrianisation.[8] Consequently, from May 2021, sections of Drury Street were designated as traffic-free zones after 11 am daily, enhancing the street's pedestrian-friendly atmosphere. However, no infrastructural changes were made to accommodate the change in use.[9]
In 2025, debates arose over the function of the street. The 2021 pedestrianisation of the street led to a surge in the popularity of the street as a meeting place for young people to meet, socialise and drink, particularally in times of good weather. However, some shop owners were unhappy with the crowds, suggesting they were deterring shoppers. The debate was seen by some as a reflection of wider debates about urban design in Dublin.[3][10]
See also
[edit]External links
[edit]
Media related to Drury Street at Wikimedia Commons
References
[edit]- ^ "An Bóthar Beag/Drury Street". logainm.ie. Retrieved 15 April 2025.
- ^ a b c d "The History of Drury Street - Dublin Town". 19 March 2020. Retrieved 15 April 2025.
- ^ a b c McNally, Frank. "Trial by Drury – Frank McNally on how a small Dublin street became a flashpoint for debate on the city's future". Irish Times. Retrieved 15 April 2025.
- ^ "Dublin Street Names, Dated and Explained ..." Hodges. 1892. Retrieved 16 April 2025.
- ^ "Irish Historic Towns Atlas (IHTA), no. 26, Dublin, Part III, 1756 to 1847" (PDF). Retrieved 16 April 2025.
- ^ Hedderman, Zara (18 January 2023). "Disgruntled Dubliners, a devastating fire & community spirit: The story of George's St Arcade". TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 15 April 2025.
Constructed in 1876 and originally known as the South City Markets, the shopping mall was designed by esteemed British architects, Lockwood & Mawson. The office of Henry Francis Lockwood and William Mawson was a leading force behind the development of Bradford, Yorkshire, during the mid-to-late 1800s...Today, known as the George's St Arcade, the beautiful red brick building
- ^ Mulvaney, Amy (5 June 2019). "Double Take: The Dublin city car park where the world's first mini spirit bottle was born". TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 15 April 2025.
- ^ "Work begins on pedestrianisation of four Dublin streets". RTÉ News. 6 May 2021. Retrieved 15 April 2025.
An online survey conducted by Dublin City Council into the trials received 1,588 responses, with 95% of respondents in favour of permanently pedestrianising the streets. The pedestrianisation plans were also issued for consultation in November 2020 and 97% of respondents were in favour.
- ^ Coates, Liam (11 April 2025). "Signs urge Drury Street revellers to curb their enthusiasm". Irish Times. Retrieved 15 April 2025.
- ^ Moore, Jane (12 April 2025). "'I'm dreading summer': Crowds of people drinking and no toilets are hitting Drury Street businesses". TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 15 April 2025.