The Best Address in Town
A crowded drawing-room. A signet ring raps against a wine goblet. ‘Gentlemen,’ the host announces, ‘may I introduce you to our new neighbour from No. 9.’ The Rt. Hon. Thomas Carter steps forward.
Most of what we usually read about the street focuses either on the architecture or, more recently, on the fine museum at No 14. But while Hayes does examine the architecture closely – indeed, breaks new ground in the specifics of who built what – the real pleasure here is the social history.
‘ “An able and intriguing man, of slender reputation for integrity”, Thomas Carter was one of Henrietta Street’s earliest and longest-standing residents. Known for his tricky personality and propensity for making enemies, not least among his neighbours, Carter was a shrewd and self-interested operator who carefully cultivated a range of powerful connections on both sides of the Irish Sea to further his political ambitions and advance his social standing among Ireland’s governing elites.’ He earned the epithet ‘Vicious Carter’.
Of course, the man behind this ambitious scheme was Luke Gardiner. Though from relatively humble origins, his intelligence, business acumen and innate political skills saw him accrue immense wealth and influence. The success of the Henrietta scheme allowed him to turn his sights farther east, including what would be Sackville Street, Mountjoy Square and his eponymous thoroughfare.
Gardiner’s first and most important success was in persuading the newly appointed Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of Ireland (Established), Dr Hugh Boulter, to purchase a large site on the street which was only beginning to be laid out. (Indeed, the street would become more commonly known as Primates Hill.) Naturally, the great and those with ambitions to be great quickly queued to have – and to be seen to have – their own stately edifice next door.
Among the nineteen individuals whose portraits Hayes paints are Henry ‘Speaker’ Boyle, the ‘King of the Irish Commons’; Sir Gustavus Hume; and Sir Robert King, Baron Kingsborough, a ‘vile young rake’ and ‘notorious womaniser’, who died aged 31 leaving behind ruined reputations, illegitimate children and massive debts. Many were founder members of the Dublin Society.
One of the most intriguing episodes in the life of the street came in the mid 1750s during the ‘Money Bill Dispute’, which centred on whether Ireland could retain its excess revenue or must send it on to the London Exchequer. The neighbours split badly over the issue, and many a libellous toast was raised from one side of the street to the other.
In fact, Thomas Sheridan’s Smock Alley theatre was destroyed by an angry mob during a performance in 1754 of Voltaire’s Mahomet over references to the dispute.
This handsome, heavily illustrated volume will remain as a reference work in my home. And you could get a terrific BBC drama series out of it.
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