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Kilkenny, is a bridge of wood, 832 feet in length and 40
in breadth, supported on stone abutments and 40 sets
of piers of oak, undertaken by a company incorpo-
rated in 1793, who subscribed £30,000 in shares of £100
each, and erected by Mr. Cox, a native of Boston,
at an expense so much below the estimated cost,
that £90 only was paid on each share of £100, which
now sells for £170: it was begun April 30th, 1793,
and opened Jan. 18th, 1794: the company have a sinking
fund for the repair or rebuilding of the bridge, if neces-
sary, and the tolls are let for about £4000 per annum.
Over John’s river, which skirts the city on the east and
south-east, are two ancient bridges, called respectively
John’s bridge and William-street bridge; and one of
modern erection called Catherine’s bridge, from the
ancient abbey of St. Catherine, near which it is situated.
On the opposite side of the Suir are some lofty hills,
from which the city is seen to great advantage, having
in front the river and the splendid quay extending from
the bridge to the mouth of John’s river, one mile in
length, with scarcely any interruption, and forming a
remarkably fine promenade. The quay was enlarged in
1705, by throwing down the city walls on this side,
with one of the gates, which, with the great ditch, for-
merly divided it into two portions. The houses, though
irregular in their style of architecture, form a range of
buildings of lofty and imposing appearance, among
which the ancient tower built by Reginald the Dane,
and now occupied as a police barrack, is a conspicuous
object. In front of these buildings arc a broad flagged
footway and a Macadamised carriage road; and the
part along the margin of the river is separated from
these and forms a beautiful promenade. At the east
end of the city is the Mall, from which a new and
spacious street has recently been opened, forming the
principal western entrance on the Cork road. The
streets, with the exception of King-street, in a line
parallel with the quay from the west end to the centre
of the city, and of the line from its termination to
John’s bridge, are generally short, narrow, and irregular
in their direction: the number of houses, in 1831, was
3376. The English mails have been changed from
Dunmore to Waterford, which will cause a great
saving of time: the first passed up on June 24th,
1837. The city is lighted with gas by a company of
400 shareholders, who have expended £14,000 in the
construction of works; but from some defect in the old
act of parliament, under the provisions of which the
public lighting of the city was vested in the corporation,
it cannot be lighted more than seven months in the
year; the amount of the rates collected for this purpose
is about £640 per annum. On the south western side
of the city are barracks for artillery, capable of accom-
modating 129 officers and men and 78 horses, with an
hospital for 12 men; and also for infantry, which will
accommodate 551 officers and men and 9 horses, with
an hospital for 30 men. The Waterford Institution was
founded in 1820, and consists of 100 proprietors of shares
of £10. 10. each, who contribute one guinea, and of 90
subscribers who pay two guineas, annually. It is con-
ducted by a committee, consisting of a president, vice-
president, and seven members, with a secretary and
treasurer; their weekly meetings, formerly held in
Lady-lane, are now held at the Chamber of Commerce,
in King-street, where are an increasing library, reading-
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room, and a small collection of minerals. The Literary
and Scientific Society was formed in 1832, for the cir-
culation of knowledge by means of lectures and essays:
this society possesses a good philosophical apparatus,
and during the session, which usually commences in
Dec. and terminates in May, essays are read and dis-
cussed at the stated meetings, and public lectures
are occasionally delivered by its members. A newspaper
was published here so early as the year 1729, since
which period several others have successively risen and
declined; at present there are three in circulation.
The Agricultural Society for the promotion of improve-
ment in agriculture, feeding of cattle, and in agricultural
implements, by the distribution of prizes among the
farmers of the district, is liberally supported and has
been of great benefit. The Horticultural Society, under
the patronage of the Marquess of Waterford, was
founded in 1833, for promoting by fair and open com-
petition the culture of every species of vegetable pro-
duction; it comprehends the adjoining counties, and
spring and summer shews are annually held, when
prizes are awarded for the best specimens of fruits,
vegetables, and flowers. The market-days for live pigs
and cattle are Monday and Thursday; and fairs are held
on May 4th, June 24th, and Oct. 25th. The market-
house is a commodious and well-arranged building,
recently erected on a plot of ground adjoining the
river.
This place has never been much distinguished for its
manufactures; it had once some celebrity for the weav-
ing of a narrow woollen stuff, which was in great
demand in every part of Ireland, and was also exported
in considerable quantities; but of this trade, and also
of the hall in which the article was sold, there are now
not the smallest remains. There were also manufactories
for salt, smoked sprats; japanned wares of various des-
criptions, established here by Thomas Wyse, Esq.; and
for linen and linen thread, which latter was celebrated
all over Ireland, established here by a family named
Smith, who brought with them a number of workmen
from the north of Ireland; but all these have succes-
sively failed, as has also a glass bottle manufactory, which
was established opposite to Ballycarvet. A glass-ma-
nufactory of superior description was, however, esta-
blished in 1783, and is now conducted by Messrs. Gat-
chell and Co., who have a considerable export trade, par-
ticularly to America: in this establishment about 70 per-
sons are employed. There is a starch and blue manufac-
tory, also two iron-foundries; and till within the last
few years there was an extensive manufacture of glue,
of which considerable quantities were sent to England.
There is a small establishment for rectifying spirits;
and public breweries have been established and brought
to such perfection as to supersede the necessity of any
importation from England; they are conducted upon a
scale affording the means of a considerable export of
beer to Newfoundland, and latterly to England, which
trade is progressively increasing. But it is to its com-
merce, promoted by the favourable situation of its port,
that Waterford is principally indebted for its importance,
and for which it has been distinguished from a very
early period. The liberal policy, adopted in 1704 and
1705, of admitting to the freedom of the city foreign
traders of all descriptions, induced several merchants
from Italy, Spain, France, Portugal, Holland, and other
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