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218 THE SCANDINAVIANS, AND
another bridge at that period, although permitted to do so.
As yet the assumption that any bridge was built at Dublin
during King John's reign rests solely on the fact that permission
was then given to destroy one bridge and to build
another, whilst we have records to prove that both before
and considerably after that period there was a bridge at
Dublin called " the Bridge of the Ostmen." In a grant to
Bridge of the
Oatmen. Ralph la Hore in 1236, the land is described " in capite
pontis Ostmannorum." 1 The name is repeated in a grant to
William de Nottingham so late as 1284, which describes a
stone tower as being " juxta pontem Ostmannorum," and as
these records also refer to " the gate of the Ostmen," 8 to
" the old quarry of the Ostmen "
(" a veteri quadrivio Ost-
manorum"), &c., 3 there are grounds for supposing that the
works so denominated had been executed by the Ostmen,
and were not works thus called from proximity to the
suburb of O.stmantown. However, having proved from
Anglo-Norman documents that there was a bridge at Dublin
prior to the year 1200, I will now trace it through native
records, and establish for it a much higher antiquity. And
here I may observe that whatever may
1 " Know all men that we,
have been the name
the certain stone tower near the Ost-
citizens of Dublin, have by this our men's bridge, and joined to the
charter granted and confirmed to tower beyond the Ostmen's gate,
Ralph Hore, our fellow-citizen, a &c. Dated Sunday next after the
tower of ours with its appurten- Feast of St. Bartholomew, 12th
ances, situated at the head of Ost- Edward I. (A.D. 1285)." White
men's bridge on the south, to be Book of Dublin, p. 54.
held of us by him and his heirs for
3 " Know all men that we, the
ever." Historic and Municipal citizens of Dublin, have by this our
Documents of Ireland, A.D. 1 172- charter granted and confirmed to
1320. From the Archives of the Ralph Hore and William Russell,
city of Dublin, by J. T. Gilbert, our fellow-citizens, a meadow of
8vo, London, 1870, p. 488 (Master ours extending in length from the
of the Rolls' Series). Old Quarry of the Ostmen to
2 u Know ye that we, the Mayor Kylmehanok," &c White Book of
and Commonalty of Dublin, have Dublin, J. T. Gilbert, ibid., p.
given by this our charter to William 486.
Nottingham, our fellow citizen, a