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ABOUT
1^
A F orgotten
When Aungier Street Had Its
200 years ago Sir Edward
Lovett Pearce, Engineer and Sur-
veyor-General of his Majesty's Fortifications
and Premises in the Kingdom
of 1 1 eland, supervised the erection in
Dublin of two public buildings. One
now houses the Bank of Ireland; whilst
the other, having long since passed to
oblivion, is represented by some waste
ground and tenements at the junction
of Aungier Street and Longford Street,
well known- to students of the
history of theatres in Dublin, from the
stage of the Aungier Street playhouse
many distinguished comedians and
comediennes delighted, and the greatest
tragedians and tragediennes enthralled,
Dublin lovers of the histrionic art.
Quaint Provisions.
The terms of the Articles of 'Agreement
for the erection of the theatre
and Hie carrying out of other business
1 therewith,
are rather quaint.
On the 21st February, 173:2, Sir Edward
i'earcc entered into agreement
with Thomas Griffith, Francis Elringkon,
Lewis Layfield, James Vanderbank,
and Anthony Moreau, Associate
Comedians oi' the City of Dublin, for
the building and erection of a good and
Efficient playhouse in some convenient
place within half a mile of the Tholsel,
which phiyliou.se should be fitted with
.
'j.'illery. stage traps, and
side runners for two setts of scenes arid
other conveniences in consideration
ite Cornelians would
y hundred pound?
By GEORGE HUJ
P.O., ancestor of the Earl of ]
ton; Colonel Ligonier, later
General, Hanger of the Phoei
and Master of the Game; ar
Arthur Hill, afterwards Publi
trar of Deeds.
Opened With Great Cerei
The Associate Comedians ha'
tained a suitable site by the j
of two plots of ground, one i
; ford Street from David Dig
Touche, Esquire, the other in
Street from Samuel i Taylor, bre
foundations of the pew play-hoi
laid with pomp and ceremony
1733. The theatre !was opened
19th May, 1734,
Dorset.
Aungier Street, A
to the new buildi
from Sir Francis A
Rolls, in the time >
then a residential c
y Lionel
lich gave i'
g, derived
ngier, Mastt
uirter for a
and cultured class of citizen.
were Longford Sti e1 and the
bouring Stephen S
Widows Bought Out.
Sir Thomas L. Pearce died
before the erection ;'
ihr I'l.-tyln
completed. Some time latei
Anne Pearce, as )vpresenta!ive
late husband, handed over
everything conned- d with th'j
to Viscount Mo untjoy
of himself and the other subs
In 1-741 Frances Elrington,
Frnncis Elrington. one of the