If walls could talk: Taking a historic stroll down Richmond Terrace

Set back behind forest green railings and framed by an immaculately manicured lawn resplendent with colourful flowers and fauna, the brightly painted and storied Richmond Terrace is home to a community of retired people.

Richmond Terrace originally comprised seven individual Georgian townhouses on Henry Street Upper. The original lease dated March 1, 1842 was made between Edmond Henry, Earl of Limerick and John Bowerman for all seven houses.

Bowerman built the terrace, which may have originally been named Bowerman Terrace. The architect was Joseph Fogerty (1804-1887).

John Bowerman was a successful merchant whose premises were situated at the Victoria Buildings, 28 Patrick Street, Limerick.

He traded in silks, furs, and lace. In February 1840, Bowerman married Anastasia Cook Bunton of Thomas Street, the daughter of Timothy, a pawnbroker.

Bowerman also had a holiday home in Kilkee, a town synonymous with Limerick. In a rental notice of 1847, Bowerman offered his house at no4 Merton Square in Kilkee.

It comprised five bed chambers, drawing and dining rooms, kitchen, pantries, servants’ apartments, a walled garden, coach and stable and commanded a beautiful view of the bay, town and surrounding countryside.

One wonders how many Limerick people have holidayed in that house over the last 177 years!

By 1851, John Bowerman had taken up residence in no4 Richmond Terrace. The following year, while he was asleep several burglars gained entry to his house by breaking a hole through the wall of the unoccupied house adjoining, and ‘bundled up several parcels of valuable wearing apparel, plate, and boxes.’

As they attempted to make their escape, Bowerman was awakened by the noise, appeared downstairs, and grabbed one of the thief’s legs.

They quickly fled the scene without their booty according to a report in the Limerick Chronicle. Bowerman also owned Florence Villa opposite the Redemptorist Church.

He held the office of city rate collector for 25 years, stepping down in 1875. He died in Buxton, a spa town in Derbyshire on September 16, 1892, and was survived by his wife, Anastasia. She died November 26, 1911.

Some of the first residents of the Richmond Terrace were officers in the army and included Lieutenant Hamilton and family and Lieutenant Lowry and family in 1844.

Also living at the terrace in the same year was John F Lee Esq. and family. Members of the Lee family were in the 12th Lancers and were connected to the Powers, minor landed gentry of Monroe House, Co Tipperary.

Another neighbour was George Wellington Evans, a solicitor living at no2 in 1845. He died in October 1855 and tragically his wife, Eliza (née Dawson) died on the same day.

Their deaths made orphans of their son and daughter.
George Purdon Drew, a resident of the terrace was declared bankrupt in 1846 when his name appeared in the Bankrupt & Insolvent Calendar.

He was originally from Pallaskenry. His father was Major Drew of the 45th regiment of foot who married Miss Harding of Harding-Grove, Bruree in 1808. George Purdon Drew died in 1860 at Green Park House on the South Circular Road.

Another resident of Richmond Terrace was Edmond Spaight Ferriter, a native of Lodge, Sixmilebridge, Co Clare. He died at his house in October 1850.

Weddings feature prominently in newspaper records and one such event took place on May 10, 1855, at Richmond Terrace, by the Right Rev Dr Ryan, Carrol John Naish of Ballycullen House, Limerick married Eleanor Mary, only child of Michael J Staunton Esq., of Ballysimon.

Regular readers of this column will remember a previous entry about Staunton and his marble factory in Ballysimon. Staunton’s great grandson was the celebrated Irish artist, Louis le Brocquy (1916-2012).

The terrace was home to well-known local businessmen including Richard Sidley of the firm Sidley Brothers, ship owners and brokers. He died, aged 34, at the terrace in January 1860.

By the time the twentieth century rolled around, no6 Richmond Terrace was home to James R Lynch whose father-in-law, Edward McCartie, aged 86, died at the house in March 1915.

McCartie was the grandnephew of the Liberator (Daniel O’Connell) as reported in the Irish Times. Ironically, next door to the grandnephew of a nationalist hero was a link to the so-called Famine Queen.

On February 11, 1935, the Irish Times reported the death of Mrs Elizabeth Drew Hance, of no5 Richmond Terrace. She was described as ‘the last surviving member of an old Limerick family, the Goggins, who generations back were printers and publishers in Limerick city.’

Mrs Hance was 95 years of age. Elizabeth was a gifted vocalist and, in her day, as a member of ‘the Philharmonic Society, had the honour of singing before Queen Victoria in the Crystal Palace, London.’

Elizabeth’s husband, Robert James died in Queensland, Australia on September 30, 1899. He was the proprietor of the Medical Hall, Patrick Street, Limerick. The Hance’s only child died in infancy in 1882.

Richmond Terrace was refurbished in the 1990s, and one house was removed. It remains a handsome row of six houses, built by a successful businessman in the 1840s, and continues to provide comfortable city centre living for its residents nearly 182 years later.

Dr Paul O’Brien lectures at Mary Immaculate College.