Dictionary of Irish Architects 1720 - 1940

Architectural draughtsman who collaborated with JOHN CASH  JOHN CASH in producing Views of the most remarkable public buildings, monuments and other edifices in the city of Dublin, delineated by Robert Pool and John Cash (Dublin, 1780). Both Pool and Cash had been students at the Dublin Society's School of Drawing in Architecture, Cash a little later than Pool, who was admitted to the school on 2 November 1769 and again on 22 February 1770 and was awarded a premium on 14 May 1772.(1) In 1777, according to Craig, Pool and Cash laid before the Dublin Society the drawings which were to become the plates of their book. The Society gave its support to the publication, which at that stage was to have been called 'Eblana Depicta', and the authors duly dedicated the finished work to the Society.(2) The name of a Mr John Pool, presumably a relation, appears in the list of subscribers to the book. Pool is designated 'architect' in Wilson's Dublin Directory but no buildings by him have been recorded. He prepared plans for heating the Irish House of Commons at an unspecified date(3) and, in 1810 or 1811, submitted three designs to the Lord Lieutenant for his approval. These were for rebuilding the 'Old Bridge', Dublin, for a steeple for the Blue Coat Hospital, and for a 'Senotaph, or Monument' (possibly a design for the Nelson monument).(4) The author of an article in the Irish Builder in 1882 claimed to have seen 'Robert Pool's designs for Whitworth Bridge, and the new hotel at the Pigeon House'.(5) A Robert Poole was admitted a Freeman of the City of Dublin as a member of the Corporation of Masons by virtue of birth at Midsummer 1779 ; another was admitted as a member of the Corporation of Plasterers by virtue of service at Michaelmas 1786.(6)

Addresses:(7) 28 Holles Street, 1793-1795; Charlemont Row, 1796-1799; Harcourt Street, 1808-1811.

See WORKS and BIBLIOGRAPHY. BIBLIOGRAPHY.



References



(1) Royal Dublin Society Proceedings (transcript in IAA).
(2) Maurice Craig, introduction to facsimile edition of Pool & Cash's Views (Shannon, 1970), vi.
(3) NA/SPO 547/353/1 (IAA, Edward McParland files, Acc. 2008/44).  See also PRONI E-catalogue, D562/7526. 
(4) PRONI D562/7526 (IAA, Edward McParland files, Acc. 2008/44).
(5) IB 24, 1 Feb 1882, 43.
(6) 'An alphabetical list of the Freemen of the City of Dublin, 1774-1824', The Irish Ancestor XV (1983), Nos. 1 & 2, 96.
(7) From Wilson's Dublin Directory.


3 work entries listed in chronological order for POOL, ROBERT


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Building: CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, PIGEON HOUSE, HOTEL
Date: 1793
Nature: RP awarded first prize of 10 gns. for his competition entry. 'On Monday last the head premium for the best plan of an hotel, to be built at the New Bason in the harbour of Dublin, was adjudged at the Ballast-office, to Mr Robert Pool, of Charlemont-street' (Freeman's Journal)  (In 1882 an anonymous correspondent wrote in IB that he had earlier seen and admired Pool's designs for the hotel att the Ballast Board's offices.)
Refs: Journal of the Corporation for Preserving and Improving the Port of Dublin, 14 Oct 1793 (other refs. to competition 23, 24 Aug 1793, 10,23,27 Sep 1793, 25 Oct 1793);  Freeman's Journal , 19 Oct 1793, p.3 (information from Rob Goodbody, Old Connaught, Co. Dublin, May 2017);  IB 24, 1 Feb 1882, 43.

Building: CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, BLACKHALL PLACE, BLUE COAT SCHOOL
Date: 1810ca
Nature: RP submits design for steeple to Lord Lieutenant for his approval.
Refs: NA/SPO 547/353/1 (IAA, Edward McParland files, Acc.2008/44)

Building: CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, WHITWORTH BRIDGE
Date: ?
Nature: 'We have also seen Robert Pool's designs for Whitworth Bridge, and the new hotel at the Pigeon House - examples of Ballast Office drawings nearly a century ago, that might well be imitated by even good draftsmen of to-day'
Refs: IB 24, 1 Feb 1882, 43

Author Title Date Details
Pool, Robert, & Cash, John Views of the most remarkable public buildings, monuments and other edifices in the city of Dublin, delineated by Robert Pool and John Cash 1780 Dublin, 1780. Facsimile reprint with introduction by M.J. Craig, Shannon, 1970.