Dictionary of Irish Architects 1720 - 1940

Architect, of Dublin and Cork, active from the 1840s until the1860s.   William D'Esterre Smith, son of William Smith and Eliza Anne Parker, was born in Cork on 1 January 1816.(1)   Details of his architectural training are not recorded, but in the early 1840s, probably following his marriage to Susanna Elizabeth Harnett in Cork in 1842, he established himself in Dublin.  A pamphlet of 1845 describes him as a leading  architect in the city.(2)    According to the directories, he was still in Dublin in 1854 but had left  by 1857.   He died on 22 March 1869, probably in Cork.  A Mrs D'Esterre Smith appears in Guy's Cork Almanac and Directory for 1875, living at The Park, Queenstown.

RIAI: elected associate, having been proposed by Sir RICHARD MORRISON RICHARD MORRISON , seconded by WILLIAM DEANE BUTLER WILLIAM DEANE BUTLER ,15 May 1843;(3) applies to be raised to fellow, 22 January 1844;(4) elected member, 29 January 1844;(5) elected fellow, 17 January 1850;(6) auditor, 1851-1852; no longer on list of members in 1866.

Society of Artists: member, 1844-1849.

Addresses:(7) 5 Warrington Place, 1844; 13 Pembroke Street Upper, 1844-1845; 11 Mespil Parade, 1846-1847; 6 Summerville, Leeson Street Upper, 1847-1849; Castle Avenue, Clontarf, 1854.

See WORKS.



References



(1) ) www.familysearch.org, which also supplies the dates and details of Smith's marriage and death.
(2) O'Kelly pamphlet 4875 (IAA, Edward McParland files, Acc. 2008/44).
(3) RIAI council meeting minutes, 5 Dec 1842, 17; general meeting minutes, 15 May 1843, 29.
(4) RIAI council? meeting minutes, 22 Jan 1844, 39.
(5) RIAI general meeting minutes, 29 Jan 1844, 45.
(6) RIAI general meeting minutes, 17 Jan 1850, 67.
(7)   From Post Office and Thom's directories and Jones's transcripts from latter.


7 work entries listed in chronological order for SMITH, WILLIAM D'ESTERRE


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Building: CO. CLARE, ENNIS, GORT ROAD, COUNTY COURT HOUSE
Date: 1845
Nature: Competition entrant.
Refs: Clare Journal, 27 Oct 1845

Building: CO. KILKENNY, KILKENNY, ST RIOCH STREET, COUNTY & CITY GAOL
Date: 1850
Nature: Large addition in Early Norman style for Board of Superintendence. Design of WDS selected in competition.
Refs: B 8, 24 Aug 1850, 404

Building: CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, O'CONNELL STREET UPPER, NO. 042 (IRISH FARMERS' CLUB)
Date: 1860-61
Nature: Addition, consisting of large coffee & billiard rooms, housekeeper's servant' apartments &c and costing about £1,000. Contractor: Connolly.
Refs: Irish Times, 18 Apr 1860, 22 Apr 1861;   DB 3, 15 Apr 1861, 486.

Building: CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, BRUNSWICK STREET NORTH, NORTH DUBLIN UNION WORKHOUSE
Date: 1861
Nature: RC church, some time in course of erection, nearly completed. Contractor: James Freeman.
Refs: DB 3, 1 Nov 1861, 666

Building: CO. DUBLIN, BRACKENSTOWN (SWORDS)
Date: 1862
Nature: Alts. & adds. for Richard Manders. Builder: James Freeman.
Refs: DB 4, 1 Jun 1862, 141

Building: CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, O'CONNELL STREET LOWER, HOTEL (PROPOSED)
Date: 1863
Nature: Proposed new hotel for Imperial Hotel Co. Estimated capital required for completing same: £28,000.
Refs: DB 5, 1 May 1863, 76,77(illus.)

Building: CO. CORK, CORK, DOUGLAS ROAD, UNION WORKHOUSE
Date: 1865-66
Nature: New fever hospital for Cork Union Board of Guardians. Competition won by Boyd & Batt, Belfast, but building executed to designs by W. D'Esterre Smith.  Contractor: O'Connor.
Refs: Cork Constitution, 9,10 Aug 1866 (information from Ronnie Herlihy, Cork).