Dictionary of Irish Architects 1720 - 1940

Architect, of Dublin. William Deane Butler, was born in 1793 or, more probably,1794, the second of the thirteen children of George Butler, a Dublin solicitor, and his wife, Elizabeth Shea.  It is likely that he was named William Deane after his father's friend and fellow lawyer, William Deane, LL.D., MRIA.  He served part of his apprenticeship with SAMUEL BEAZLEY SAMUEL BEAZLEY , and also studied under HENRY AARON BAKER  HENRY AARON BAKER at the Royal Dublin Society's School of Architectural Drawing,(1) where he was awarded one of two second class premiums on 25 April 1811.(2) In 1813 he exhibited 'A deception done with a pen' at the Irish Society of Artists, Dublin, and a design for a villa at the Society of Arts of the City of Dublin.(3)   In a letter of 1821 he describes himself as 'former assistant architect' to the Linen Board. (4)  He was the architect of a series of school house designs which appeared in The Schoolmaster's Manual published by the Kildare Place Society in 1825.(5) In 1836 he was awarded a premium of fifteen guineas by the Royal Dublin Society for plans and estimates for farmhouses and cottages.(6) The following year he published a pattern book, Model farm-houses and cottages for Ireland, and other improving countries'. In the Post Office Annual Directory for 1844 he is named as architect to the Royal College of Surgeons. From about 1847 until 1849 he was architect to the Commercial Buildings Company of Dublin(7) and in 1853 was appointed architect in ordinary to the Lord Lieutenant.(8)

According to the author of a satirical attack on Papworth and Butler which appeared in 1832, the latter's professional success was 'principally owing to his convivial and conversational powers, and his admirable manner of telling slang stories, and singing funny songs'.(9) Butler died suddenly at home of 'paralysis of the throat' on 28 November 1857, at the age of sixty-three.(10)  He had been married three times, first to Anne Heatley, then to Elenor Murphy and finally to Annie Stout, who survived him along with thirteen children, including the architect JOHN STERLING BUTLER JOHN STERLING BUTLER , a son of the first marriage. William Deane Butler's pupils included John Sterling Butler, WILLIAM CALDBECK WILLIAM CALDBECK ,(11) HUGH CARMICHAEL HUGH CARMICHAEL , JOHN SKIPTON MULVANY JOHN SKIPTON MULVANY (12) and THOMAS WARYNG WALSH.  THOMAS WARYNG WALSH.

The Irish Architectural Archive holds designs by Butler for the Savings Bank in Monaghan, 1855 (Acc. 2000/93).   Measured drawings by Butler of the Nelson monument in O'Connell Street, Dublin, and the Spring Rice monument in Pery Square, Limerick,  circa 1841, are in the Victoria & Albert Museum, RIBA Drawings Collection, SD93/11.

RIAI: council member, 1839-1851;(13) designed die for Fitzgerald medals, and arranged for their production, 1850-1852.(14)
ICEI: committee member, 1839-1844; auditor, 1845-1846.(15)
RIBA: elected fellow, 5 December 1836, proposed by P.F. Robinson, T.L.Donaldson and H.E. Kendall;(16) presented drawing of Nelson Pillar, Dublin, and Spring Rice Monument, Limerick, to institute in 1841;(17) membership lapsed, 1848.
RSAI (Kilkenny Archaeological Society): elected member, 19 July 1853, having been proposed by Joseph Burke.(18)
Society of Irish Artists: founder member;(19) vice-president, 1842-1845; president, 1845-1847.(20)

Addresses:(21) 119 Mecklenburgh Street, Dublin, 1824;(22) 'M.D. Butler, architect' is listed in Wilson's Dublin Directory for 1825 and 1826 at 52 Jervis Street, 1825-1826; 99 Great Britain Street, 1828;(23) 14 Hardwicke Street, 1828-1829; 73 St Stephen's Green South, 1830-1844; 72 St Stephen's Green South, 1845-1857.

See WORKS and BIBLIOGRAPHY BIBLIOGRAPHY



References

Information not otherwise accounted for is from the obituaries of Butler in B 15, 5 Dec 1857, 710, and Civil Engineer and Architect's Journal 21 (1858), 33-34, and from the genealogical researches of Butler's great-granddaughter Barbara H. Butler, of Placitas, New Mexico, USA, who also suggested the origin of Butler's first names (letter to IAA of 9 Nov 2012).  See also the entry on Butler by Helen Andrews in Dictionary of Irish Biography, ed. by James McGuire and James Quinn, 9 vols. (Cambridge University Press, 2009), II, 190-191.   Copies by Butler, dated 1837, of Soane's design for the Bank of England are in V & A, 3307.187-189 93 E 18.

(1) An Essay on the rise and progress of architectural taste in Dublin…by Nicholson Numskull Esq (Dublin, 1832), 6 (RIA, Haliday Pamphlets 1542/7).
(2) MS. transcript from Royal Dublin Society minutes of School of Architectural Design admissions and prizewinners (in IAA).
(3) IALE 1, 97.
(4) Letter to unnamed recipient, 13 Dec 1821, asking for Lord Oriel's and his assistance in obtaining the position of Architect to the Board of First Fruits, in PRONI, D562/7514 (see PRONI e-catalogue).
(5) Carole Scully, 'The old school', Plan, Aug 1992, 12, reproduces one of these designs.
(6) Royal Dublin Society Proceedings 72/181, and History of the Royal Dublin Society, 254.
(7) Pettigrew & Oulton's Dublin Almanac 1847 and Thom's Directory 1848,1849.
(8) B 11, 14 May 1853, 315.
(9) An Essay on the Fine Arts by Tim Rooney to which is added a clincher by Tim Dooley (Dublin, 1832), 11 (RIA, Haliday Pamphlets 1542/6).
(10) Freeman's Journal, 1 Dec 1857 (information from Helen Andrews); according the the obituary in Civil Engineer he had already had 'some twelvemonths since, an attack of that malady, which affected other portions of his body'.
(11) RIAI Special Council Meeting minutes, 4 Mar 1853, 114-115.
(12) IB 12, 15 May 1870, 114.
(13) 150 Years of Architecture in Ireland, 9, Pettigrew & Oulton's Dublin Almanac 1842-1846 and Thom's Directory 1845-1851.
(14) See transcript by Jones from RIAI Council Minutes 20 Dec 1849, 17 Jan, 15,21 Feb, 15 Mar, 12 Apr 1850, 10 Jan,14 Feb 1851, 15 Jan,13 Feb 1852; see also 150 Years of Architecture in Ireland, 13.
(15) 150 Years of Architecture in Ireland, 9, and Pettigrew & Oulton's Dublin Almanac 1842-1845.
(16) Directory of British Architects 1834-1900, 145.
(17) RIBA Catalogue, B, 148.
(18) JRSAI 2 (1852-53), 365.
(19) F. O'Dwyer, 'The foundation and early years of the RIAI', in J. Graby, ed., 150 years of Architecture in Ireland (1989), 15.
(20) W.G. Strickland, A Dictionary of Irish Artists (1913), II, 639.
(21) From Pigot's, Wilson's, Pettigrew & Oulton's, Post Office and Thom's directories unless otherwise attributed.
(22) RHA 1828.
(23) RHA 1830, also Louth Free Press, 15 May 1830, 1.


63 work entries listed in chronological order for BUTLER, WILLIAM DEANE


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Building: CO. WEXFORD, ENNISCORTHY, COURT STREET, COURT HOUSE (PROPOSED)
Date: 1817
Nature: Payment of £30 to WDB for plans and estimates for sessions houses at Enniscorthy and Gorey approved by Grand Jury Summer Assizes, 1817, but not paid as plans by Thomas A. Cobden selected instead.
Refs: Co. Wexford Grand Jury Presentments 1817-1823, Co Wexford County Archive, Ardcavan WXCA/P 436 (information from Prof. Kevin Whelan, Dublin, in e-mails of  Jun 2021).

Building: CO. WEXFORD, GOREY, COURT HOUSE (PROPOSED)
Date: 1817a
Nature: Payment of £30 to  WDB for plans and estimates for sessions houses at Enniscorthy and Gorey,approved by Grand Jury Summer Assizes, 1817, but not paid as plans by Thomas A. Cobden selected instead.

Refs:  Co. Wexford Grand Jury Presentments 1817-1823, Co Wexford County Archive, Ardcavan WXCA/P 436 (information from Prof. Kevin Whelan, Dublin, in e-mails of  Jun 2021).

Building: CO. OFFALY, TULLAMORE, CORMAC STREET, COUNTY GAOL
Date: 1820
Nature: Unexecuted designs for same?
Refs: E.McP, citing Queen's Co. Grand Jury Presentments 1820

Building: CO. LAOIS, PORTLAOISE, COUNTY GAOL (NEW)
Date: 1823-1830
Nature: New gaol on radiating principle. Contractor: David Henry.
Refs: NA/SPO CSORP 1823/6075, 1825/12,887, 1827/1434 (IAA, Edward McParland files, Acc.2008/44); David Lee & Debbie Jacobs, James Pain, architect (Limerick Civic Trust, 2005), 65

Building: CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, COLLEGE STREET, ROYAL IRISH INSTITUTION
Date: 1826
Nature: -
Refs: RHA 1826, no. 256

Building: CO. MONAGHAN, MONAGHAN, CHURCH SQUARE, COUNTY COURT HOUSE
Date: 1826
Nature: Proposed design
Refs: RHA 1826, nos. 252, 258

Building: CO. FERMANAGH, NEWTOWNBUTLER, COURT HOUSE
Date: 1828
Nature: T-plan court house, begun in 1828 and completed summer 1830 at cost of £1077.18s. Builder: Jonathan Tilson, Belturbet.   Attrib. to WDB by Brett.
Refs: Angélique Day & Patrick McWilliams, eds.Ordnance Survey Memoirs of Ireland, Vol. 4: Parishes of Co. Fermanagh 1834-5 (1990), 89; C.E.B. Brett, Court Houses and market houses of the Province of Ulster (UAHS, 1973), 83; Alistair Rowan, The Buildings of Ireland: North West Ulster (1979), 437

Building: CO. CLARE, ENNIS, COUNTY GAOL
Date: 1828
Nature: Additions, (i.e. 'detached prisons for females and debtors, lately erected in front' as described by Lewis?)
Refs: E.McP, citing Clare Grand Jury Presentments 1828; S. Lewis, A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland (1837), I, 601

Building: CO. LOUTH, DUNDALK, RODEN PLACE, CHURCH OF ST PATRICK (RC PRO-CATHEDRAL)
Date: 1830
Nature: Unexecuted scheme for 'chaste Ionic structure'.
Refs: Design exh. RHA 1830, no. 267; advertisement for tenders and article in Louth Free Press, 15 May 1830.

Building: CO. FERMANAGH, LISNASKEA, MARKET HOUSE
Date: 1830ca
Nature: For Earl of Erne; attrib. to WDB by Brett.
Refs: C.E.B. Brett, Court Houses and market houses of the Province of Ulster (UAHS, 1973), 82; Alistair Rowan, The Buildings of Ireland: North West Ulster (1979), 359

Building: CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, ROYAL MUSIC HALL
Date: 1831
Nature: -
Refs: RHA 1831, no. 248

Building: CO. LAOIS, SHAEN HOUSE
Date: 1831
Nature: 'Design for Castle Shane in the Queen's Co., now erecting for Thomas Kemmis, Esq.' exh. RHA 1831.
Refs: RHA 1831, no. 243

Building: CO. CAVAN, COOTEHILL, COURT HOUSE
Date: 1831-1832
Nature: New court house built 1831-32. Attrib. to WDB 'with fair confidence' by Brett.
Refs: Angélique Day & Patrick McWilliams, Ordnance Survey Memoirs of Ireland, Vol. 40: Counties of South Ulster 1834-8, 4; C.E.B. Brett, Court Houses and market houses of the Province of Ulster (UAHS, 1973), 54(illus.), 56;  Kevin V. Mulligan, The Buildings of Ireland: South Ulster (2013), 289.

Building: CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, AUNGIER STREET, ST PETER'S CHURCH (CI)?
Date: 1832
Nature: 'Proposed design for Peter's church'.  (Or could this be a design for St Peter's, Phibsborough?)
Refs: RHA 1832, no. 268

Building: CO. OFFALY, TULLAMORE, CORMAC STREET, COUNTY COURT HOUSE
Date: 1832
Nature: Prize-winning design exh. RHA 1834.
Refs: RHA 1834, nos. 273, 278

Building: CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, HAWKINS STREET, THEATRE ROYAL
Date: 1832;1848
Nature: 'Design for New Theatre Royal' exh. RHA, 1832.
Refs: RHA 1832, no. 252; 3 lithograph plans and watercolour elevation of principal front and side elevation, dated 1848, sold Sotheby's, 20 Jul 1993, lot 4, now in NLI (photocopies in IAA)

Building: CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, PHOENIX PARK, ZOO
Date: 1833
Nature: Thatched half-timbered gate lodge
Refs: Christine Casey, The Buildings of Ireland: Dublin (2005),307.

Building: CO. CAVAN, BALLYCONNELL, COURT HOUSE
Date: 1833
Nature: New 2-storey, 3-bay court house. Attrib. 'with some confidence' to WDB by Brett; 'rather an elegant edifice' (Lawson)
Refs: [Tracing of?] undated plan and section and plans of prison and court house in NA, OPW drawings collection; J.P. Lawson, Gazetteer of Ireland (1842), 97; C.E.B. Brett, Court Houses and market houses of the Province of Ulster (UAHS, 1973), 52,54(illus.)

Building: CO. CORK, CORK, FATHER MATHEW QUAY, CHURCH OF THE HOLY TRINITY (RC, CAPUCHIN)
Date: 1833
Nature: 'Mr Butler's' plan no. 1 placed 4th in competition. Design for church 'proposed to be erected' exh. RHA, 1833.
Refs: Limerick Chronicle, 15 Aug 1832, cited by David Lee & Debbie Jacobs, James Pain, architect (Limerick Civic Trust, 2005), 195; RHA 1833, nos. 194, 199

Building: CO. MEATH, PILTOWN HOUSE (COLPE)
Date: 1833-1840p
Nature: New house on or near site of earlier house and possibly incorporating part of same.  For Thomas Brodigan.  Builder: Thomas Hammond. Carpenters: Austin Nicholls and (post April 1835) Michael Callen. Interior plasterwork by Thomas McAnaspie, 37 Great Brunswick Street. Chimneypieces supplied by Harris, Great Brunswick Street.
Refs: Information from Philip McEvansoneya, Trinity College, Dublin, June 2011, citing Brodigan-Piltown Papers in National Library of Ireland.

Building: CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, COLLEGE GREEN, TRINITY COLLEGE, MUSEUM, LECTURE ROOMS & CAMPANILE (PROPOSED)
Date: 1833-34
Nature: Competition entrant. Awarded 2nd premium.
Refs: RHA 1834, nos. 274, 277; Frederick O'Dwyer, The Architecture of Deane and Woodward (Cork University Press, 1997), 132

Building: CO. FERMANAGH, NEWTOWNBUTLER, MARKET HOUSE
Date: 1833ca
Nature: Attrib. to WDB by Brett.  Similarity to that at Lisnaskea.
Refs: C.E.B. Brett, Court Houses and market houses of the Province of Ulster (UAHS, 1973), 81(illus.),83;   Alistair Rowan, The Buildings of Ireland: North West Ulster (1979), 437

Building: CO. LOUTH, DUNLEER
Date: 1835-1849
Nature: Proposed improvements creating symmetrical layout with two concentric crescents on W side of main Dublin to Dundalk road and an axial road cutting through crescents to focus on new church. For R.M. Bellew of Barmeath. Not executed.
Refs: Plans at Barmeath Castle (copies in NLI); Christine Casey & Alistair Rowan, The Buildings of Ireland: North Leinster (1993), 276

Building: CO. DOWN, ROSTREVOR, ROSTREVOR HOUSE
Date: 1836
Nature: Alterations. For Maj. Gen. Robert Ross. (Is this the remodelling of earlier house on the site, Carrickbawn?). Contractor: Thomas Emerson?
Refs: Specification of work to be done in alterations and additions to Carrickbawn, by William Deane Butler, architect; assigned as a contract by Thos. Emerson, 14 Mar 1836, in PRONI, D2004/6/12 (see PRONI e-catalogue).

Building: CO. KILKENNY, KILKENNY, COLLEGE ROAD, ST KIERAN'S COLLEGE
Date: 1836-39;1847-49
Nature: New seminary. FS laid 24 Oct 1836. East wing completed by Sep 1838. West wing completed 1839. Central block built 1847-49.  Designs exh. RA 1847 and RHA 1849 (described as 'now erecting').
Refs: Designs for 'Intended college at Kilkenny' by WDB in St Kieran's College (digital photographs of drawings before conservation in IAA, Acc. 2007/7 Catholic Directory (1836), 271; RA 1847, no. 1234; RHA 1849, no. 447; Douglas Scott Richardson, Gothic Revival Architecture in Ireland (1983), 322 (gives date as 1836-39);  St Patrick's Kilkenny: Gravestone Inscriptions with historical notes on the parish (Kilkenny Archaeological Society, n.d.),79-80.

Building: CO. FERMANAGH, EDERNEY, MARKET HOUSE
Date: 1839ca
Nature: Attrib. to WDB by Brett.
Refs: C.E.B. Brett, Court Houses and market houses of the Province of Ulster (UAHS, 1973), 78

Building: CO. GALWAY, CLIFDEN, COURT HOUSE
Date: 1840
Nature: In course of erection, 1840, when Board of Works gave a loan of £1000. At Galway Summer Assizes, 1845, presentment for £95 made to WDB for working plans and superintendence of court house and 9 visits from Dublin to inspect the works at £5 each.
Refs: 8th Annual Report of Commissioners of Public Works (Ireland) (1840), 23; Tuam Herald, 26 Jul 1845;  Brendan O'Donoghue, The Irish County Surveyors 1834-1944 (Dublin: Four Courts Press, 2007), 131.

Building: CO. KILKENNY, CALLAN, GREEN STREET, COURT HOUSE
Date: 1840a
Nature: Identical court houses at Callan and Urlingford designed by WDB for Co. Kilkenny Grand Jury at instigation of the county surveyor, Samson Carter. Built with loan of £1,200 from Board of Works; 'work considerably advanced', 1840.
Refs: 8th Annual Report of Commissioners of Public Works (Ireland) (1840), 23; Brendan O'Donoghue, The Irish County Surveyors 1834-1944 (Dublin: Four Courts Press, 2007), 126

Building: CO. KILKENNY, URLINGFORD, COURT HOUSE
Date: 1840a
Nature: Identical court houses at Callan and Urlingford designed by WDB for Co. Kilkenny Grand Jury at instigation of the county surveyor, Samson Carter. Built with loan of £1,200 from Board of Works; in progress, 1840.
Refs: 8th Annual Report of Commissioners of Public Works (Ireland) (1840), 23; Brendan O'Donoghue, The Irish County Surveyors 1834-1944 (Dublin: Four Courts Press, 2007), 126

Building: CO. KILDARE, CASTLEWARDEN (RATHCOOLE)
Date: 1840ca
Nature: Designs for villa, for H[ugh] Palliser.
Refs: Contract drawing, 1840ca, showing plans, elevation and section of 3-storey, 4 bedroom house, with kitchens and servants hall in the basement, in Victoria & Albert Museum, RIBA Drawings Collection, AO1/M/39, see British Architectural Library Catalogue, http://riba.sirsidynix.net.uk/uhtbin/cgisirsi/QIHYPpqz6v/MAIN_CAT/237720086/9 (last visited May 2009).

Building: CO. WICKLOW, BRAY, SEAPOINT ROAD, COURT HOUSE
Date: 1841
Nature: New 3-bay, 2-storey sessions house. Classical. Contractor: Edmund William O'Kelly. Date of contract 3 Jul 1841.
Refs: Contract drawings (3), dated 1841, in National Archives, OPW drawings collection, OPW5HC/4/396.

Building: CO. WICKLOW, TINAHELY, SESSIONS HOUSE
Date: 1842-43
Nature: William Hampton, co. surveyor, had some involvement in provision of sessions houses at Arklow and Tinahely in 1842-1843; architect probably either WILLIAM DEANE BUTLER or WILLIAM CALDBECK.
Refs: Information from Mrs Shirley McGlynn, citing O'Donoghue.

Building: CO. WICKLOW, ARKLOW, SESSIONS HOUSE
Date: 1842-43
Nature: William Hampton, co. surveyor, had some involvement in provision of sessions houses at Arklow and Tinahely in 1842-1843; architect probably either WILLIAM DEANE BUTLER or WILLIAM CALDBECK.
Refs: Information from Mrs Shirley McGlynn, citing O'Donoghue.

Building: CO. TIPPERARY, ROSCREA, ABBEY STREET, CHURCH OF ST CRONAN (RC)
Date: 1843-1855
Nature: New cruciform church, originally built after design by W. Deane Butler. Begun 1843ca.  Work brought to a halt by Famine. Dedicated 19 Oct 1855.
Refs: RHA 1849, no. 450; B 13, 10 Nov 1855, 542; DB 2, 1 Oct 1860, 352; IB 73, 1,29 Aug,12 Sep 1931, 676,762,802; Civil Engineer and Architect's Journal 21 (1858), 34;  Ignatius Murphy, The Diocese of Killaloe 1850-1904 (Blackrock: Four Courts Press, 1995), 435

Building: CO. KILKENNY, KILKENNY, JAMES'S STREET, CATHEDRAL OF ST MARY (RC)
Date: 1843;1854-1857
Nature: New cruciform Gothic cathedral for diocese of Ossory, with tower at crossing. FS laid 18 (or 20?) Aug 1843.  Consecrated 4 Oct 1857. Clerk of works: Cody. Total cost £25,000. Completed by unassisted voluntary subscription, amounting to £28,000. High altar 'an elaborate specimen, brought from one of the principal manufactories in Rome'.
Refs: Civil Engineer and Architect's Journal 20 (Nov 1857), 379, 21 (1858), 34; George Henry Bassett, Kilkenny City and County (1884), 45; P.M. Egan,The illustrated guide to the city and county of Kilkenny[1884?], 249; B 12, 7 Jan 1854, 6; 15, 17 Oct,5 Dec 1857, 596,71. 21 (1858), 34

Building: CO. MONAGHAN, CLONES, MARKET HOUSE
Date: 1844
Nature: New 5-bay, 2-storey T-plan market house erected to designs by WDB
Refs: Lithograph of market house 'now being erected' in IAA, Hollybrooke drawings collection , Acc. 87/55.35/1;  C.E.B. Brett, Court Houses and market houses of the Province of Ulster (UAHS, 1973), 96;  Kevin V. Mulligan, The Buildings of Ireland: South Ulster (2013), 274-5,Pl.68.

Building: CO. KILKENNY, FRESHFORD, CHURCH (RC)
Date: 1844
Nature: -
Refs: Signed and dated drawings in IAA, Carberry Collection, 85/200.1/2-7

Building: CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, AMIENS STREET, RAILWAY STATION (DUBLIN & DROGHEDA RAILWAY)
Date: 1844
Nature: Terminus for Dublin & Drogheda Railway (reconstructed 1882-4). FS laid 24 May 1844.  According to Casey, Sir John Macneill was also involved in design.
Refs: 1 unsigned sheet of drawings (on both sides of paper) for stonework of campanile, formerly in collection of Maurice Craig, in IAA, Acc. 95/38; 'Annals of Dublin' (unpaginated) in Pettigrew & Oulton's Dublin Almanack (1847); IB 26, 1 May 1884, 126; 68, 1 May 1926, 329; 150 Years of Architecture in Ireland, 10 (illus.); Civil Engineer and Architect's Journal 21 (1858), 34;  Christine Casey, The Buildings of Ireland: Dublin (2005),166,Pl.82..

Building: CO. KILDARE, LYONS
Date: 1845
Nature: Proposed piazza, terrace, portico
Refs: Signed & dated drawings for piazza and terrace and undated elevation of proposed portico in NLI, A.D. 2060-2062

Building: CO. CLARE, ENNIS, GORT ROAD, COUNTY COURT HOUSE
Date: 1845
Nature: Competition entrant, but competition won by Henry Whitestone.
Refs: Clare Journal, 27 Oct 1845; William Garner, Ennis: Architectural Heritage (An Foras Forbatha, 1981), 16,18,19(illus.)

Building: CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, KINGSBRIDGE, RAILWAY STATION (GREAT SOUTHERN & WESTERN RAILWAY TERMINUS)
Date: 1845
Nature: Competiton entrant.
Refs: Competition design attributed to WDB in IAA, 75/2.1; J. Sheehy, Kingsbridge Station (Gatherum I, 1973), 7-8

Building: CO. MONAGHAN, MONAGHAN, ANNAHAGH LANE, GAS WORKS
Date: 1846
Nature: Proposed scheme by Butler for new gas works with offices and manager's house. Initial difficulties in finding a site, nearly led to the dissolution of the Monaghan Gas Company, however fortunes changed when a site was finally agreed upon and in 'a very handsome act', Butler 'gave up all claims upon the company for the professional services he had renderend them, including a pretty considerable item for travelling expenses, plans, sketches, specifications, &c.'
Refs: The Northern Standard, January 1846; Information contributed by Eamonn FitzSimons, June 2022.

Building: CO. SLIGO, SLIGO, CLARION ROAD, DISTRICT LUNATIC ASYLUM
Date: 1847-1852
Nature: New asylum for 250 patients; 'a noble structure in the Elizabethan style' (Wood Martin). Founded 7 Nov 1847. Contractor: James Caldwell. Clerk of Works: John Balle[?], Collooney.
Refs: Drawings in IAA, 89/11; B 8, 5 Oct 1850, 473 (plans); 16th Report of Board of Public Works (1848), 15; APSD, L, 153; William Gregory Wood Martin, History of Sligo, county and town, from the earliest ages to the close of the reign of Queen Elizabeth (to the present time) (Dublin, 1882-92), III, 160-163; 45th Report on District, Criminal and Private Lunatic Asylums (1896), 20; Tadhg Kilgannon, Sligo and its surroundings (Sligo, 1926),  145.

Building: CO. DONEGAL, ARANMORE, CHURCH (FREE)
Date: 1849
Nature: Proposed free church, for Lord Rossmore
Refs: RHA 1849, no. 397; RIAI minutes, 21 Feb 1850, 70.

Building: CO. KILDARE, MONASTEREVIN, CHURCH OF SS PETER & PAUL (RC)
Date: 1849
Nature: New church, in process of erection 1849. For Rev. Philip Healy, PP.
Refs: RHA 1849, no. 403; B 15, 5 Dec 1857, 710; Civil Engineer and Architect's Journal 21 (1858), 34;  John McEvoy, ed., The Churches of Kildare and Leighlin 2000 AD (Strasbourg: Editions du Signe, 2000), 102(illus.)


Building: CO. DUBLIN, KILLINEY, HOUSE FOR QUEEN VICTORIA (PROPOSED)
Date: 1849
Nature: Proposed Tudor Revival villa.
Refs: Drawing in collection of Felix McCann;  Architect & Building Operative 1, 20 Sep 1849, 370.

Building: CO. KILDARE, KILKEA CASTLE
Date: 1849
Nature: Survey and proposed alteration.
Refs: Signed drawings, dated Jun-Jul 1849, in RIA.

Building: CO. SLIGO, SLIGO, MALL, COUNTY INFIRMARY
Date: 1850-1851
Nature: Additions
Refs: Drawings in IAA, Murray Collection, nos. 1141-1148 (see Murray Collection catalogue, pp. 324-5); B 9, 5 Apr 1851, 222; 14, 9 Feb 1856, 74

Building: CO. KILDARE, KNOCKANALLY
Date: 1850ca
Nature: Rebuilding of Georgian house, attr to W.D Butler by Williams.
Refs: J. Williams, Companion guide to Architecture in Ireland 1837-1921 (1994), 234

Building: CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, O'CONNELL STREET LOWER, NO. 023-27 (MCSWINEY, DELANY & CO.)
Date: 1852-53
Nature: WDB's design selected despite award of 1st & 2nd premiums to others. Preparations being made, Nov 1852.  To have 82 ft long frontage 'of an unusually ornamented description'. Building constructed in 'a little over three months'. Cost: £40,000.  Contractor: Beardwood. Refurbishment and alterations, 1872, carried out by Entwistle, York St;  gas fittings and ormolu work by Gregg & Son, Sackville St. 
Refs: For Butler's dispute with Caldbeck over this matter, see RIAI Council minutes, 4 Mar 1853 and 20 May 1853, pp.114-115,119; B 10, 9 Oct,13  Nov 1852, 641,721; 15, 5 Dec 1857, 710;  Irish Times, 1 Apr 1872 (long description of building).watercolour of exterior by Michael Angelo Hayes in NGI, Cat. 2980; photograph of interior after fire in RIA; see also Peter Costello, The Heart of the City (Dublin, 1992); M. Craig, 'The account-book of William Caldbeck, architect', Architectural History 27 (1984), 426; Civil Engineer and Architect's Journal 21 (1858), 34

Building: CO. SLIGO, ROSSES POINT, CHURCH (CI)
Date: 1853
Nature: New church by Edward Joshua Cooper of Markree who also gave endowment of £1395. FS laid 14 Aug 1854. Cost: £500. Builder: Henry Caldwell.
Refs: B 11, 30 Apr, 14 May 1853, 279,315; W.G. Wood-Martin, History of Sligo (1882-1892), III, 225

Building: CO. SLIGO, ROSSES POINT, GLEBE HOUSE
Date: 1853
Nature: Church and glebe house to be built by Mr Cooper of Markree 'this summer'.
Refs: B 11, 30 Apr, 14 May 1853, 279,315

Building: CO. MONAGHAN, ROSSMORE PARK
Date: 1854
Nature: Designs for remodelling, for Lord Rossmore.  (According to Rowan, these designs were unexecuted, but Mulligan suggests that they were.)
Refs: Drawings among Rossmore MSS, PRONI, T.2929 (photographs in IAA box files);  A.M. Rowan, ed., The Architecture of Richard Morrison and William Vitruvius Morrison (IAA, 1989), 152;  Kevin V. Mulligan, The Buildings of Ireland: South Ulster (2013), 483.

Building: CO. LIMERICK, LIMERICK, COURTBRACK, CHURCH
Date: 1854
Nature: New church to be built.
Refs: B 12, 15 Jul 1854, 378

Building: CO. KILKENNY, SHANKILL CASTLE
Date: 1854
Nature: Proposed additions, for James Aylward.
Refs: 2 sheets of plans &c in IAA, Acc. 90/74 (photographed)

Building: CO. DOWN, DROMANTINE HOUSE (NEWRY)
Date: 1855
Nature: Proposed alts. & adds, for Arthur C. Innes. Unexecuted.
Refs: Plans & elevations, signed and dated 11 Sep 1855, in IAA McCurdy & Mitchell Collection, 82/49.66/1-3

Building: CO. MONAGHAN, MONAGHAN, HIGH STREET, SAVINGS BANK
Date: 1855
Nature: Design for new bank. Small 3-bay, gable-endrd, 1½ -storey block , with porch at each end.
Refs: Design, s. & d. 14 Feb 1855, in IAA, Acc. 2000/093;  C.E.B. Brett, Historic Buildings…in the town of Monaghan (UAHS, 1970), 19;  Kevin V. Mulligan, The Buildings of Ireland: South Ulster (2013), 477. 


Building: CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, GRAFTON STREET, SHOP
Date: ?
Nature: Chemist's shop, described as a 'classical temple of pillboxes'
Refs: An Essay on the Fine Arts by Tim Rooney to which is added a clincher by Tim Dooley (Dublin, 1832), 11

Building: CO. CAVAN, ARVAGH, MARKET HOUSE
Date: ?
Nature: For Earl of Gosford; attrib. to WDB by Brett.
Refs: C.E.B. Brett, Court Houses and market houses of the Province of Ulster (UAHS, 1973), 52

Building: CO. LAOIS, TIMAHOE, MODEL VILLAGE (PROPOSED)
Date: ?
Nature: For Thomas Cosby.
Refs: Drawing in collection of Major Cosby (photograph in IAA)

Building: CO. CAVAN, BALLYCONNELL, MARKET HOUSE
Date: ?
Nature: Attrib. 'with some confidence' to WDB by Brett.
Refs: C.E.B. Brett, Court Houses and market houses of the Province of Ulster (UAHS, 1973), 52

Building: CO. DUBLIN, MONKSTOWN, HOUSE
Date: ?
Nature: Cottage near Monkstown church.
Refs: An Essay on the rise & progress of architectural taste in Dublin…by Nicholson Numskull Esq (Dublin, 1832), 6

Building: CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, O'CONNELL STREET LOWER, NO. 003 (BEWLEY & EVANS, CHEMISTS)
Date: ?
Nature: Mentioned as work of Butler by 'Tim Rooney'.
Refs: An Essay on the Fine Arts by Tim Rooney to which is added a clincher by Tim Dooley (Dublin, 1832), 11

Author Title Date Details
Anon. An Essay on the Fine Arts by Tim Rooney to which is added a clincher by Tim Dooley 1832 Dublin, 1832.
Anon. An Essay on the rise and progress of architectural taste in Dublin…by Nicholson Numskull Esq 1832 Dublin, 1832.
Butler, William Deane Model farm-houses and cottages for Ireland, and other improving countries; being a series of designs 1832 London, 1832. (See Michael McMordie, 'Picturesque Pattern Books and Pre-Victorian Designers', Architectural History 18 (1975), 56.)
Butler, William Deane (?) The Schoolmaster's Manual 1832 Dublin: Kildare Place Society, 1832.