The 19th Century Reconstruction of Dungarvan
Jesse Hartley (1780-1860) - Engineer to the Duke of
Devonshire.
Hartley was born on 21 December 1780 near Pontefract, Yorkshire into a
family of bridge builders/stone masons.
He was described as a: ‘man of ruddy complexion, a powerful bodily frame
and robust constitution’. He was the first full-time professional dock engineer
in the world. When the Duke of Devonshire planned to rebuild the centre of
Dungarvan in the early 1800s he also decided to build a new quay to help the
development of trade and to construct a bridge to link Abbeyside with the town
centre. Before this people had to either cross by ferryboat (for which they had
to pay a fee) from Abbeyside or travel up the Colligan and cross the river at
Ballyneety Bridge.
Hartley was employed as the chief engineer for the works in Dungarvan
and he arrived in the town around 1809 and stayed until 1818. Over time he
became friendly with the daughter of a local Inn Keeper, her name was Ellen
Penny. Her father, William Penny, was
the Seneschal (equivalent to a Town Clerk) and had an inn near the
quayside. William died young in 1811 aged 42 as did his wife Fanny who died in
1806 aged 35. He and his wife are buried beside the old gable wall in St Mary’s
Church of Ireland, and on the monument, there is a reference to their daughter
Ellen and Hartley. Ellen died at Bootle Marsh in Liverpool on 9 December 1836
aged only 28, we don’t know the cause of death, but it may have been during or
after the birth of a child.
After leaving Dungarvan Hartley was appointed as engineer to the
Liverpool Docks. He designed the Albert Dock with special fire- proof
construction. He expanded the docklands from 46 to 212 acres. The buildings
have been converted and are now a visitor and leisure attraction of
architectural significance.
Jesse died on 24 August 1869 at Bootle Marsh, Liverpool aged 80. He had
one child, a son named John Bernard who was also an engineer.
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Dew Laas, moored at Davitt's Quay, Dungarvan
