The Workhouse Drawings collection contains a representative sample of drawings, plans, and documents drawn from the Irish Architectural Archive's Workhouse Collection. The Workhouse Collection (reference 85/138) in the Irish Architectural Archive includes surviving drawings for workhouses built in Ireland to provide relief for the poor. Built between 1839 and 1847, the workhouses were designed in a Tudor domestic idiom by architect George Wilkinson. Occasionally drawings are accompanied by other documents including the standard printed specification or, more rarely, items of correspondence. Many are in extremely poor condition and their extreme fragility precludes public access. This online collection provides access to drawings and documents relating to the Mallow, Castleblayney, Lismore, and Gorey workhouses. The drawings for Mallow Workhouse may be considered a representative set of the surviving drawings for the Tudor style workhouses built by Wilkinson. The majority of the drawings were produced mechanically (engraved and printed). The inclusion of drawings from Castleblayney, Lismore, and Gorey, in addition to those of Mallow, ensures that this online collection includes samples of each printed drawing.

A collection of photographs from the albums of G. & T. Crampton, one of Dublin's best-known construction companies. The photographs were intended as a record of the building projects which the firm undertook rather than a formal archive. They cover a wide range of buildings including commercial buildings, shops, houses, hospitals, and factories. The projects covered by the collection include new builds, renovations, extensions, and restorations. While the firm has undertaken work throughout Ireland, the majority of the photographs are of projects in the Dublin area.

The Dublin Town Planning Competition was held in 1914, with the aim to "elicit Plans and Reports of a preliminary and suggestive character, and thus obtain contributions and alternatives which may be of value towards the guidance of the future development of the City in its various directions". The Dublin civic survey report refers to the competition as the Aberdeen Competition, probably due to the prize for the best design which was presented by the Marquis of Aberdeen and Temair. Eight entries were submitted in total, each relating to the Greater Dublin area, taking in Howth, Glasnevin, Ashtown, Dundrum and Dalkey. The main headings for the proposals included: 1. Communications; 2. Housing; and 3. Metropolitan improvements. The submission by Patrick Abercrombie, Sydney Kelly and Arthur Kelly was awarded the prize in 1916. Due to major political and historical events, the winning entry was not officially published until 1922, with the final Civic Report not published until 1925. Out of the eight entries, only three are known to have survived.

[Letter from Frank Renaud (18 Barton Arcade, Deansgate, Manchester) to William Frazer, mainly concerning examples of "post & pane houses".]

Circular from the Architects' Office, Poor Law Commission Office to clerks of works about the fitting of windows and instructions on keeping a notebook of 'every matter relating to the Building of a unsatisfactory nature'. This circular is from the documents relating to Castleblayney Workhouse.

As the printed specification had stipulated, these ironmongery elements were sourced and supplied centrally from Wilkinson's office. The list is divided into the following sections: Ledged and Sparred Doors, Doors to Store Rooms, Carpenter's Patent Locks, Stock Locks, Drawback Locks, Norfolk Thumb Latches, Bolts. Castleblayney Union Workhouse is now part of St. Mary's Hospital.

Circular from the Architects' Office, Poor Law Commission Office to clerks of works about the laying of flagging inside external doors and other details about the construction of external doors. This circular is from the documents relating to Castleblayney Workhouse.

The Fifth Annual Report of the Poor Law Commissioners, May 1839. Includes details of "the measures which [the Commissioners] have adopted for introducing into Ireland the provision of the Act of last session, for the more effectual Relief of the Destitute Poor in Ireland". The Appendices which accompany the Report contain 'Documents Issues by the Board Under the Irish Poor relief Act', with Section 9 consisting of 'Papers as to the Providing of Workhouses in Ireland' and Section 10 consisting of 'Plans, &c., of Workhouses for Ireland, to contain from 400 to 800 paupers'. Two ground plans were included, one for a 400 to 500 person workhouse and one for an 800 person workhouse. Each plan was accompanied by a 'Bird’s Eye View Shewing the General Arrangement' for the building. These drawings constitute templates for the Tudor-style first wave of workhouses by architect George Wilkinson from which the constructed buildings did not significantly deviate. An important feature of the design was its flexibility; "the pans [were] so arranged as to allow of [an] addition being made without either interfering with the part already executed, or occasioning any sacrifice of the previous outlay".

Note to a Mr Stuart requesting that he inspect a ventilator at Mallow 'which admits rain & ascertain the cause' and that he mark on the ground plan 'the exact arrangement of all the steps and inclines to the fronts of the Doorways' and the exact locations of drains. This note is from the documents relating to Mallow Workhouse.

Circular from the Architects' Office, Poor Law Commission Office to clerks of works advising them on actions to take in the event of frost damage. This circular is from the documents relating to Castleblayney Workhouse.

Drawing of 16-17 College Green, new premises constructed by G. & T. Crampton for Guinness Mahon and Co. in 1930-1931. The architect was Robert Donnelly of Donnelly, Moore, & Keatinge.

Circular from the Architects' Office, Poor Law Commission Office to clerks of works about the proper construction and fitting of windows. This circular is from the documents relating to Castleblayney Workhouse.

Printed elevation, section and plan of door, with 'observations'. Mallow Union Workhouse is now Mallow General Hospital.

Printed section through central section of main block. Mallow Union Workhouse is now Mallow General Hospital.

"Drawing shewing general construction of the window frames and cast Iron lights. The Windows which are of different sizes to the one shewn are to have the construction similar, the lights to be calculated for size". Printed drawing with inside and outside elevations of window, plans above and below transom, section and full size details. Mallow Union Workhouse is now Mallow General Hospital.

Printed drawing showing plan and elevation of timber structure of dormer window, front and side elevations of finished exterior of dormer windows, plans of window above and below transom, half- and full-size details. Mallow Union Workhouse is now Mallow General Hospital.

Printed elevation, section and plan, with notes, for washing trays in laundry. This drawing is from the documents relating to Mallow Workhouse. Mallow Union Workhouse is now Mallow General Hospital.

First floor plan of two-storey elements (entrance, main block and infirmary) with roof-timber and roof plans of single storey elements (dining block/chapel and wings to infirmary). Mallow Union Workhouse is now Mallow General Hospital.

Hand-drawn sections through dining hall/chapel. Castleblayney Union Workhouse is now part of St. Mary's Hospital.

Hand-drawn sections through laundry. Castleblayney Union Workhouse is now part of St. Mary's Hospital.

Printed drawing showing plan above and below sills, with section. Mallow Union Workhouse is now Mallow General Hospital.

Printed elevation and plan of door. Mallow Union Workhouse is now Mallow General Hospital.

Printed elevation, section and plans of upper (glazed) and lower (panelled) areas of door, with full-size section of glazing bar in upper area. Mallow Union Workhouse is now Mallow General Hospital.

Printed elevation showing 'Pattern of Gable Boards (to be in one width) for Infirmary Building'. Mallow Union Workhouse is now Mallow General Hospital.

Hand-drawn sections through dining hall/chapel (GH) and laundry (IK). Mallow Union Workhouse is now Mallow General Hospital.

Full-size profile of bricks for string course and label molding over door and windows at front entrance.

Printed elevations and plans showing 'manner of construction' of 'Privies between Idiots Yards and Men and Women's Yards', 'Privies at rere of the Infirmary buildings', 'Cesspool under Dead House' and 'Cesspools in Boys and Girls Yards'. Mallow Union Workhouse is now Mallow General Hospital.

Ground plan of full workhouse including external walls, yards, and entrance, main, dining/chapel and infirmary blocks. Locations of cesspits and tanks are noted. Drawings added later (see related item). Mallow Union Workhouse is now Mallow General Hospital.

Printed front elevation and section for sliding iron vents in walls. Mallow Union Workhouse is now Mallow General Hospital.

Printed drawing showing plan, plan of roof, section and elevation on one sheet of ventilation turrets over main staircases. Includes whether vane to be made of 'strong copper'. Mallow Union Workhouse is now Mallow General Hospital.

Printed interior perspective of main block shewing the construction arrangements of the sleeping platforms and Bedsteads. This copy of the interior view is from the documents relating to Lismore Workhouse.

Printed section through central section of main block. Castleblayney Union Workhouse is now part of St. Mary's Hospital.

Printed drawing for two and three light windows above the ground floor. Inside and outside elevations with full-size details. Mallow Union Workhouse is now Mallow General Hospital.

Block plan of workhouse with drains, cesspits, and tanks. Some specifications are included on the drawing. Mallow Union Workhouse is now Mallow General Hospital.

Hand-drawn elevations of entrance and main block. Pin-holes evident. Mallow Union Workhouse is now Mallow General Hospital.

Plan of roof timbers and roof over entrance, plan of second floor of end wings of main block and plan of roof timber and roof over central section of main block. Mallow Union Workhouse is now Mallow General Hospital.

Printed section though end wing of main block. Mallow Union Workhouse is now Mallow General Hospital.

Printed elevations showing 'Pattern for Gable Boards to Entrance Front Building' and 'Pattern for Gable Boards over Windows of Board Room'. Mallow Union Workhouse is now Mallow General Hospital.

Printed drawing showing inside elevation, plan and section with full-size hinge detail, for ground floor rear windows to main block. Mallow Union Workhouse is now Mallow General Hospital.

Amended printed drawing issued in Dec 1840 as the vane was considered too large. As with the original, this vane was to be of 'strong copper'. Castleblayney Union Workhouse is now part of St. Mary's Hospital.

Printed elevation showing 'Pattern for Gable Boards to Wings of the Main Building'. Information on centering is proved with the observation 'The Boards to be all in one width without join'. Mallow Union Workhouse is now Mallow General Hospital.

Hand-drawn plan and elevation of partition for the dining hall/chapel. Mallow Union Workhouse is now Mallow General Hospital.

Printed sections through entrance block (EF) and infirmary (LM). Mallow Union Workhouse is now Mallow General Hospital.

Particulars of fixtures for Castleblayney Workhouse. Material is listed under the following headings: Rail &c. for Bedsteads, Grates and Stoves, Iron Boilers, Dressers, Water Works, Baths, Painting (of letters on doors), and Shelves. Castleblayney Union Workhouse is now part of St. Mary's Hospital.

Specification of Works Required to be Performed in the erection of the Union Workhouse by George Wilkinson, Alexander Thom, Dublin. Printed with mss additions. This copy of the specifications is from the documents relating to Mallow Workhouse. Mallow Union Workhouse is now Mallow General Hospital.

A revised Specification of Works. This copy of the revised specifications is from the documents relating to Castleblayney Workhouse.

Plan and elevation of chimney piece for board room. Hand drawn copy drawing. Pin-holes evident. Mallow Union Workhouse is now Mallow General Hospital.

Drawing submitted by F.A. Cushing Smith to the town plan for Dublin international competition organised by the Civics Institute of Ireland in 1914. Cushing Smith was the sole US entrant and also one of only two single-person entrants. His address at the time of the competition was the University Club, Urbana, Illinois. To ensure anonymity during the adjudication process his entry was give the designation 'B'. Aside from the winners, the adjudicators were unanimous in giving Honourable Mention to four entries including Cushing Smith's. This drawing includes plans and elevations for various types of housing and a block plan of suburban house arrangements.