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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

"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.

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.

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.