From the pen of ‘H’ or ‘one who knew the city when he was a boy,’ as published in the Irish Builder, 15 June 1879, this Dickensian account of one of the more disreputable of the attorneys located in Chancery Lane, near Christchurch, who had found their home there during the days of the old Four Courts nearby and continued to reside there for a few decades after litigation had moved across the Liffey:

“The attorneys of the Old Four Courts at the back of Christ Church Cathedral were as distinct from the lawyers of the day from those of modern times.  I remember, when a youth, being brought into the office of one of the most eminent in Dublin, who dwelt in that then fashionable resort of attorneys, Chancery-lane [off Golden-lane], instead of residing, as now, in some of the squares, as men of ton and elegance… Your attorney of that day was, to be sure, equally keen, equally conscionable in the length and composition of his bill of costs; but he was a vulgarian – a provincial – a brogueanier [Reader, pardon the coinage.]  My uncle’s attorney in Chancery-lane – he was not a bad or extra specimen of his race.  I remember when ushered into his back parlour, which served him for office, dressing room, eating room and, I believe, sometimes sleeping room, what a dusty, dingy, dark, fetid hole it was. 

The man was not out of keeping with his domicile – he looked like a great bloated spider in the centre of his cobweb.  I have him before my mind’s eye, as he waddled off his triangular chair to salute us; his snuff-stained cadaverous face overhung by a brown scratch wig that stuck away on his head, and seemed to have grown too small for his cranium; his natural black hair thrusting itself out over his left ear, and hanging extravagantly from his poll behind; his abdomen immensely protuberant, and as his inexpressibles scorned the aid for suspenders to keep them up, they fell apart from his waistcoat, and leaving a goodly share of not quite clean linen to be seen, they hung in loose folds about his thighs, and caused the corduroy of which they were composed to whistle as he waddled around the chamber. 

His accent was in the rich brogue of the co. Limerick; and nothing could exceed the familiar, gossiping, flattering, slewdering fondness with which he complimented my uncle, who was one of his oldest clients.  I have reason to remember Tim […] well; the best part of my worthy relative’s property passed into his hands instead of mine, in liquidation of his tremendous volume of a bill of costs which, whether they were taxed in hell and under the encouraging presence of his satanic majesty, I do not remember.

Christ-Church-yard, where the old Four Courts existed in the last century, was popularly known as ‘Hell’ and there was a thoroughfare through from Fishamble-street to Winetavern-street.  Chancery-lane, above alluded to, passing from golden lane to bridge street has several of the old houses still sanding, once resided in by celebrated judges and lawyers of a different intellectual and morally type than the attorney described by the writer quoted.  The houses, however, are in ruin, but their broad staircases, panelled wainscoted walls and partitions and wooden cornices can still be seen.  Those who are curious can hunt up the names of the great legal and other worthies who once resided in Chancery-lane and out and about there, by referring to the old directories of eighty and a hundred years ago and upwards.”

Sadly, the old houses referred to are now long gone, but Chancery Lane today retains its long-standing connection to this branch of the legal profession – it is the home of Ireland’s Chief State Solicitor!

Image Credit: Alamy.