Name Derivation

Named after Rafter family who farmed in the lane in the 1850s.

Description

Before Crumlin Road was straightened, the road went through Old County Road and onto Rafter’s Lane and joining the road back near location of the Children’s Hospital. This can be seen in 1816 Taylor map and a Sail Factory is located close by. In the 1821 Duncan map, it is clear that the Crumlin road has been straightened and the new road bypassed both what is now Rafter’s Lane and Old County Road.

1816 – shows the old route of the Crumlin road via Old County Road and Rafter’s Lane

 

1821 Duncan Map – The Crumlin Road is straightened and the old route including was is now Rafter’s Lane and Old County Road are bypassed.

The road is named after the Rafter family, who rented land at the current location on the lane. In the 1850s. In the Griffith Valuation, Margaret Rafter is leasing the land from Thomas McCreery.

Griffith Valuation land details, circa 1850. Rafter’s Lane skirts the north boundary of plot 27 and 28. Details of occupiers below.

• 2B: Patrick Flynn (Occupier) , Thomas Molloy and David Mergan (Lessors)
• 3A: Thomas Molloy and David Mergan (Occupiers), Isaac Weld (Lessor)
• 4ab: Margaret Rafter(Occupier), Thomas McCreery (Lessor)
• 5a: John Toole, Thomas McCreery (Lessor)
• 27a: Thomas Fitzpatrick(Occupier), Sir Robert Shaw(Lessor)
• 28a: John Grange (Occupier), John Toole(Lessor)
  
• 28b: Henry Molloy (Lessor) , John Grange Junior(Lessor)

1860s – 1870s

Thom’s directory shows John Cox and John Owens living on Rafter’s Lane in the 1860s.

• 1863-1868: John Cox
• 1863-1878 John Owens

Shaws Map – 1879

The map below shows Charles Grave (Grange?) occupying the land leased from Sir Robert Shaw.

Shaws map 1879 – https://www.flickr.com/photos/dublincitypubliclibraries/51870343471/in/album-72177720296547473

Rafter’s Lane was among several rural pockets in Dublin plagued by severe sanitary issues in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The cottages in this area were occupied by tenants working at Mr Cower’s Inchicore Railway Works and were described as being in a deplorable state. Dr Henry Davy, a medical officer of health, reported that accumulations of foul-smelling manure, decayed vegetables, rags, and general refuse were left to rot in front of the cottages, creating an unbearable stench and posing a significant health risk.

Similar conditions were observed across the county, including nearby Walkinstown, where another lane was described as “almost a swamp,” filled with deep ruts, mud, and decomposing waste. The broader problem of public nuisances, as defined under the Public Health (Ireland) Act of 1878, included open sewers, water contamination, overflowing ash pits, and general filth accumulation, all of which were prevalent in Rafter’s Lane and neighbouring districts. The ever-present health hazards and poor living conditions required continuous intervention by local sanitary officers, who faced an overwhelming workload dealing with both major sanitation failures and minor but persistent issues such as defective chimneys, animal carcasses dumped in public areas, and the foul “effluvium” that pervaded entire neighbourhoods.

Despite efforts to address these problems, the situation in Rafter’s Lane highlighted the broader neglect of working-class housing and the inadequate public health measures in Dublin’s rural outskirts during this period.

1900- 1940

In 1904, a motion was put forward in the South Dublin Rural District Council to take over and pay for the repairs to the road on Rafter’s Lane.

In the 1906 Thom’s directory it mentions “6 small cottages” but does not name the occupants. By 1910, the directory mentions 16 Land League houses on Rafters Road and 5 small cottages on Rafter’s Lane. The dairy yard, previously Margaret Rafters is located between the cottages on Rafter’s Lane and Rafter’s Road.

• 1906 6 Small Cottages

• 1908: 11 Small Cottages
• 1910 it mentions 16 Land League houses and 5 small cottages
• 
• 1925 it mentions 16 Land League houses and 6 small cottages
• 1928-1937  Brigid O’ Connor – Dairy Yard and  Marrowbone Lane No. 29 is mentioned.

In 1929, diphtheria broke out around the area affecting residents in Rafter’s Lane and other local streets.

1941 – 1950

From 1941-1949, the lane has six numbered houses, the 16 land league houses are now called rafter’s road.

• 1 Rafters Lane 1941 – 1949: M. Kearns
• 2 Rafters Lane 1941 – 1949: P. Doyle
• 3 Rafters Lane 1941 – 1949: M. Ryan
• 4 Rafters Lane: 1941 – 1949: P. Conway
• 5 Rafters Lane:  1941 – 1949: L. Murphy
• 6 Rafters Lane: 1941 – 1949: M. Murray
• 7 Rafters Lane: 1944 – 1949: J. O’Connor (Dairy Yard)

In 1941, foot and mouth broke out on O’Connor’s farm on Rafter’s Lane affecting the herd of 40 cows.

1950’s

In 1955, Rafter’s Lane, Rafter’s Road and other labourer’s cottages throughout Crumlin were not connected to the water and sewerage. Residents had to fetch water from a water pump on a footpath. The issue receiving media attention with Dublin Corporation resolving the issue. The houses should have been connected when the Ctumlin Housing Scheme was built in the 1930s and 1940s.

1980s onwards

In 1989, Rafter’s Lane was included in the area which banned the burning of smokey coal due to the terrible smog issue in Dublin. In 1995, planning permission was granted for the building of four houses – 6, 6a, 11,11a.

 

 

 

 

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