March 2003 Edition

The Shaw collection was recently acquired by Dublin City Archives. The collection, although small, contains a number of interesting deeds and maps of the lands of Sir Robert Shaw, Baronet of Bushy Park, Terenure and has also established an intriguing link with the theatre

Sir Robert Shaw was a well known figure in nineteenth-century Dublin; he became a member of the Guild of Merchants at the age of 21 and was elected as their representative to the Dublin City Assembly (forerunner of the present day City Council). He was also one of Dublin's foremost financial experts, with his own bank, Robert Shaw and Son, at Foster Place. With his financial know-how he was appointed to Dublin Corporation's Committee of Finance and elected Lord Mayor in 1815. He was also a Member of Parliament for New Ross and Dublin from 1804ñ1826 and, in deference to his position, he was conferred with a Baronetcy on 17 August 1821 during George IV's visit to Dublin. His career continued to be illustrious and he was a founding member of the Royal Bank of Ireland which his bank merged with in 1837.

Bushy Park, however, was not the original homestead of the Shaw Family. Sir Robert's father, Robert Senior was a prosperous merchant and became the Accountant General of the Post Office. He acquired Terenure House, an estate of 35 acres in 1785, and it became the Shaw family residence. In 1796 at the age of 22 Sir Robert married Maria, daughter and heiress of the neighbouring family—the Wilkinsons. His bride brought a substantial dowry and the 110 acre estate of Bushy Park to the marriage. Later, in 1806, Sir Robert sold his family home, Terenure House, and Bushy Park House became the family home and seat of the Shaw family until 1953. His marriage to Maria produced eight surviving children, five sons and three daughters.

This small collection of papers are almost entirely related to the leasing and purchasing of parts of the Bushy Park Estate especially to lands in the vicinity of Terenure, Kimmage, Crumlin, Roundtown, Dublin city and the parish of Rathfarnham, which were mostly farm lands in the nineteenth century. These are well illustrated by a number of small maps which accompany the deeds.

However the collection has a strong link to the theatre world and has uncovered an intriguing fact—Eliza Doolittle, the name made famous in George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion, existed, resided in Cork and had connections with the Shaw Family.

Her name arises in the copy deed of release (AR/add/52/22), where Sir Robert was released from his duties as executor to the will of Lidia Wilkinson. In her will Lidia left legacies to Eliza Doolittle and Isabella Doolittle of Cork and Henry Doolittle of Dublin City. This deed proves the existence of Eliza Doolittle but as yet any further information regarding her or her relationship with the Shaw Family has proved elusive.

George Bernard Shaw was not a direct descendant of Sir Robert but the playwright's father, George Carr Shaw was a cousin of the Baronet. It is hard to surmise how G.B. Shaw was aware of the name of Eliza Doolittle, her connection was obviously with the Wilkinson family who were related to Sir Robert by marriage. We can only suppose that G.B. Shaw came across her name in family letters or deeds and consigned to memory the now famous name to be used when required.

"Your calling me Miss Doolittle that day when I first came to Wimpole Street. That was the beginning of self-respect for me." (Pygmalion Act V)

The Shaw collection has been part of Dublin City Public Libraries digitisation project focusing on the digitisation of printed text, manuscripts and maps. It is one of five pilot projects relating to the overall theme of "The Big House: Aspects of the landed estates" run by An Chomhairle Leabharlanna. Images from the collection including the Eliza Doolittle deed, in addition to information on the digitisation process, will be presented on a specially constructed website <www.askaboutireland.com>. The website will also play host to the National Thematic Network, a portal for information on a selection of local studies collections throughout the country.

Olivia McCormack
Dublin City Archives