Arklow, County Wicklow

Artist(s): Thomas Creswick (Draughtsman), James Tibbitts Willmore (Engraver)

View of Arklow. The town lies to the right, with the ruins of Arklow Castle prominent in the foreground. In front of them, near a horse-drawn cart, are three people, including two women, one with a basket on her back, apparently engaged in some transaction. Further to the right, two other women are conversing. Beyond the castle, the town stretches out along high ground descending to the River Avoca, as it flows under the Nineteen Arches bridge and out to the sea. <br><br>Source: <br>Archaeological Survey of Ireland, at http://webgis.archaeology.ie/NationalMonuments/FlexViewer/, record no. WI040-029002-. Accessed 21.02.2018.

Inscribed in Image

  • Signature – T. Creswick. / J. T. Willmore. / Printed by Alfred Adlard.
  • Caption outside of boundaries of image – Arklow, Wicklow.

Image Details

Genre Townscape
Technique Etchings
Subject(s) Cities and towns, Forts and fortifications, Rural life, Transportation
Geographical Location
  • Arklow – Town or city
  • Arklow Castle – Castle
  • Leinster – Province
  • Wicklow – County
Keyword(s) Archaeological sites, Beaches, Boats, Bridges, Carts, Castles, Churches, Folklore, Harbours, Horses, Livestock, Peasants, People, Rivers, Ruins, Seas, Shawls, Ships, Steeples, Women
Colour Monochrome
Dimensions 10 cm x 15.4 cm
Published / created 1837

Bibliographical Details

Travel Account Ireland Picturesque and Romantic
Contributor(s)
Print or manuscript Print
Location of image in copy opp. p. 120
Source copy National Library of Ireland Ir 9141 r 15
Alternative source

This is a link to a digital copy hosted by an external website.

 http://hdl.handle.net/2027/yale.39002001929075?urlappend=%3Bseq=157
Permalink https://ttce.universityofgalway.ie/irelandillustrated/view/image/ii_image_1368107635
Rights Courtesy of the National Library of Ireland

Related text from travel account

The confluence of the Avoca with the Aughrim river is called the Second Meeting, and is not inferior in the picturesque to the first. The road then winds through a magnificent valley, the path sometimes overhanging the steep bank of the river to the left, which is only occasionally visible // through the deep foliage between; and, with hardly a moment's interruption of this species of scenery, we arrive at Arklow. The annexed engraving represents this town in its only good point of view; and I doubt whether any one but an artist of genius could find out that it possessed a good point of view at all. The ruin on the right is the remains of Arklow Castle, the ancient seat of the earls of Ormond, still barons Arklow. It had the honour of being in its day the scene of great bloodshed; but the intestine wars of Ireland are seldom interesting, and not always honourable to the character of the people. The last slaughter witnessed by Arklow was in 1798, when a large party of rebels were defeated by General Needham. [pp. 119-120]
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