Interview with Sir Thomas Manly Deane

Although described as an interview, this piece would no longer meet our expectations of what an interview is. This is actually more of a family history and sadly has little of Deane’s opinions voiced. Published in The Irish Builder, Feb. 13, 1901 .

“Mr. Thomas Manly Deane, M.A., the surviving partner of the world-renowned firm of Sir Thomas N. Deane and Son, Architects, Dublin, resides and has his offices at 15 Ely Place, a house which he has rebuilt in a decidedly picturesque manner. Mr. Deane willingly assented to our request that he should allow us to publish an interview with him. He modestly suggested that an older man in the profession might follow Sir Thomas Drew, but we felt that Mr. Deane, as the bearer of not only the best known name of latter-day Irish Architects, but also as the representative of a family which has been for 160 or 170 years connected with building, would possess a special and peculiar interest for our readers.

Mr. Deane gave me some of the following particulars relating to his family, and their connection with art —

Robert O’Callaghan-Newenham, of Cork, his great-grandfather on his father’s side (his second daughter, Eliza, having married his grandfather, Sir Thos. Deane), was an amateur artist of great ability, and published his well-known book, “Sketches in Ireland”; he was also a skilful mechanic and an expert turner of ivory on the lathe ; several pieces of his work, including a beautiful set of chessmen, still exist. He watt born 7th March, .1770, and died after 1832 ; having married 25th March, 1785, Susanna, daughter of Rev. Deane Hoare, of Limerick — she died 9th January, 1832. He was named after his godfather, Cornelius O’Callaghan, afterwards Baron Lismore — he was 6th son and 13th child of Sir Edward Newenham, of Belcamp, Co. Dublin, M.P. , Irish Parliament; by his wife, Grace Anna, daughter of Sir Charles Burton, of Polacton, County Carlow; Sir Edward Newenham was second son of William Newenham, of Coolmore, County Cork, and was born in Cork 13th May, 1732 (see old Bible), he married 2nd February, 1754.

George Newenham, of Summerhill, County Cork, was also an amateur artist, but as far as Mr. Deane knows, was more of a sculptor or modeller than a painter; he was his great- grandfather on his mother’s side. His third daughter, Deborah, having married 7th February, 1816, Mr. Deane’s grandfather, Joseph Manly, of Ferney, County Cork. He was born 10th September, 1753, being third son, and fifth child of George. Newenham, senr., of Summerhill, County Cork, by his wife, Elizabeth, daughter of John Pirn, of Cork. George Newepham (referred to as the artist) died 21st October, j8aa,” having married Sarah, seventh child and fourth daughter of William Meade, of Aldenhnm, in Hertfordshire, by his wife Elizabeth Weedon ; Sarah Meade was baptized 28th October, 1759, and was married about 1778, it is supposed in London. She died 15th March, 1841.

The Deanes, at least this branch of the family, have been connected with either Building, Architecture, or Painting for over 160 years. David Deane, of Cork, builder, his great- great-grandfather, who was born in Donaghadee, Co. Down, about 1720-30, being the first to follow the art, was second son of Alexander Deane, of Donaghadee (afterwards Tidewaiter at Kinsale, living there in 1758 (see old letter from his son David) — by his wife, Grizell Kennedy, sister of Hugh Kennedy, also of Donaghadee (see old family Bible in Mr. Deane’s possession). Grizell Kennedy was probably a daughter of Jas. Kennedy, of Donaghadee, mentioned in the will of David Kennedy, of Ballycultra, County Down, whose will is dated 24th April, 1697, and proved 31st March, 1699. See also the will of Hugh Kennedy, of Ballycultra, “Doctor of Phvsick” (younger brother of David Kennedy), whose will was proved 31st March, 1699.

David Deane’s parents were probably from Ayrshire, as these names occur frequently in that county, and from the fact that he mentions in his will (1795) his cousins in Scotland: — John, David, and Anne M’Credie, of Gallow Hill, near Girvan, and it is curious to note that Mr. Thomas Mecredy’s (solicitor, now living in Dublin) father’s name was Robert “Deane” Mecredy, son of Rev. Alex. McCredy, and the family came from the County Down, and yet neither family can now trace the evident connection. (See M’Credie’s notes). David Deane’s eldest brother was named “Kennedy,” after his mother, and the estimation in showing which the connection with the great Ayrshire name was held.

Kennedy Deane, eldest son of Alexander and Grizell, was a carpenter in the Navy, and as such was on board the “ Prince George” when that vessel was burned at sea, off Cape Finisterre, Thursday, 13th April, 1758. (See Annual Register, 1758, and also an old letter in my possession dated 21st May, 1758, from David Deane to his father, Alexander Deane, then at Kinsale, mentioning the occurrence). Kennedy Deane died at Gosport in 1796, being then a Foreman, or, as some say, Superintendent of work, in Portsmouth ^Dockyard ; . he was married, evidently, twice ; his first wife’s name is not known, but he married as a widower, 14th December, 1779, Judith Friend, of Gosport, a widow. (See “ Hampshire Marriage Licenses.”) He appears to havp left no children, as he names in his will only his wife Judith, and his niece Anne, wife of Martin Allan, boatswain in H.M.S. “Monmouth.” His will may be seen at Somerset House, and is dated 3rd January, 1795, and was proved 14th April, 1796. (See note re John Kennedy Deane, of Yatton, Somerset.)

Hew Primrose Deane, the third son of Alexander and Grizell, was a well-known painter ; this name also shows the Ayrshire connection, as the identical name “ Hew Primrose ” occurs in the family of Kennedy, of Benane, of that county. He was married 27th December, 1761, in Christ Church, Cork, to Eleanor Gamble, of that city, the witnesses to the marriage being Alexander Deane (probably his father), William Budd and Thomas Deane (but who this Thomas Deane was Mr. Deane has not been able to discover), seems from accounts in various books relating to painters, such as Redgrave’s, Bryan’s, etc., to have led a remarkable, if not an entirely creditable career ; but of his skill as a painter there is no question ; he was called the “Irish Claude,” and is supposed to have died in 1784 (probably in London).

Hew Primrose Deane had, it is known, at least one child, whose name is not certain, but he was probably identical with “ My nephew, Kennedy Deane, of Cork, Painter,” mentioned by David Deane in his will 1795. This Kennedy-Deane, “Drawing Master,” is also mentioned in the Cork Directory of 1795, and according to the register of St. Peter’s Church, Cork, “ Harriet, daughter of Kennedy and Charlotte Deane,” was baptized 7th July, 1788. This Kennedy Deane could not have been a son of Kennedy Deane, of Gosport, who, as above stated, names no children in his will (1795)-

Alexander Deane, father of Kennedy, David, and Husband of Grizell, their mother, there is very little further record, but he may be identical with the following: — “ Died at Ipswich, in his ioo year, Alexander Deane, Esq.” (See Annual Register, March, 1790.) The date would just correspond ; and he may have been moved to Ipswich in a similar capacity to that which he filled at Kinsale ; but no reliable record of his death is to be found ; it is not recorded in the Kinsale registers, and the earlier St. Paul s (the Cork parish, in which the Deanes lived) registers are lo,t. He was present, however, at the marriage of his son, Hew Primrose, in 1761. There is a doubtful entry of burial, in pencil , in the St. Paul’s register, which seems to read “ 3rd November, 1762, Alex. Dean;” the date would be quite possible. !

David Deane died in 1800, and was buried in St. Paul’s, Cork, 2nd February, 1S00; his will is dated 25th A*pril, 1795, and was proved 5th February,’ 1800 ; his marriage licence is dated 27th May, 1755. He married Mary, daughter of William Kearns, of Cork, who died 1774 (see tombstone, St. Paul’s churchyard, Cork), and sister of William Kearns, the Builder and Architect (many of whose works still stand in that city); by her, who died 7th January, 1793, he had two sons, William and Alexander, and one daughter, Agnes, the latter married 14th April, 1785, James Roche, a musician, from whom are descended some of that name still living in Cork (1901).

William Deane, eldest son of David Deane, was a builder and Architect, and married 19th October, 1784, at Christ Church, Cork, Susanna, daughter of Captain William Jervis, said to have been a cousin to the first Lord St. Vincent.

William Deane was a friend of the celebrated Captain Cook, who invited him to sail with him on his last voyage, but, fortunately for him, as he was about to be married at the time, he was unable to accept ; Captain Cook, as is well known, being shortly afterwards killed by savages. William Deane was with his uncle, Kennedy Deane, at Portsmouth, when the “Royal George” went down, 29th August, 1782, with “brave Kempenfelt and twice 400 men.” He was looking away at the moment, but on turning round he saw the surf left upon the water by the sinking ship. Of his architectural works, Mr. Deane has no knowledge, but he is described both as an Architect and as a Builder in several Cork records. He died in 1814, and was buried at St. Paul’s, Cork, 8th January. His will is dated and proved; his wife, Susanna, died in 1835; her will is dated 25th April, 1828. By her he had six sons, viz. — David, an architect; Will am Henry, a painter ; Alexander, a builder ; Charles, 5th Fusiliers ; Jervis; and Kyrle Allan; and one daughter, Sarah, married to Abraham Hargrave.

William Deane’s eldest son, David, the architect, married Catherine, daughter of Arthur Ussher, of Camphire, Esq. He (David) wrote a long letter relating to family history, Sir Thomas Deane, his first cousin, dated 23rd March, 1858, which letter is now in possession of Hermann Deane, son of Sir Thomas by his third wife.

This David Deane had a son, William Henry, late County Surveyor, of Kerry, who died 23rd April, 1887, aged 71, having been born 19th December, 1816, and whose sons, John Deane and David Deane (both engineers in British Columbia), represent the head of this branch of the family as far as we know it.

William Deane’s second son, William Henry Deane, was a landscape painter of high merit, and many of his pictures are still in possession of Mrs. Deane, widow of the County Surveyor above-mentioned. He unfortunately “ died 13th October, 1808, from injuries received by the falling of a wall while directing a hose at a fire in Collectors’ Lane, on the 6th. (See monument in St. Paul’s Church, Cork, where he is buried, and where also are buried his: grandfather, David, and many more of the family).

Alexander, second son of David Deane and Mary Kearns, was also a builder and architect. He was born about 1760, and was married at Lower Shandon Church by Rev. Henry Campion, 15th August, 1790, to Elizabeth, eldest daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Sharpe, of Cork. Elizabeth Sharpe’s (sen.) maiden name is said to have been Jones, and “ she was drowned on her passage from Liverpool to

Cork, on board the brig “ Despatch,” of Cork, when Captain Jones, the owner, and every other soul on board the said vessel was also lost, November, 1800.” (See old family Bible, in possesion of A. S. Deane, Esq., of Upper Mount street, Dublin). Her will, dated 28th July, 1800, was proved 3rd December, 1800. Thomas Sharpe’s will is dated 29th July, 1789, and* was proved 22nd February, 1789 ( ?). He was burled at St. Paul’s, 4th August, 1789.

Alexander Deane died at the early age of 46, 20th March, 1806, “ on the way to Balintra, in Middleton, two days after he left Cork, sincerely lamented by all who knew him.” (See old Bible last-mentioned). He left five sons and three daughters, who lived, and of whom below; Elizabeth Deane, his wife carried on his business for many years afterwards. In Crofton Croker’s “ Popular Songs ” of Ireland there is a reference in one of them to Mrs. Deane, the mother of Sir Thomas Deane, who was a woman of great energy of character. She took an active part in the superintendence of the naval works which were constructed upon Haulbowiine Island, in Cork Harbour, between the years 1816 and 1822, at a cost of ^200,000. Her son, Thomas, who. was born in 1792, shared for a time the management of the works with his mother. She died 17th March, 1828, leaving considerable property, and mentions in her will, which is dated 19th May, 1827, proved 20th May, 1828, “ my tall husband.” Their issue were as follows : —

Thomas, born 4th June, 1792, of whom below.
Anne, born 17th March, 1794; died 16th October, 1794.
Mary, born 1st September, 1796; died, 1796.
Alexander Sharpe, born 25th November, 1796; his will 1847. An Architect, in partnership with his brother Thomas.
Mary, born 31st May, 1798.
Anne, born 19th May, 1800.
James Roche, born 31st January, 1802.
Elizabeth, born 3rd April, 1803.
Kearns, born 6th April, 1804; an Architect. ‘
William, born after his father’s death.

Kearns Deane (so called after his grandmother), the fourth son, was an artist of very considerable talent, and many of his works, including portraits, remain. An Architect by profession, he was connected with several important works in Cork, and Mr. Deane has a beautifully executed water colour drawing by him of a design for the completion of St. Catherine’s R.C. Church in Cork, the spire to which — • lately erected there — bears a very strong resemblance to his design.

Sir Thomas Deane, eldest son of Alexander and Elizabeth, was born, as above stated, 4th June, 1792, and succeeded to his father’s business when only 14 years of age, but with his mother, who was a woman of great ability, carried it on with considerable success. He was the foremost architect and builder in Cork, for in those days, designing and construction were united. In 1830 he was elected, for the second time, High Sheriff of the City, and was knighted. He married first in 1809, at the age of 17, Catherine, daughter of John Conlan, of Cork, and through her he became possessed of the estate of Umera, in that county ; they had two children, Julia, who died unmarried, 10th August, 1863, and John Conlan, born 17th March, 1815 — the latter

well remembered by many for his fine voice and many talents, and who died 24th February, 1887, ^at Posilippo, near Naples, leaving many descendants, among others Col. Tom Deane, C.B., who has had a -very distinguished military career.

Sir Thomas Deane’s first wife, Catherine, died before he was knighted, which event took place when he was Sheriff of Cork for the second time, in 1830, having previously held the post in 1815. The honour was conferred by the Duke of Northumberland, who was Lord Lieutenant of Ireland at the time.

Sir Thos. Deane married secondly 13th Jan., 1827, Eliza, second daughter of Robert O’Callaghan Newenham, above- mentioned, and by her, who died 5th June, 1851, had one son, Thomas Newenham, of whom below ; and two daughters, Susanna Adelaide, married to Edward Rogers, Esq., son of Rev. John Rogers, of the Home, Salop ; and Olivia Louisa, who is unmarried.

Sir Thomas Deane married thirdly 16th November, 1853, Harriet, daughter of Major John Williams, of Belzoon, Go. Meath, and by her, who survived him, and died 15th November, 1881, had one son, Hermann F. W. Deane, now Head Master of St. George’s Choir School, Windsor.

Sir Thomas Deane died 4th October, 1871, at Longford Terrace, Monkstown, County Dublin, and an obituary notice of him will be found in the Illustrated London News of 7th October of that year. He built many of the public buildings of Cork, and in partnership with his son, Sir Thomas Newenham Deane, and the late Mr. Benjamin Woodward, who died abroad in 1861, did; considerable work for Oxford University, and in London, and Dublin ; he was for many years President of the Royal Hibernian Academy and Institute of Architects in Ireland, and the patron of art and artists in more than one respect. (See also Redgrave’s “ Dictionary of Artists.”)

Sir Thomas Newenham Deane was the only son of Sir Thomas Deane by his second wife, Eliza Newenham. he was born June 15th, 1827, and married January 29th, 1850, Henrietta, fourth daughter of Joseph Manly, Esq., of Ferney, County Cork, by his wife, Deborah, third daughter of George Newenham, Esq., of Summerhill, County Cork, Banker, one of the artists mentioned above. Deborah Newenham was born September 7th, 1791, and died at Bray, County Wicklow, October 23rd, 1872, having been’ married at Upper Shandon Church, Cork, by Rev. Richard Lee, February 7th, 1816. Joseph Manly was born May 2nd, 1789, and died October 15th, 1864.

Thomas Newenham Deane was his father’s pupil, and about 1850 entered into partnership with him together with Mr. Benjamin Woodward, a young architect of great talent. The firm then became known as Sir Thomas Deane, Son, and Woodward, and were architects of Cork College. Shortly after this old Sir Thomas Deane dropped out of the work, and the younger partners moved up to Dublin. Then Deane and Woodward were premiated in the great competition for the War Office buildings, and were afterwards successful in winning by competition the Oxford Museum, which gained for the young men the appreciation of Mr. Ruskin. This latter structure led to much work in the University, including the Curator’s House, the new buildings at Christ Church facing the meadows, Sir Benjamin Brodie’s house, the Union Society’s buildings, and afterwards the Clarendon Laboratory. They built in London the Crown Insurance Office in Bridge Street, Blackfriars, and a second building for the same company in Fleet Street. In Dublin they designed the beautiful building at Trinity College, originally intended for a museum, but now used as the Engineering School About 1858 (Woodward having gone abroad), Mr. Thomas N. Deane designed the Kildare Street Club, and had the honour of conducting the Queen and the Prince Consort over it when they, visited Ireland in 1861.

From that time he designed a great number of buildings throughout Ireland. Among others may be mentioned Tuam Cathedral, the restoration of St. Canice’s Cathedral, Kilkenny, work at Kilkenny Castle for the Marquis of Ormonde, Portumna Castle for the Mafquis of Clanricarde, and many other mansions. In Dublin he erected the Munster Bank in Dame Street, the Scottish Widows’ and several other insurance offices. He was among those selected to compete for the new Law Courts in London, for which he received, with each of the other competitors, a fee of 800 guineas. Mr. Thos. N. Deane was knighted August 29th, 1890, by the Earl (now Marquis) of Zetland, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, on the occasion of the opening of the Science and Art Museum and National Library, Dublin, to which great work he and his eldest son, Mr. Thos. Manly Deane, had been architects.

Sir Thos. Newenham Deane and his son were also in the limited competitions for the Imperial Institute, in which, with five others, and the completion of the South Kensington Museum, for which, with seven others, they were specially invited to make designs. Sir Thomas Newenham Deane was for many years Curator of the National Monuments of Ireland and Ancient Monuments, under Sir John Lubbock’s Acts. He died, deeply regretted, 8th November, 1899, and is buried at Dean’s Grange, Monkstown.

Sir Thomas Newenham Deane did a great work and served his country well, winning respect “by his integrity as well as by his cleverness. His loss cannot be replaced for many a year, and his name will ever be revered as the leading Irish architect of the age. He left issue: —

Robert O’Callaghan Newenham, born 10th February, 1853, married 9th June, 1885, Maria Grave, daughter of Joseph Iredale, Esq., of Carlisle, Brewer, and has issue two sons, Gerald Iredale O’Callaghan, born 30th June, 1886, and Thomas Burton, born 25th February, 1893. She died 31st March, 1897.

Joseph Henry, born 29th December, 1856, died 14th September, 1857, buried at Howth Abbey, County Dublin.

Edward Louis Hall, born 31st December, 1858.

George Benjamin, born 14th March, 1862, married 4th July, 1888, Kathleen, daughter of Thomas Tighe Macfedy, Esq., and has issue one son, Edward Newenham, born 17th February, 1892, and one daughter, Elsie May.

Henrietta Mary, married 4th August, 1892, Caesar Litton, eldest surviving son of the Hon. Sir Frederick Falkiner, Recorder of Dublin, and has issue two daughters, Dorothy Cecil and Irene.

Charles Burton, born 21st May, 1866, died 29th August, 1874, buried at Dean’s Grange, County Dublin.

William Worth, born 23rd January, 1869, married 19th December, 1896, Edyth A. Dyas, eldest daughter of the late Jacob Dyas, of Heathstown, Co. Meath.