Thomas Ivory (died 1786) was an Irish architect, one of the significant figures in the building of Georgian Dublin. He is often called "Thomas Ivory of Cork", and is to be distinguished from his contemporary

Thomas Ivory Thomas Ivory (1709–1779) was an English builder and architect, active in Norwich. Life Ivory was born in 1709. His early years and education remain obscure. His earliest recorded large commission was in his capacity as a builder and timber m ...

of Norwich.

Life

Said to have been a carpenter's apprentice self-educated, and from

Cork "Cork" or "CORK" may refer to: Materials * Cork (material), an impermeable buoyant plant product ** Stopper (plug), or "cork", a cylindrical or conical object used to seal a container *** Wine cork an item to seal or reseal wine Places Ireland * ...

, Ivory worked in Dublin under the gunsmith Thomas Truelock (1720-1798), who was later Sheriff of Dublin City in 1774. He then studied under the draughtsman "Mr Bell Mires" ( Jonas Blaymire). Blue Coat School Ivory

Ivory practised in Dublin, and was appointed master of architectural drawing in the schools of the

Royal Dublin Society The Royal Dublin Society (RDS) () is an Irish philanthropic organisation and members club which was founded as the 'Dublin Society' on 25 June 1731 with the aim to see Ireland thrive culturally and economically. It was long active as a learned ...

Grafton Street Grafton Street () is one of the two principal shopping streets in Dublin city centre — the other being Henry Street. It runs from St Stephen's Green in the south (at the highest point of the street) to College Green in the north (the low ...

in 1759. He held the post till his death, and among his pupils were Henry Aaron Baker,

James Hoban James Hoban (1755 – December 8, 1831) was an Irish architect, best known for designing the White House in Washington D.C. Early life and education Hoban was born to Edmond and Martha (née Beaghan) Hoban in 1755, and raised a Roman Cathol ...

and

Martin Archer Shee Sir Martin Archer Shee (23 December 1769 – 13 August 1850) was an Irish portrait painter. He also served as the president of the Royal Academy. Early life He was born in Dublin, of an old Irish Roman Catholic family, the son of Martin Shee ...

. Thomas Roberts was articled to him. Ivory died in Dublin in December 1786.

Works

In 1765, Ivory prepared designs and an estimate for additional buildings to the Royal Dublin Society premises in Shaw's Court, but these were not executed. Ivory's major work was Blue Coat School in Blackhall Place (commonly known as the Blue Coat Hospital), in the classic style. The first stone was laid on 16 June 1773, but from want of money the central cupola was not finished. Ivory designed Lord Newcomen's bank, built in 1781, at the corner of Castle Street and Cork Hill; it later became a public health office. The Royal Hibernian Marine School, often attributed to him, was more probably the work of Thomas Cooley. He made a drawing of the

Casino at Marino The Casino at Marino is a Neo-Classical summer or pleasure house, originally located in the grounds of Marino House in Dublin, Ireland. Sometimes described as a folly, it was designed by Scottish architect William Chambers and executed by Sim ...

, near Dublin, which was engraved by Edward Rooker. In the board-room of the King's Hospital was a picture (assigned to 1775 and John Trotter) said to represent Ivory and eight others sitting at or standing round a table on which are spread plans of the new building. One of his few notable Cork buildings was the Bishop's Palace on Bishop Street from 1777. He later designed the custom house at

Coleraine Coleraine ( ; from , 'nook of the ferns'Flanaghan, Deirdre & Laurence; ''Irish Place Names'', page 194. Gill & Macmillan, 2002. ) is a town and Civil parishes in Ireland, civil parish near the mouth of the River Bann in County Londonderry, No ...

County Londonderry County Londonderry (Ulster Scots dialects, Ulster-Scots: ''Coontie Lunnonderrie''), also known as County Derry (), is one of the six Counties of Northern Ireland, counties of Northern Ireland, one of the thirty-two Counties of Ireland, count ...

which was begun in 1783.

Notes

;Attribution {{DEFAULTSORT:Ivory, Thomas Year of birth missing 1786 deaths Architects from Cork (city) 18th-century Irish architects