Ship Street area dates to April 1836

SHIP Street is one of the most historic streets in Drogheda and needs to be saved for the future.

That’s the view of community historian Brendan Matthews (right) who delivered an expert talk on the history of the street.

He revealed the first mention of such an area came in April 1836 while the Ship Street houses came around 1845, details from 1851 stating that a Thomas Kelly lived in Number 1 wwith William Matthews at No.2 and lodgers in No.3. Five other homes were unfinished and there were two other plots, owned by Henry Smith.

However, flooding proved regular back then too, sewerage reported on the street in 1864 and £43 needed to fix the road.

Mr Matthews said a booklet on the history of Ship Street would be great as it had a unique history.

He said that from its earliest days, it was stated that Ship Street was 60ft wide and 290ft long. He measured it himself last week and it was still 58ft wide from door to door.