THE MYSTERY OF B.B.

BENCHMARKS continued
 

Regular readers of this site will have encountered references to B.B. and may have wondered about the identity of this particular person. Well perhaps the mystery is resolved at last. Recently Benchmarker spotted the initials B.B. carved into a granite block on the South Wall in Dublin Bay, about 1/3^rd of the way along from the chain barrier to the Half Moon buildings. Now this was clearly not the work of some weekend graffiti artist with a screwdriver; it is expertly carved - in what Benchmarker takes to be Times New Roman - and obviously had an official function.

Many will be aware that Captain William Bligh spent some time in Dublin. Some believe that he was responsible for building the South Wall and the Bull Wall at the entrance to the Port. Not so, although he did recommend the building of the Bull Wall and carried out repairs to the eastern section of the South Wall.

His main task while at Dublin was in mapping the Bay. To do this he would obviously have had to establish a number of marks, and it is reasonable to conclude that some of these would have been made on the South Wall. Now it is reasonable to believe that Captain William Bligh was know to his fellow officers as 'Billy' (although apparently Fletcher Christian referred to him by a quite different label!), and so when it came to establishing the fundamental mark for the mapping exercise, they had it inscribed in honour of their commander.

And so perhaps the mystery is solved.

When Benchmarker concludes his great task he may turn to writing a novel in the style of Patrick O'Brian's naval adventures. It would centre on William Bligh's time while in Dublin. Wonder did he ever drink in The Windjammer, or Longs, or Kennys?

Below: The mark for B.B. on the South Wall.

Above: The South Wall looking west towards the city, with the mark in the foreground at bottom centre.

NUMBER 109

BENCHMARKS continued

The third of three from Mr M.C. Now you might think there would be a Limerick, or even a pun, about the little town of Adare in Co Limerick. But if there is then Benchmarker has not come across any. Where is D.A.O'H. when you need him?

Below: The 'mark in Adare, Co Limerick.

Above: The 'mark is on the gate-pillar just to the right of the 'think safety' placard.

NUMBER 108

BENCHMARKS continued
 

The second of the three from Mr M.C. It's on a bridge over the River Arra in the centre of the small hamlet of Newcastle West in Co Limerick. Someone has daubed it with green paint; perhaps B.B. is on the prowl?

Below: The 'mark on the bridge in Newcastle West.

Above. The 'mark is near the top centre of the bridge wall, just to the left of the lamp standard.

NUMBER 107

BENCHMARKS continued
 

Benchmarker's great campaign has enjoyed early success. However recently, with much of the low-hanging fruit well and truly plucked, doubts have arisen as to whether it is viable to continue. An option could be to just declare “mission accomplished” and quietly withdraw; tempting but not really Benchmarker's style. And then, just as it seemed the situation was lost, along came a loyal member of the 'Coalition of the Willing' - Mr. M.C. - with a triple-whammy. The first of these - at Victoria Hill in Dublin - appears below, while the others will appear presently.

Victoria Hill today is probably better know as Killiney Hill. It got the name in 1887 to mark the 50^th anniversary of the reign of Queen Victoria. Back in those days British monarchs would visit Dublin with reasonable frequency. Of late it's has stretched out to 100 years or so.

Below: The 'mark at Victoria Hill.

Above: A gateway to Victoria Hill with the 'mark near the base of the pillar at centre.

NUMBER 106

BENCHMARKS continued

With its still sharp lines, this one on the red-brick surround of a doorway on Woodfield Terrace in lovely Inchicore, looks as pristine as the day it was cut. It is interesting too for the fact that it extends over two of the bricks.

Below: The 'mark on Woodfield Terrace.

Above. Woodfield Terrace looking south-east with the roofs of the Inchicore Model School visible behind the wall at centre. The 'mark is at bottom right to the left of the doorway.

NUMBERS 104 & 105

BENCHMARKS continued

Two for the price of one. This pair is located on the base of the Martello Tower at Sandymount, Dublin. The one to the left is a true benchmark; Benchmarker has not yet discovered the role of the other one (with its associated writing and numerals) but it and many of its kind are a common feature on the 25 inch maps.

Below: The 'marks on the Martello Tower, Sandymount.

Above: Viewed from St John's Road, the Martello Tower, Sandymount, with the ‘marks at its base, near the centre.

NUMBER 103

BENCHMARKS continued

On Spy Wednesday 45 years ago Benchmarker hitched a series of lifts from Dublin to Donegal. On the leg that passed through the village of Collon, the driver pointed to the Church of Ireland building and said “That’s the only Russian Orthodox church in all of Ireland”. Like many urban/rural legends it contained a grain of truth because it appears that a number of Russian families lived in the village at, or just before, that time. Perhaps the authorities of the Church of Ireland kindly allowed them to share the building for their religious services. If so, then they would have passed by this ‘mark on the front of the church as they went to attend.

And they are not just big-hearted in the Wee County; they do things big in other ways too, as the ‘mark testifies. It is large, just like the one further along the main street on the old school (Number 13).

Below: The ‘mark on the Church of Ireland, Collon, Co Louth.

Above: Collon Church of Ireland with the ‘mark (difficult to see) near the base of the spire in the centre of the picture.