Keyser's Lane

Keyser's Lane (or Keyser's Hill, Kezer's Lane, Keizer Street, Keyzer-street) is a street name found in several former Viking towns in Ireland.[1]
The name generally applies to a street which runs from the medieval town centre down to the quays or harbour, and is believed to derive from Old Norse keisa, meaning "bend", perhaps a reference to the steep slope of the hill or the curve of the river.[2] Holinshed's Chronicles (1575) mentions that it is an ancient name of uncertain origin. Other sources give "lane to the quays" or "ship wharf" as its meaning; however, "quay" is a Celtic/French word, not Norse.[3][4][5]
Locations



- Cork: Keyser's Hill (also called Keyser's Lane) is the name of a lane running from Proby's Quay up to Elizabeth Fort, on the south bank of the south branch of the Lee.[6]
- Drogheda: Keyser's Lane (also spelled Kezer's Lane, today called "Highlanes") connects Bachelors Lane with St Laurence's Street.[7][8]
- Dublin: Keyser's Lane was located in The Liberties and connected Cook Street to Newgate Street (today called Cornmarket). It is named Kaysars Lane on John Speed's Map of Dublin (1610). In the 19th century it was nicknamed "Kissarse Lane," apparently because the stones were slippery when wet and pedestrians sometimes fell on their bottoms.[9]
- Dublin: Cazer's Lane is detailed on John Rocque's map of 1756 linking up Frenchman's Lane with the North Strand near the location of The Custom House.
- Waterford: Keyser Street, formerly called Keyser's Lane, Keizer Street or Keyzer-street, connects High Street to the quays.[10]
- Wexford: Keyser's Lane in Wexford is well-preserved and runs from High Street to Crescent Quay.[11] It is entered via an archway and is walled and roofed.[12][13]
References
- ^ "Sessional Papers". Great Britain Parliament House of Commons. H.M. Stationery Office. 2 March 1900 – via Google Books.
- ^ Stridmann, Tim. "K — A Concise Dictionary of Old Icelandic — Словари — Северная Слава". Norrœn Dýrð (Северная Слава) (in Icelandic). Retrieved 1 March 2020.
- ^ The Irish Times (Saturday, 18 March 1978, page 11)
- ^ Irish Archaeology (4 April 2019). "Keyser's lane, Wexford town. This medieval thoroughfare gets its name from Old Norse and roughly means 'lane to the quays'. Similar street names are found in the Viking towns of Cork, Dublin and Waterford.pic.twitter.com/cZ0BJcPbNN".
- ^ "The Vikings in Munster (PDF)" (PDF) – via cora.ucc.ie.
- ^ The Irish Times (Monday, 21 October 1974, page 10)
- ^ "Wrong name on Keysers Lane?". independent. 14 January 2013. Retrieved 1 March 2020.
- ^ "Drogheda Museum News & Views: Tonight ~ Walk & Talk In The Company Of Brendan Matthews". 29 July 2015.
- ^ Warburton, John; Whitelaw, James; Walsh, Robert (2 March 1818). "History of the City of Dublin: From the Earliest Accounts to the Present Time : Containing Its Annals ... to which are Added, Biographical Notices of Eminent Men ... ; in Two Volumes, Illustrated with Numerous Plates, Plans, and Maps". Cadell and Davies – via Google Books.
- ^ "Saothar". Irish Labour History Society. 2 March 2002 – via Google Books.
- ^ "Are these the best places in Ireland?". The Irish Times. 7 May 2012.
- ^ "Keyser's Lane, Wexford". Wexford Hub.
- ^ "Wexford Street Names". RTÉ Archives.