Glasgow born John Riddell worked as a Brewer and Distiller in the Thomondgate Distilleries. His wife Elizabeth, who he married about 1876, was also Scottish. The eldest of his four children Elizabeth “Bessie” Riddell was born in Scotland while their remaining children, John, Janet “Jeanie/Jenny” and Alexandria “Lexy”, were born in Limerick. The family were of the Scottish Presbyterian faith. From at least 1879 they were living at Islandview House in Thomondgate.
Bessie and Janet married brothers, Edmund James and Christopher Ludlow, both were shipping agents, Edmund and Bessie were based at 24 Glentworth Street, Limerick. While Christopher and Janet was based in Market Jew Street Penzance.
In his later life John Riddell moved to Cornwall where he passed away at the age of 81 in November 1927.
In the early 1900s he took many of photographs Limerick which were developed onto glass slides, these images have been kindly shared with us by his Great Great Grandson David Ludlow.
Here are 15 Never seen before photographs from this collection
1. Georges Street, note the porch of the Country Club on the right and the ornate gas street lamp.
Georges Street
2. Arthur’s Quay, a horse waits with a wicker cart to load or unload to incoming ships. Note all the people in the windows of what was tenement buildings at the time.
Arthur’s Quay
3. A group gather in front of the castle, in the background you can see the old buildings on The Parade.
The Castle
4. The Castle by moonlight, you can see the silhouette of St.Mary’s and St. John’s Cathedrals in the background and the cone roof of one of the castle towers is still in place.
The Castle by Moonlight
5. The Treaty Stone from Thomond Bridge, an unusual view of the Treaty Stone towards St. Munchin’s Old Church.
Treaty Stone
6. Boating on the Shannon, sail boats and row boats were out that day enjoying the sun at Harvey’s Quay.
Boating on the Shannon
7. Small boys playing on an buoy in Limerick Docks.
The Docks
8. Thomondgate Distillery, this is where John Riddell who captured these wonderful images worked.
Thomondgate Distillery
9. The Church Lads Brigade, note the broom in the foreground and the Matterson’s factory chimney in the background.
Church Lads Brigade
10. Cleeve’s Condensed Milk Factory in all its glory
Cleeve’s Factory
11. Bannatyne State Discharging Coal at Limerick Docks, many of the men are blackened with coal dust which would cause respiratory difficulties.
Limerick Docks
12. The tide out in the Shannon, showing St. Mary’s Cathedral and the Courthouse.
The Shannon
13. The Protestant Young Mens Association, George’s Street (O’Connell Street)
Protestant Young Mens Association
14. Protestant Young Mens Association Reading Room, note Queen Victoria above the fireplace
Reading Room
15. Protestant Young Mens Association Football Team, enjoying a few drinks.
Football Team
You’re welcome, I am glad to receive feedback and am very happy to double check my facts and update them if they are wrong. Thank you for your input.
Thank you Sharon – and Apologies! That was not the position I thought the photo was taken from – Happy to be corrected.
Here is a view with St John’s Cathedral in the distance from the same site today https://www.google.ie/maps/@52.671113,-8.628873,3a,15y,140.5h,89.88t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sdgYYLDy_ptIChSfEYk9img!2e0 and a closer view from the bridge https://www.google.ie/maps/@52.670069,-8.627749,3a,15y,139.78h,92.2t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1s8g7E1nkh4wtIPaUBcG48gw!2e0
Mt St Alphonsus is further to the right out of the picture.
In Pic #4 … Don’t think that is St. John’s Cathedral in the background – I think it is Mt. St. Alphonsus.
You are right, that is Baker Place and the Tait Clock behind.
I think in picture no. 9 on the right is Tate’s Clock which is still standing in Limerick City.
That is fascinating, it is a small world!
Small world looks like your ancestor sold my great grand uncle his ticket on the titanic his name was john kennedy rosemary place
Thank you Steve, Lexy makes a lot more sense than what I was reading on the census records.
That is very interesting about the link between the Ludlow family and the Titanic.
Nice one David! When I find the other Limerick photo albums (they are somewhere in my study) I’ll scan them and contribute. Some very interesting pictures of troops on Thomondgate bridge @ 1916 I think.
Just a small correction to the above – Leny should really be Lexie or Lexy (Short for Alexandria). Jeanie is Janet Langwill Riddell. Bessie and Janet married brothers – Edmund James and Christopher Ludlow – both shipping agents – one based on Glentworth Street Limerick the other Market Jew Street Penzance. The Limerick shipping agent booked people on the Titanic – http://www.limerickcity.ie/media/limerickwoman's%20account.pdf