Harrison Lee established his foundry in 1826 on High Street, Limerick, laying the foundation for what would become a long-standing family enterprise. By 1838, his reputation as a skilled metal and brass founder and smith was well recognized, earning him a mention in Deane’s Directory of that year.
Born into a lineage of craftsmen, Harrison Lee was the son of Harrison Lee Sr. and Mary Osborne, who were married on 12 May 1793 at St John’s Church, Limerick. Following in his father’s footsteps, Harrison Lee (the second) not only took up the trade but also built upon it, expanding the family’s prominence in the industry. On 22 February 1830, he married Ellen Byrnes, once again at St. John’s Church, cementing another chapter in the family’s deep-rooted ties to the city.
Harrison Lee (the second) passed away in 1866 and was laid to rest in the very church where he had been christened and married. His son, Harrison Lee (the third), died just three years later, leaving the family business in the hands of his surviving brothers. Despite this loss, the Lee name endured in Limerick’s metalwork industry, with his sons continuing the foundry’s operations until 1930.
Tragically, the Lee tradition of passing down the name met an untimely end when Harrison Lee (the third)’s own son, also named Harrison, died in infancy. While the foundry eventually closed its doors, the legacy of the Lee family’s craftsmanship and contribution to Limerick’s industrial history remains visible on the streets today. Their mark can be seen on iron stairs, coal hole cover, gates and various other works throughout the city and bryond.
The gate below was discovered in Limerick County in 2020 and is at least 90 years old. In 2021 renovation works were carried out on it so it could be rehung and used for another hundred years.
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