Henrietta Street, Wexford

Henrietta Street is a small street connecting Wexford’s South Main Street with Crescent Quay. A small archway also connects the street to nearby Cinema Lane. The street was formerly known as Henrietta Lane.

The origin of the name Henrietta remains unclear. It may have been named after the relative of a local property owner or developer, after Princess Henrietta of England (1644-1670), or after Henrietta Street in Dublin, which was named after Henrietta Somerset (1690-1726), Duchess of Grafton.

An attempt to change the name to O’Hanrahan Street failed in 1932, when locals rejected the proposed name.

Before the land around Wexford Quay was reclaimed, the shoreline of Wexford Harbour would have reached as far as Henrietta Street.

The Ballast Office stands at the corner of Henrietta Street and Crescent Quay, a historic protected structure built between 1835 and 1840. It served as the office of the Wexford Harbour Commissioners and recently received restoration funding.

Henrietta Street, Wexford
Henrietta Street, as photographed from Wexford’s Main Street. This photograph was taken outside Simon’s Place, which is a popular pub that is often visited by those involved with the Wexford Opera Festival. On the left is the entrance to the sports section of Hore’s Stores. In the far distance is the back of the John Barry statue, which overlooks Crescent Quay.

Today, Henrietta Street is home to a range of businesses and services. Businesses in the area include No Frills Hair Salon, Wexford Sewing Shop, Cream Cafe, Crescent Dry Cleaners, McCormack Corish Real Estate, Zodiak (a Polish food store), John Mullins and Associates, Rapid Locksmiths, Wexford Mental Health Association, Citizens Information, and Wexford Orthodontics.

Henrietta Street
Looking up towards South Main Street.
Henrietta Street
The street at night. Taken on 11 October 2014.

1901 Census

According to the 1901 Census, families such as Redmond, Hanly, Hutchinson, and O’Connor lived on Henrietta Street. Households recorded in the census include:

  • 1 Henrietta Street: Moses Redmond was a 68-year-old widower who lived by himself. He was an unemployed plasterer who could read and write.
  • 2 Henrietta Street: Three members of the Hanly family lived at 2 Henrietta Street. Johanna Hanly (62) was a retired teacher. Although she was married, her husband is not listed on the census form. He may have been working elsewhere at the time, possibly at sea. She lived with her son and daughter: John Hanly (25), who was a limeman, and Mary Kate Hanly (26), who was a dressmaker.
  • 5 Henrietta Street: Five members of the Hutchinson family lived at 5 Henrietta Street. Thomas Hutchinson, a 66-year-old ship owner and agent, lived at the address with his wife Margaret Hutchinson (65), their son William Hutchinson (38), a coal merchant, their daughter Ellen Margaret Hutchinson (27), and their son Peter Hutchinson (22), who worked as a coal merchant’s assistant, possibly assisting his older brother.

Map

A map showing its location:

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