Lewis Alley.Gun Maker.

Lewis Alley
Gun Maker
Dublin

 c.1769- d.1783 

                          Advertisement from the Dublin Chronicle dated January 1770.

Transcript of above:

 " LEWIS ALLEY GUN MAKER, Having commenced business in Great Ship Street, thinks
 it incumbent on him to acknowledge the obligations he is under to those Noblemen and 
Gentlemen ,who so greatly encouraged him during his residence in Kilkenny. He hopes for 
a continuance of their protection and that of the nobility gentry, and public in general which 
he will endeavor to merit by faithful attention to their commands . He begs to inform them that
he has by considerable expense and long residence in London and other parts of England 
acquired a knowledge of several methods practised by the ablest masters there which he has
 formed such a plan for the construction of his work,as he thinks is calculated to make neatness
 and elegance entirely confident with what shall be in every respect most serviceable.
 A good first and second floor to be let. 
................................................................................................................................................                                       
The above transcript details "Lew" Alley's early entry into the Irish guntrade and his time
spent in England with the "ablest masters". He cites "London" and "other parts of England".
The reference to Kilkenny is of note as two other gunmakers with the Alley name traded
there, namely Peter d.1779 and William. The latter having traded in Kilkenny & Dublin for
the period c.1788-1802.

                                                
Lewis Alleys first trades directory entry 1771.

Alley	Lewis		Gt Ship St
Divine	Thomas		Abbey St
Gelous	Robert		Francis St
Govers	John		Dame St
Lord	Francis		Dame st
Rainsford	James		Dame St
Thorp	Thomas		Darby Sq
Truelock	Thomas		Dame st

    Lewis Alley makers mark "LA"  
Photography courtesy John Slough.

Lewis Alley known trading dates and addresses:

c.1769-1775	17 Great Ship Street
1776-1780	15 Cork Hill
1781-1783	2 Palace Street .   Died April 29th 1783, By the fall from a horse.

NB: Great Ship Street was also known as Big Ship Street.

Lewis Alley was not only a very good gunmaker but also a keen horseman and rode to
hounds. Unfortunately, his passion for the hunt would cost him his life in 1783.

Lewis Alleys work is some of the finest produced in Ireland at this time.

An exquisite fowling piece c.1774 by Lewis Alley can be viewed in, Great British Gunmakers 
1740-1790:The history of John Twigg and the Packington Guns. Plates 484 & 485.

Lewis Alley originally listed by M.S. Dudley Westropp, MRIA. 

Journal Arms & Armour Society, 1957.

Vol.11. No 1.

An illustrated article, "The Alleys of Dublin & Kilkenny: Gunmakers" written by David Stroud for the 89th London Arms Fair catalogue is a available from ramrodantiques.co.uk @ £5.00 + postage.
07818 470123.

                                        Dave Stroud. ramrodantiques.co.uk