[2] This location was then on the fringes of the expanding 18th-century city when the lane itself was set out by local brewer and Quaker Jacob Poole in 1721 to connect Blackpitts (where he had property) to New Street.

In 2006 archaeologists found evidence of medieval leather tanning off Fumbally Lane and nearby New Street with wood-lined soaking pits and elaborate ditch systems.

The City of Dublin Brewery was situated on the corner of Fumbally and Backpitts and between 1867 and 1883 they took over the 'Busby' buildings including a still house spirit store and a brewhouse.

According to an unpublished thesis, this rare example of an early Irish house may have been built by the relations of Jacob Poole, a Quaker Taylor family,[6] who had brewing interests here and in Marrowbone Lane.

Mr. McCready in Dublin Street Names: Dated and Explained that Fumbally's Lane (as it was then referred to in Thom's Directory) was just a 'corruption of Bumbailiff's-lane'.

[8] Fumbally's Lane is also the name James Joyce uses in chapter 3 of his novel Ulysses where he refers to "the tanyard smells"[9] "Bumbailiff" is a derogatory term for "a bailiff or underbailiff employed in serving writs, making arrests.

"[15] In addition, records retrieved from the International Genealogical Index show that Charles, David, Ester, Jacques, Jean, Jeanne, Phillippe and Susanne Fonvielle were all born in Dublin or christened at Peter St. Church and dwelling at Lucy Lane (now Chancery Place, Smithfield) at the beginning of the 18th century in the period between 1704 and 1718.

[16] Substantial physical evidence of the 18th and 19th century brewing and distilling industry buildings remain on both sides of the lane today, including storehouses and a five-storey malthouse.

Today, Fumbally Lane is home to dozens of people living in new apartments and in mainly 19th-century houses, although three possibly date to the late 18th century.