Conservation Report on the Proposed Rehabilitation Works to Obelisk Bridge, Townleyhall, County Louth
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Cathal Crimmins Architect Conservation Report on the proposed rehabilitation works to Obelisk Bridge, Townleyhall, County Louth For: O'Connor, Sutton, Cronin, structural engineers on behalf of Louth County Council. By: Cathal Crimmins BArch MArchSc MRIAI Architect, Historic Building Consultant, RIAI Grade 1 Conservation Architect Issue: 29/07/2020 www.architect.crimmins.ie The Courtyard‚ 40 Main Street, Blackrock, County Dublin, Ireland 353 (0) 1 278 6164 [email protected] From the National Library The site of Obelisk Bridge and the Obelisk before being destroyed in 1922 [Boyne Obelisk] the testimonial from King William's Glen, Boyne River. [graphic] : Published / Created: n.d.] Subjects: “...Obelisks -- Ireland -- Louth (County) -- lctgm...” 1. Conservation Report on the proposed rehabilitation works to Obelisk Bridge, Townleyhall, County Louth TABLE OF CONTENTS At the request of O'Connor Sutton Cronin, Engineers, Cathal 1.0. INTRODUCTION Crimmins, Grade 1 Conservation Architect 1.1. Background and Project Brief was asked to prepare a conservation 1.2. Process and Methodology report and method statement for the proposed refurbishment works to Obelisk 2.0. SUMMARY OF THE FINDINGS OF THIS Bridge, Townleyhall, County Louth and REPORT to act as adviser in relation to those works. It is the intention to apply to 3.0. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND Louth County Council for a Section 5 Declaration. This report is, along with the 4.0. ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION Archaeological Report by Archaeological Consultancy Services Unit (ACS) is to 5.0. CONDITION accompany that application to address heritage issues. 6.0. SIGNIFICANCE AND PROTECTION 6.1. Assessment of Significance Under Section 5 of the Planning 6.2. Protection and Development Act 2000-2002 (as amended) any person, on payment of the 7.0. THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT prescribed fee, may request in writing 7.1. Appraisal of the Proposed Works from the planning authority a declaration 7.2. Conclusion as to what in any particular case is or is not exempted development within the 8.0 Conservation Methodology For 1 meaning of the Act. The person shall Conserving The Fabric Of The Bridge provide to the planning authority any information necessary to enable the 9.0 Photographic Record authority to make a decision on the matter. 3 3 From the National Library Main Creator: Brocas, Samuel Frederick, ca. 1792-1847 2 Summary: The Boyne Obelisk at Olbridge, County Meath, errected in 1736 to 2 From the National Library Grose, Francis, 1731?-1791 commemorate William III's victory at the Battle of the Boyne Format: PRINTS & DRAWINGS Format: PRINTS & DRAWINGS Published / Created: [S.l. : s.n., 1844] Language: English Drogheda (Ireland) Published / Created: [between ca. 1812 and 1847] Louth (Ireland : County) Credits: Attributed to Samuel Frederick Brocas 2 Conservation Report on the proposed rehabilitation works to Obelisk Bridge, Townleyhall, County Louth 1.1 Background and Project Brief The report examines the Obelisk Bridge and history and seeks to identify the importance of the structure in architectural terms and the impact of the proposed refurbishment works on the bridge. The report should be read in conjunction with the survey, proposal drawings prepared by the engineers and, the Archaeological Impact Assessment of the proposed works by Archaeological Consultancy Services Unit (ACS) and all other reports from the design team. 1.2. Process and Methodology 1 Cathal Crimmins Architect were engaged to carry out background research on the site; to advise on the significance of the existing bridge and assess its condition; to advise on various strategies and to assess the impacts of the proposed works in order that the development proposals will best protect and enhance the significance and special interest of the bridge. The site was visited on the 13th March 2020. Notes, were taken and recorded photographically and in descriptive form. The history of the bridge was researched. Various sources were consulted in the Irish Architectural Archive, University College Dublin’s Architectural Library. Historic information on the bridge was obtained by consulting historic maps, books, web sites and other archival materials. Reports on the bridge were also consulted. Research was cut short by the Covid 19 pandemic 2 2.0. SUMMARY OF THE FINDINGS OF THIS REPORT The development consists of refurbishment and it is intended that there will be no change in the appearance of the bridge, its wall and parapet., apart from a visual improvement owing to the repairs, re-pointing and painting. Therefore there is no impact on the character of the historic structure. 3.0. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND A Structural Assessment and Refurbishment Options Report prepared by Roughan and O'Donovan carried out in January 2016 for Louth County Council along with their detailed technical assessment reproduces on the 10th March 1869 From the National Library 3 1 Bridge from the West 2 Bridge from the North East 3 Bridge from the South West Boyne Obelisk, Drogheda, Co. Louth [graphic] by French, Robert, 1841-1917 photographer Published / Created: [between ca. 1865-1914]. In collection: The Lawrence Photograph Collection 1 Conservation Report on the proposed rehabilitation works to Obelisk Bridge, Townleyhall, County Louth article from Transaction of the Institution of Civil Engineers of Ireland giving a description of the Iron Lattice Girder Road Bridge recently erected over the River Boyne, at the Obelisk by William G. Strype, Associate. In the article, Strype describes how the lattice system used in railway construction has been adopted by County Engineers to supersede the wooden bridges or stone bridges. He notes that the lattice Girder type has been constructed to replace the former wooden structure which had been carried away by the action of ice and floods in 1867, some of the timbers having been decayed. That bridge together with its stone abutments was erected in 1856. The abutments were reused, partially rebuilt. Messrs J.Neville, T. Searanke and A. .Tate acted as engineers while Grendon and Co, Drogheda was the contractor. After the masonry was complete the main girders were brought, in a finished state up the river about four miles from Drogheda's Grendon works. On completion, testing of the bridge was carried out by placing heavy cattle on it, about 12 60 tons in weight, According to the Dictionary of Irish Architects. The bridge was associated with the nearby Obelisk which was destroyed by Nationalists in 1922. The Obelisk was described as follows: Selected: CO. MEATH, OLDBRIDGE, BOYNE OBELISK Name: UNKNOWN ARCHITECT Building: CO. MEATH, OLDBRIDGE, BOYNE OBELISK Date: 1736 Nature: Erected 'by the grateful contributions of several Protestants of Great Britain and Ireland' to commemorate the crossing of the river by the forces of William III, 1 July 1690 prior to his defeat of the army of James II at the Battle of the Boyne. FS laid by Duke of Dorset, 1736. (Destroyed, 1922. Only base remains) Refs: Christine Casey & Alistair Rowan, The Buildings of I Tnd: North Leinster (1993), 446 Name: FULLER, JAMES FRANKLIN Building: CO. MEATH, OLDBRIDGE, BOYNE OBELISK Date: 1895 Nature: Repointing and restoration by 'Mr Faulkiner, electrician of Manchester' superintended by 'Mr Fuller' after obelisk had developed serious cracks on having been struck by lightning. 12 Refs: JRSAI 25 (1895), 180-181 Selected: CO. MEATH, OLDBRIDGE, OBELISK BRIDGE From the National Library Name: SEARANCKE, SAMUEL STEPHEN Boyne Obelisk, Drogheda, Co. Meath [graphic] Building: CO. MEATH, OLDBRIDGE, OBELISK BRIDGE Published / Created: [between ca. 1860-1883]. Date: 1868 In collection: The Stereo Pairs Photograph CollectionBoyne Obelisk, Drogheda, Co. Louth [graphic] Nature: New bridge to be erected to replace wooden bridge which collapsed in 1867. Responsibility for design of same shared by John by French, Robert, 1841-1917 photographer Neville (as Co. Surveyor for Co. Louth) , Samuel Searancke (as Co. Published / Created: [between ca. 1865-1914]. Surveyor for Co. Meath) and Alexander Tate, civil engineer. Contractor In collection: The Lawrence Photograph Collection for prefabricated girders: Grendon & Co. “...Boyne Obelisk. Drogheda. 6895. W. L.... Refs: IB 9, 1 Jun 1867, 134; 10, 15 Jun 1868, 157; W.G. Strype, 'Description of the iron lattice girder road bridge recently erected over the River 2 Conservation Report on the proposed rehabilitation works to Obelisk Bridge, Townleyhall, County Louth Boyne at the Obelisk', TICEI 9 (1866-70), 67-78; R.C. Cox & M.H. Gould, Civil Engineering Heritage: Ireland (1998), 80-81(illus.) Name: STRYPE, WILLIAM GEORGE Building: CO. MEATH, OLDBRIDGE, OBELISK BRIDGE Date: 1868 Nature: New bridge replacing wooden bridge which collapsed in 1867. WGS engineer to Grendon & Co., contractors for prefabricated girders. Refs: IB 9, 1 Jun 1867, 134; 10, 15 Jun 1868, 157; W.G. Strype, 'Description of the iron lattice girder road bridge recently erected over the River Boyne at the Obelisk', TICEI 9 (1866-70), 67-78; R.C. Cox & M.H. Gould, Civil Engineering Heritage: Ireland (1998), 80-81(illus.) Name: NEVILLE, JOHN [2] 1 Building: CO. MEATH, OLDBRIDGE, OBELISK BRIDGE Date: 1868-69 Nature: New single span iron lattice girder bridge replacing wooden bridge which collapsed in 1867. Responsibility for design of same shared by John Neville (as Co. Surveyor for Co. Louth) , Samuel Searanke (as Co. Surveyor for Co. Meath) and Alexander Tate, civil engineer (but only Neville's name appears on plaque on bridge). Contractor for prefabricated girders: Grendon & Co. 'The bridge…is gratecfully designed of iron and stone. Heavy piers of limestone at either end are united by latticed iron sides…The iron is painted so white that it proves an irresistible temptation to the younger visitors, who use it as an album for recording tender and political sentiments…' (Bassett) Refs: Plaque on bridge; IB 9, 1 Jun 1867, 134; 10, 15 Jun 1868, 157; George Henry Bassett, Louth County Guide and Directory (1886), 127; R.C. Cox & 2 M.H. Gould, Civil Engineering Heritage: Ireland (1998), 80-81(illus.); Brendan O'Donoghue, The Irish County Surveyors 1834-1944 (Dublin: From the National Library 1 Boyne Obelisk, Drogheda, Co.