Survey Data
Reg No
20514004
Rating
National
Categories of Special Interest
Archaeological, Architectural, Artistic, Historical, Social
Original Use
Church/chapel
In Use As
Library/archive
Date
1720 - 1730
Coordinates
167258, 71737
Date Recorded
31/05/1994
Date Updated
--/--/--
Description
Detached ashlar church, c. 1725, formerly Church of Ireland Christ Church, now housing The Cork Archives Institute; altered and remodelled, c. 1828, and again in 1878. Slate pitched roof with limestone, bell cote to west gable, parapet to west gable. Limestone ashlar, Ionic prostyle tetrastyle portico to main (west) facade, c. 1828. Round headed openings with cills to upper floor, having timber sliding sash six over six panes with segmental heads. Square headed window openings with cills to ground floor, having altered timber sliding sash nine over six panes. Three rounded headed entrance openings having timber panelled doors, under portico. Semicircular limestone snecked apse to east elevation, having round headed openings with stained glass and storm glazing. South elevation having limestone ashlar to the lower half of the wall with round headed decoratively bricked up openings below and oval windows with stained glass and metal grilles above, both with plain stone surrounds. Upper half is painted roughcast render with round headed openings having plate tracery, stone architrave with keystone and impost detail. Quoins are raised.
Appraisal
Imposing ashlar faced church in a classical style, replacing earlier churches on the same site, and which has itself undergone modifications. Significant in its own right for the quality and design of the structure, for the attached graveyard to the rear of the building, and also for the importance of the site in the development of Cork city.