Survey Data
Reg No
20821017
Rating
Regional
Categories of Special Interest
Architectural, Historical, Social
Previous Name
East Barracks
Original Use
Barracks
In Use As
Sports ground
Date
1805 - 1810
Coordinates
181271, 99082
Date Recorded
24/08/2006
Date Updated
--/--/--
Description
Former military complex, only boundary walls surviving, built 1806, now in use as boundary to sports grounds. Snecked dressed and rubble limestone walls, rendered to some sections and having dressed limestone coping in places. Roughly dressed limestone buttresses to east section. Rubble sandstone walls to east section with rubble limestone and cut limestone above. Line of gun loops to each side of entrance gateway in west perimeter wall and to west end of south perimeter wall, in red brick band. Dressed limestone segmental entrance archway to west perimeter having piers with dressed plinths and imposts, and cornice. Recent wrought-iron arch above gateway with lettering. Rendered segmental entrance arch to south perimeter wall with dressed limestone plinths, imposts, keystone and coping, and having recent metal gate. Pedestrian entrance to east side with dressed limestone surround and red brick camber arch. Shouldered segmental entrance arch to east, now infilled with concrete blocks, having dressed sandstone voussoirs and dressed sandstone and limestone piers. Rectangular-plan toilet block to west perimeter wall comprising cut limestone walls with dressed limestone quoins and coping.
Appraisal
The remains of the 'Old Barracks' complex forms an important element of the townscape and of the architectural heritage and social history of Fermoy. John Anderson, a Scottish merchant, settled in Cork and in 1797 bought the Fermoy estate. He gave sites to the British government to develop a barracks. He then built the town of Fermoy in order to meet the needs of the garrison. Fragments of the walls remain and are located throughout the grounds. They provide evidence of the extent of the complex as originally planned. There is indication of fine stone crafting, especially at the entrance arches. The Old and New Barracks were designed by Abraham Hargrave the Elder, architect of the Church of Ireland church and Anderson's House.