6. PRIORITY PROJECTS
Butter Market Portico
The elaborate roman temple style portico of the Butter Market was part of the extension/ remodelling of the earlier Cork Butter Exchange market on the site which was built in 1770, designed by Sir John Benson in 1849. The Weightmaster’s House relates to the same period and its roof structure suggests Sir John Benson was also responsible for its addition to the Butter Market. The contemporary L-shaped Shandon Craft Centre was built within the remains of the Butter Market enclosure, which survived the 1976 fire. The portico remained as the entrance to the centre until it closed in 2008. The portico features on many historic photographs of the Butter Market and has a strong presence terminating the vista along John Redmond Street. In its architectural style and form, the portico and the walls enclosing the Butter Market have resemblance to the Firkin Crane, also designed by John Benson, in 1855. The Butter Market is a protected structure located within Shandon Conservation Area.
OUTLINE STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE. The portico has technical, industrial and social significance, historically serving as the place where butter was delivered under in carts under the shelter of the portico roof. Its steps and ramped entrances balance monumentality and grandeur of entrance with functionality of a delivery entrance. The addition of the portico by Benson was a statement of the importance of the butter trade to the area, to Cork City and nationally. The character of the porch retains these layers of significance. It is a carefully balanced symmetrical architectural composition, with its deep recesses offering depth to the entrance. CONNECTION TO WEIGHMASTER’S HOUSE The portico and the surviving walls of the Butter Market are closely linked to the Weighmaster’s House. The portico, as part of Sir John Benson’s design, opened an uninterruped vista to the rear of the double height space to the rear of Weighmaster’s House. Re-establishing this link and bringing a complementary use to the two buildings wil lensure their social and architectural significance is enhanced and their character restored. PORTICO- LOSS OF CHARACTER The open space in front of the portico, historically a gathering space for butter producers and traders, has been ceded to carriageway and parking. Due to the changes in street level, the ramped step free entrance to the north and south of the portico have been lost. Gates have been installed preventing access and preventing the undercroft of the porch from being a public covered gathering place in the area. While some features of the porch remain as reminders of cart access, such as limestone jostle stones around the base of the plinth, the portico has lost its open character and the reading of its exterior has been lost due to various additions and signage.
Figure 19: Butter Market, historic photo c.1900, Lawrence Collection, NLI
Figure 18: South Elevation- 1995
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