Section 1 Historical Context
Setting and Geology The character of Cork City has been shaped by its position at the mouth of a large harbour on the south coast of Ireland. Since its first settlement in the seventh century, at the site of the present day St. Fin Barre’s Cathedral, Cork city expanded across a network of marshlands, divided by channels of the River Lee and surrounded by hills on either side. The irregular nature of many of Cork’s main streets, follows the course of waterways now covered and reflects the city’s original layout. Geologically, Cork is largely composed of Old Red Sandstone, though the bedrock in the lower Lee Valley and areas further east is primarily Carboniferous Limestone. This difference in geology is evident in the city’s architecture, where southside buildings are predominantly constructed from white-grey limestone, while northside structures feature purple-red sandstone. Historical records also recorded ash chalk, clay, gravel, and sand pits in the city, with numerous sand and gravel quarries in operation until the late nineteenth century.
Monastic Cork in the seventh century (Irish Historic Towns Atlas)
Project: Historic Character Assessment Client: Cork City Council
Date:
15/10/2024
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