Section 2 Shandon ACA- Cork City Development Plan
Part 1 I Architectural Conservation Areas (ACAs)
ACA Shandon
ACA Description - Vol 3 Built Heritage Objects, Cork City Development Plan 2022-28
Statement of Character Shandon is an area of significant social, economic, cultural, and religious importance in Cork City. The area is compact and densely built up, housing a diverse range of activities in its 18th and 19th century buildings as well as in many more recent structures. It is an area that, though it has seen much change in recent years, still retains its historic pattern of streets, lanes and steps. 18th century workers’ cottages sit alongside modern infill developments while monumental buildings such as the Firkin Crane, the North Cathedral and the tower of St. Anne’s Church give the area its own unique identity and mark its presence on the city skyline. The central thoroughfare of the area is Shandon St. running from North Gate Bridge up to the North Cathedral. It is a busy shopping street of mainly small narrow-fronted shops and pubs, and divides the area into two distinct parts, one to the west and the other to the east, each with a distinct character and history. The eastern area containing John Redmond St., Exchange St., Dominick St., and Church St. functioned as the main trading area when Shandon was at the height of its importance for the provision trade and the export of butter. The lands to the west of Shandon St. and to the north of Blarney St. were historically associated with the cattle trade, cattle being brought to the edge of the city, kept on land now covered with 20th -century houses, before being sold in the cattle market, slaughtered and prepared for consumption or cured for export on board ships. traditional timber shopfronts. Building Typology The dense network of streets, lanes, archways and steps, running throughout Shandon contain numerous styles of domestic architecture, though the area is better known for its important monumental historic buildings, including the Firkin Crane, former Butter Market (now the Craft Centre), Skiddy’s Almshouses, St. Anne’s Church, its tower perhaps the city’s defining image.
architectural styles is evident when considering the different scales, heights, and forms of the buildings present. They vary from the imposing three-storey terraced houses found at Pope’s Quay and Upper John Street, to the largely two-bay, two-storey houses lining the narrow streets and laneways that traverse the area. Good examples of early vernacular artisan housing are found at Waggett’s Lane and in the ladder of streets between John Redmond St. and Dominick St. The three-storey commercial buildings lining Shandon Street have some fine examples of traditional timber shopfronts. 18th century gable fronted buildings are a distinctive feature of the architectural heritage of the area and are now rare outside Cork city. Early examples of these are found at the upper end of Shandon Street and a terrace of two-storey, two-bay gable fronted dwellings exist at Francis Street. There are also several examples of good recent architecture including several attractively designed and scaled local authority and private infill housing schemes, proof that areas can evolve while still respecting their historic character. Where buildings have retained their original features and finishes, they have painted plastered facades, roofs of natural stone slate, cast-iron rainwater goods, and painted timber doors and sash windows. Issues Largely due to the densely packed housing, street layout and topography of the area, the potential for public open spaces has been limited in Shandon. However, there are plans to provide public parks in the graveyards associated with St. Anne’s Church, which will greatly improve the amenity of the area. A relatively high transient population and an increase in multiple occupancy rented housing, added to the narrow and restrictive nature of the street layout, has exacerbated the already difficult problem of car parking for local residents. It is important that this situation is improved in order to encourage more long-term residents. A number of prominent buildings on Shandon Street are in a poor state of repair or have suffered dereliction in recent years. The City Council will make use of its powers to help prevent further dereliction from occurring while at the same time resolving the existing situation by encouraging suitable development and repair works that appropriately reflect the character of the area.
¹
© Ordnance Survey Ireland
Shandon ACA boundary, Source: Cork City Council Development Plan 2022-2028
along which the new Blackpool by-pass runs and on the west by the lanes around the former cattle market area on the rising ground above Blarney Street.
Description of Area
Project: Historic Character Assessment Client: Cork City Council originally known as Mallow Lane, which runs from North Gate Bridge, the entrance to the medieval city, steeply uphill to the ‘North Cathedral’, the Catholic Cathedral of SS. Mary and Anne whose great tower marks the point where the road north out of the city crosses the ridge. 1.170 The area is centred around Shandon Street,
Statement of Character
As is traditional in the area, buildings are generally constructed of rubble-stone or brick, usually rendered and painted. The variety of
1.172 Shandon is an area of significant social, economic, cultural, and religious importance in Cork City. The area is compact and densely built up, housing a diverse range of activities in its 18th and 19th century buildings as well as in many more recent
Date:
15/10/2024
Pg 10
1.171
Powered by FlippingBook