Sir, - In an excellent article (The Irish Times, August 20th), Frank McDonald took to task the Heritage Council for planning to build a new £1m headquarters in Kilkenny rather than restore Bridge House. The remit of the Council is to encourage others to "undertake the restoration of historic buildings".
In times past Bridge House was a dower house of the Ormonde family. The widow of the second Duke of Ormonde lived here and she and her son, the Earl of Arran, rebuilt it. It was a centre of social life in the city. Sir Walter Scott and Maria Edgeworth were guests in the heydays of Kilkenny Theatre.
In the book Kilkenny: Its Architecture and History, Gerald Tyler says: "By virtue of its architecture and position by the river, and closing, or partially closing the view, from three directions, this building must be regarded as one of the finest in Kilkenny". What more suitable house for the Heritage Council's headquarters?
This is a listed building, occupied until recently. Since it last changed hands, plans were submitted for a hotel. The citizens of Kilkenny were deluded into believing that this wonderful building was to have new life but, alas, not so. The hotel was to be located in the back garden, overlooking Kilkenny Castle. The application finally went to An Bord Pleanala, which gave permission.
The problems at the moment are as follows:
1. The Heritage Council says it does not consider the building suit-able for headquarters as it is two houses conjoined. Also that if the health and safety regulations are complied with this could destroy the fabric of the building. If the Heritage Council cannot carry out this restoration, who can? Butler House, the other dower house, which was two buildings, had no such difficulties. It has been wonderfully restored and is used as a guest house and for all sorts of functions.
2. An Bord Pleanala stipulated that the outside only of Bridge House was to be restored, and this was to be done a year after rather than before the start of work on the hotel. At the moment the thump thump of the pile driver shakes the old building to its very foundations.
3. Over a year ago a large crack at one end of the fine plasterwork ceiling - the work of Italian craftsmen - warned of its imminent collapse. As An Bord Pleanala made no mention of the interior there is no onus on the owner to do anything to save the ceiling, or any other part of the interior.
4. An Bord Pleanala said the windows, doors and railings must be replaced with suitable material. That is fine, but no one seems to have realised much of the original material could have been saved. Since it changed hands none of these items has been painted and the glazing bars and railings, now exposed to the elements, are deteriorating daily. Painless demolition - a pane less each month.
The very bodies that should protect our heritage seem to be neglecting it. - Yours, etc., Margery Brady,
Greens Hill,
Kilkenny.