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Cork Courthouse, Washington Street
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Cork Courthouse, Washington Street
Cork Courthouse (Irish: Teach Cúirte Chorcaí, Sráid Washington) is a judicial facility in Washington Street, Cork, Ireland. It serves as the Cork Court Office in civil and family related matters, while the courthouse on Anglesea Street handles criminal trials. It operates on the level of both the District and Circuit Courts. The courthouse occupies the entire block between Washington Street, Liberty Street, Cross Street and Courthouse Street.
Much of the building's early history has been lost, due to the destruction of records in the great fires of 1891 (the courthouse itself) and 1920 (Cork City Hall). As a result, most surviving primary sources relating to the history of the courthouse tend to have partisan biases.
Prior to 1835, Cork was served by two courthouses: one for the city, and one for the county. Plans were made to build the courthouse because the old county courthouse was damaged by fire. This original courthouse was described as being in a "decayed and perishing condition" in 1827. Plans for the building of a new courthouse in Cork were being made as early as July 1827. It was the last assize courthouse to be planned in Ireland before Catholic emancipation was granted in 1829. In 1829, the Cork Corporation decided to merge the City and County courthouses, and have them both be serviced by a new development.
A competition for design was held in 1830, which brothers James and George Richard Pain won — premiums of IR£40, £20, and £10 were offered. They were awarded a £16,000 contract. At the time of going to competition, no particular site had been chosen for the courthouse, but the three principal contenders were Nelson Place (now Emmet Place), St. Patrick's Street, and Great George's Street (now Washington street). By late 1829, it was confirmed that the courthouse would be built on Great George's Street. Construction began in 1831, and was completed between 1835 and 1836 at a cost of £22,000 (equal to roughly €3.4 million in 2021). It is thought that James and Thomas Fitzgerald executed the stonework.
Under pressure from the trades' council, the Corporation had included a stipulation in the contract which guaranteed the use of local work in regards to the plumbing and furnishing of the building. It was later revealed, however, that the plumbing contract had been awarded to a Scottish firm, and that many of the establishments providing furniture had evaded the local manufacture clause. While local plumbers failed to find redress, cabinet makers successfully picketed the courthouse and secured the removal of all imported furniture from the building, all of which were substituted with locally crafted items. The limestone used for the portico was cut from stone sourced from Carrigacrump, Cork, while the rest of the limestone was principally sourced from Beaumont and Gillabbey.
The first sitting in this new courthouse was held on 12 March 1836. At this first sitting, the Hon. Justice Philip Crampton described the courthouse as a "temple suitable to the solemn administration of justice". However, he also complained about the interior design of the building, saying that he had exhausted himself addressing the Grand Jury, due to the distance between them. After it was mostly destroyed by fire in 1891, a town clerk described the courthouse as having been one of the worst of its kind in Ireland, citing in particular the quality of the accommodation and the draughtiness of the building. It was noted by the clerk that some judges preferred to make use of Model Schools, such as the one the Anglesea Street courthouse now occupies.
After the fire on Good Friday, 27 March 1891, the building was "almost a complete write-off". In the immediate aftermath of the fire, it was suspected that it had been a deliberate act of arson committed by Irish nationalists, though it eventually transpired to have been an accidental fire, which started when the flue of the hot water furnace ignited. Many important historical documents relating to the city of Cork were lost in the blaze. Unlike the rest of the building, the original portico survived the fire. William Henry Hill won the competition for permission to rebuild the courthouse in 1891, with works being completed in 1895. Samuel Hill (no relation) served as the contractor for the reconstruction. While the façade and portico of the exterior were retained, the interior was completely re-modelled. The copper dome on the top of the courthouse was added at this point. The eventual cost of rebuilding was £27,000.
Following the implementation of the Local Government (Ireland) Act 1898, which established county councils in every county, the rear of the upper floor of the building, previously used exclusively as a courthouse, also became the meeting place for Cork County Council.
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Cork Courthouse, Washington Street
Cork Courthouse (Irish: Teach Cúirte Chorcaí, Sráid Washington) is a judicial facility in Washington Street, Cork, Ireland. It serves as the Cork Court Office in civil and family related matters, while the courthouse on Anglesea Street handles criminal trials. It operates on the level of both the District and Circuit Courts. The courthouse occupies the entire block between Washington Street, Liberty Street, Cross Street and Courthouse Street.
Much of the building's early history has been lost, due to the destruction of records in the great fires of 1891 (the courthouse itself) and 1920 (Cork City Hall). As a result, most surviving primary sources relating to the history of the courthouse tend to have partisan biases.
Prior to 1835, Cork was served by two courthouses: one for the city, and one for the county. Plans were made to build the courthouse because the old county courthouse was damaged by fire. This original courthouse was described as being in a "decayed and perishing condition" in 1827. Plans for the building of a new courthouse in Cork were being made as early as July 1827. It was the last assize courthouse to be planned in Ireland before Catholic emancipation was granted in 1829. In 1829, the Cork Corporation decided to merge the City and County courthouses, and have them both be serviced by a new development.
A competition for design was held in 1830, which brothers James and George Richard Pain won — premiums of IR£40, £20, and £10 were offered. They were awarded a £16,000 contract. At the time of going to competition, no particular site had been chosen for the courthouse, but the three principal contenders were Nelson Place (now Emmet Place), St. Patrick's Street, and Great George's Street (now Washington street). By late 1829, it was confirmed that the courthouse would be built on Great George's Street. Construction began in 1831, and was completed between 1835 and 1836 at a cost of £22,000 (equal to roughly €3.4 million in 2021). It is thought that James and Thomas Fitzgerald executed the stonework.
Under pressure from the trades' council, the Corporation had included a stipulation in the contract which guaranteed the use of local work in regards to the plumbing and furnishing of the building. It was later revealed, however, that the plumbing contract had been awarded to a Scottish firm, and that many of the establishments providing furniture had evaded the local manufacture clause. While local plumbers failed to find redress, cabinet makers successfully picketed the courthouse and secured the removal of all imported furniture from the building, all of which were substituted with locally crafted items. The limestone used for the portico was cut from stone sourced from Carrigacrump, Cork, while the rest of the limestone was principally sourced from Beaumont and Gillabbey.
The first sitting in this new courthouse was held on 12 March 1836. At this first sitting, the Hon. Justice Philip Crampton described the courthouse as a "temple suitable to the solemn administration of justice". However, he also complained about the interior design of the building, saying that he had exhausted himself addressing the Grand Jury, due to the distance between them. After it was mostly destroyed by fire in 1891, a town clerk described the courthouse as having been one of the worst of its kind in Ireland, citing in particular the quality of the accommodation and the draughtiness of the building. It was noted by the clerk that some judges preferred to make use of Model Schools, such as the one the Anglesea Street courthouse now occupies.
After the fire on Good Friday, 27 March 1891, the building was "almost a complete write-off". In the immediate aftermath of the fire, it was suspected that it had been a deliberate act of arson committed by Irish nationalists, though it eventually transpired to have been an accidental fire, which started when the flue of the hot water furnace ignited. Many important historical documents relating to the city of Cork were lost in the blaze. Unlike the rest of the building, the original portico survived the fire. William Henry Hill won the competition for permission to rebuild the courthouse in 1891, with works being completed in 1895. Samuel Hill (no relation) served as the contractor for the reconstruction. While the façade and portico of the exterior were retained, the interior was completely re-modelled. The copper dome on the top of the courthouse was added at this point. The eventual cost of rebuilding was £27,000.
Following the implementation of the Local Government (Ireland) Act 1898, which established county councils in every county, the rear of the upper floor of the building, previously used exclusively as a courthouse, also became the meeting place for Cork County Council.
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