The Rutland Memorial Fountain, Dublin, Ireland
- Client :
Dublin City Council - Architect :
Gerrard Bowe DCC - Position :
Principal Contractor - Total Value :
€25K - Date :
unspecified
During February 2009 at the invitation of David Slattery Architects, Cbs personnel travelled to Dublin to carry out emergency works and a condition survey of Coade Stone elements of the Rutland Memorial Fountain, in Merrion Square.
Cbs.ltd have now successfully completed a second phase of conservation and repair works to both budget and programme.
The Rutland Fountain was erected in memory of the Duke of Rutland, the Lord Lieutenant, who died of Dublin fever in 1787 at the age of 33. Recent research has confirmed it as the work of Francis Sandys and constructed by Arthur Darley, one of the stonemasons from the Dublin Customs House. The works were carried out under the direction of the Paving Board in1792.
An illustration by Baralett, engraved by Stadler from the National Gallery collection has been of considerable help in assessing the fountains original form when it functioned as a supply of water to the poor of Dublin City. Restoration works were carried out to the Fountain in 1975 during European Architectural Heritage Year; these included a number of modifications to the fountain and its layout which included rather sadly the replacement of the water supply with Iron railings!
A new phase of repair works to the structure have recently been completed. Whilst these works were not extensive they included repairs and re-pointing of stonework
Coade stone is a ceramic material often described as an artificial stone. It was first created by Mrs Eleanor Coade and sold commercially from 1769 to 1833. The building boom in London at this time led to a high demand for ornate features to decorate and adorn brick built Georgian houses. The showrooms of Mrs Coade's Artificial Stone Company, in Westminster Bridge Road, provided a huge array of 'off the shelf' solutions for builders and architects, ranging from small keystones for over front doors to corner and window features and almost entire facades. Coade Stone varied in colour from a light grey to a warm buff and its surface is best described as having a matte finish. The ease with which the product could be moulded to complex shapes made it ideal for large statues, sculptures and features. One of the more striking features of Coade is its incredible weathering resistance, which has proved better than most stone in the harsh city environment.
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This project encompasses the following services
