Survey Data
Reg No
20503194
Rating
Regional
Categories of Special Interest
Architectural, Artistic
Previous Name
Hive Iron Works
Original Use
Office
In Use As
Office
Date
1820 - 1840
Coordinates
166973, 71727
Date Recorded
10/07/2003
Date Updated
--/--/--
Description
Three-storey premises, c. 1830, having retail outlet to ground floor with office accommodation to upper floors. Parapet having moulded cornice and plain coping. Red brick facade in Flemish bond with brick pilasters and frieze. Square headed openings to upper floors with soldier arches and cills. Windows are timber sliding sash six over six pane to second floor, nine over six pane to first floor. Timber shopfronts retaining many original elements. Moulded cornice, panelled plasters having moulding and festoons, full size display windows with entrance door having plain overlight. Rear elevation in random limestone with brick swept arches to camber openings. Mix of timber sliding sash, timber casement and timber fixed windows. Some openings partially bricked up, ground floor openings with window grilles. Bay with carriage arch having beehive motif carved on keystone, loading doors to the floors above and pulley mechanism to roof still in place. Triangular island site with street frontage.
Appraisal
Fine example of a nineteenth century commercial building on a very distinctive triangular site. Retaining much original material, as well as its scale and form generally unaltered. Contributes positively to the street in terms of character and function. Important also due to its location on one of the main commercial streets of Cork city. A so-called "ghost sign" advertises "HIVE IRON WORKS" which, established in 1800, produced decorative and functional cast-iron work from premises in Hanover Street until 1935 (see 20503242): it was then adapted as the Hanover Shoe Company.