1851 – Unbuilt Deane & Woodward Design for Town Hall, Cork

Design entry for architectural competition to design a townhall for Cork. Unplaced but described as based on “the Belgian Town-halls”.

The Builder journal of December 6th 1851 reported that “The corporation of Cork have decided on the erection of a new Town-hall, to cost about 12,000. or 15,000. The new building will contain all the necessary corporate offices, together with a large room for public assemblies, mayor’s reception-rooms, library, townclerk and treasurer’s offices, &c., &c. Plans, &c., are being received for same, and a premium of 50 for the first and 25 for the second design, has been offered.”

By the end of the month, “Cork City Hall Competition. — The committee have received forty-six plans from forty-three persons. It has been suggested in the corporation that they should be referred to a London architect for examination. One of our correspondents says this is the more desirable as one of the gentlemen competing has a relative on the committee.” The Builder, December 27 1851.

By March 1852, it was announced that the premiums were being awarded to Atkins and Johnson, and Abraham Hargrave. Neither were constructed, but were later described after exhibition at the Cork National Exhibition of 1852. “The selected design for the Town-hall at Cork, by Messrs. Atkins and Johnson, has a Corinthian portico (hexastyle), with wings, and a campanile at each side of it. A peculiarity in it is the introduction of an enclosure wall, under the portico, in a line with the wings, or nearly so, in the direction of the length of the portico, but rising only part of its height. The design, which received the second premium, by Mr. Hargrave, jun. shows the peculiarity, we ought to call it the vagary, of an open apsis, with its half-dome, behind a range of columns carrying a horizontal entablature. Messrs. Deane and Woodward’s design for the same building, is founded on the Belgian Town-halls. We must mention a portrait of the late Mr. G. R. Pain, architect, because he was one of the first to exhibit a cultivated taste in the public buildings of Cork.” The Builder, July 31 1852.