Page 8 - 0FINAL Neo Gothic Church 1754 Report compressed_Neat

www. architect.crimmins.ie CONSERVATION PLAN ON THE GOTHICK MEMORIAL CHURCH FOR THE KYLEMORE TRUST 5 CA THAL CRIMMINS AR CHITE C T

required. A long-term repair and conservation plan for the Gothick Memorial Church must be
prepared. The works should be supervised by a person qualified and with expertise in
The conditions which allow salts to form are also harmful to human health.
building conservation.
Disabled access is practically impossible at the church especially for wheelchair Survey inspection of the upper parts of the building, the roof, especially the tower 5.3 Policies Relating To Disabled Access
users.
roof, rainwater goods, coping stones and other stone architectural elements to
determine any potential sources of moisture ingress. All rainwater goods should be A system of providing discrete access for the disabled should be investigate and a
4.3.3 Threats and Vulnerabilities relating to traffic checked for blockages, leaks and hose-tested for function. solution that has least impact on the setting, character and fabric of the church
should only be considered.
Due to the height, length, position of doors it is
and visitor management A programme of works related to roof gutters and flashings should be investigated and unlikely that a chair lift will be suitable and an alternative removable ramp might be
repairs carried out.
considered. External chair lifts have a limited life span, especially in Connemara
Large numbers of visitors, guided tours, taking photographs may have a negative Investigation in to the deterioration of materials, especially masonry and mortars weather. They require a great deal of maintenance and are difficult to conceal. The
impact on the church should be undertaken. In accordance with the recommendations outlined in the ramp as shown in the basic design requirement drawings is quite large and bulky
Assessment by Dr Bolton and the following should be carried out based on his report. having an adverse impact on the church. Health and Safety is an issue which requires
Visitors are essential to sustain Kylemore. An increase in visitor numbers also will
also cause more wear and tear on historic fabric, which needs to be managed so Identify the Type and Source(s) of the Salt(s) and the Source(s) of Moisture mobilising continuous ramps fall at 1 in 20 and ramps required for this situation at 1 in 12 with 1.5
meter landings. Outline options for a removable ramp is shown.
that wear and tear is minimized. the salts.
Other Voices Courgage gives concerts in the church. It is suggested that an outdoor
Use this information to determine the appropriate intervention. permanent timber structure be designed to the gable of the church and to have within
4.3.4 Threats To Landscape and Environment The stone should be tested to confirm his hypothesis relating to the decay of Caen it a ramp. A removable section may be added to this structure to enable wheelchair
stone.. access to the church lobby which can be put in place as needed.
The setting of the Church the views and prospects are essential ingredients Much Hose tests to determine where moisture is entering the building should be carried A full typographical survey of the lands about the church should be carried out.
good work has been carried out in landscaping, both in the walled gardens by
Finola Reid, garden historian and designer and in replanting generally. The area out. At the same this to be carried out in dry, preferably sunny conditions to
determine how/where water ingress occurs during periods of high/intense rainfall.
immediately around the church is finished in an inappropriate tarmacadam 5.4 Policies Relating To Traffic
which detracts from the appearance of the structure and its setting. A revised Determine the condition of the masonry, and the likely progression of decay forms,
landscape proposal, incorporating the suggested ramp should be investigated. and the scope of any repair works
Circulation of traffic, students and scholars, tourists and delivery trucks on the Estate
4.3.6 Threats To The Benedictine Community and Ethos Identify the best options for any necessary repair or remedial action, and the most should be rationalized including the use of the rear access gate at Baskilla Bridge
cost effective. should be encouraged. This was the entrance that the Henrys used. Pedestrian traffic
The intention is to retain the Benedictine ethos and monastic life of the nuns around the church and graveyard should be reexamined in conjunction with landscape
within any proposals. However with an aging religious population and few new Outline effective forms of maintenance for the building. and traffic.
vocations, the Benedictine ethos and involvement in the estate is at risk. Analyse Cream Stone: Samples of the stone should be taken and analysed to
understand its composition and salt content. The analysis should:
5.5 Policies Relating to Tourism and Visitor Management
4.3.7 Threats due to Research Gaps a) Determine the composition and porosity of the stone (petrographic analysis).
b) Investigate the presence of salts within the stone (chemical & petrographic One of the aims of the Kylemore Trust is maintain and enhance Kylemore. Visitors
All of the important information on the refurbishment works carried out in the analysis). are essential to sustain Kylemore. Proposed interventions and upgrades of
1990s has been lost due to a flood. Despite those works the stone has continued Identify Salts: services in the Abbey and Church should be controlled so as to retain
to deteriorate. That fact together with the lack of knowledge of the stone significance. The proposed visitor circulation layout within the castle should be
deterioration is a gap in the understanding of the place Remove Existing Salt Efflorescence & Monitor: After sampling, all salt efflorescence implemented so that wear and tear from visitor traffic is minimised.
should be vacuumed from the wall surface.
The suggested idea of a Spiritual Tourism Trail should be investigated.
5.0 Conservation Policies and Recommendations Diagnostic Environmental Monitoring: The temperature and relative humidity within Interpretation and signage should be improved throughout the estate.
the church should be monitored The environmental monitoring should be
accompanied by time-lapse photography.
This section sets out policies which are aimed at protecting the significance of
the site. In line with good conservation practice and the Venice, Burra and Repair Cracks: The cracks and open joints seen on the internal wall surfaces should be 5.6 Policies Relating to the Benedictine Community and Ethos.
ICOMOS conservation charters the foremost policy is to enhance, retain and pointed up and monitored.
restore the significance of Kylemore and the Gothick Memorial Church. All Large numbers of visitors, guided tours, taking photographs may have a negative
changes, uses and works should be measured against the potential for negative Open joints should be pointed up with an appropriate lime-based mortar. Cracks in impact on the community affecting the balance of their main activities of work and
the stone should be filled with a proprietary stone-coloured mortar. One or similar
impact on the integrity of the historic site. prayer and the accommodation of visitors. By building of a new monastery, increasing
product matched to the colour and properties of the stone)
While there is protection afforded by the State and the Local Authority there Policies relation to maintenance visitor access to the Benedictine community and the communities involvement in
education, retreats and other enterprises and initiatives on the estate it is hoped that
should be increased statutory protection for the site to prevent development.
Adjoining owners should be made aware of the significance of the site. A manual for maintenance and cleaning including measures for protection from visitor this will sustain Benedictine Community and Ethos in to the future.
wear and tear.
There are no later buildings on the Kylemore site that impact on the setting of
the Church. All works should comply with current regulations. 5.2 Policies Relating To Fire and Security 5.7 Policies relating to energy
These areas have been dealt with in the past but will always be a priority in any Investigation into energy efficiency and to improve insulation values where possible.
5.1 Policies Relating To Fabric change. In conservation terms they can have a serious impact, especially on the
interiors of buildings. Renovation should address the current issues facing them
while retaining as much of the original fabric as possible. Service upgrades
Based on priority, a planned program of essential repairs and stabilization is should use existing service runs where possible. 5.8 Policies Relating to Knowledge Gaps
required for the church and all works should be recorded.