Erasmus Smith House Offices, Co. Tipperary

The project was for the conversion of the Erasmus Smith School for use as local offices for South Tipperary County Council. The building was erected in 1818 for use as a two-roomed school with residential accommodation for the schoolmaster and his wife. The school was funded by the Erasmus Smith Trust within which funds were allocated for the erection of 'English Schools" throughout Ireland. Erasmus Smith (1611-1691) was a Cromwellian adventurer who made a great fortune in Ireland which he bequeathed for the furtherance of education in local schools and universities. 

The building was designed by John Nash (1752-1835), the "architect royal" whose patron was the Prince Regent (George IV). Cahir, Co. Tipperary is fortunate to hold three examples of Nash's few Irish buildings, Swiss Cottage, St Paul's Church and Erasmus Smith School. 

The building was last used as a school in 1963 and since then has had a succession of uses including a sawmills and steelworks, railway museum and latterly a warehouse, When surveyed in 2001 it was found that the interior had been removed and that the exterior was endangered by reason of settlement, falling dampness and defective stonework and rainwater goods.

The project began by undertaking a detailed survey which together with research was used as the basis for a conservation report identifying the important elements of the building and the strategy for interventions and refurbishment. 

20thC extensions were removed leaving the original building and two late 19thC wings. The interior had previously been gutted but the exterior was intact. The design provided for a new octagonal public area giving access to reception. planning and revenue offices. This is the hub of the building which allows for a further extension to the rear should this be required. It is a copper roofed. cedar clad structured with glazed links to the original building. Internally the hub has reception desks and IT booths set around the perimeter. 

The original front door had been lost. New carved oak doors were designed based on historical records and research. This leads to a glazed automatic opening draft doors in the main hall which together with the hub doubles as an exhibition space. One of the old classrooms is now the council chamber in which the position of the original fireplace has been marked with a modern fire surround. The work to the building fabric included underpinning at both gables where settlement had occurred. This involved taking down and re-building the adjacent stone buttresses. The building was partly re-roofed with Welsh slates leaving as much of the existing roof slating as was feasible. 

The stonework project included non-chemical cleaning, repair of fractures, stone grafting and replacement of missing finials and parapet caps. Selective re-pointing was undertaken using lime mortar. The existing windows were re-furbished and repaired in situ. The faux stone mullioned window over the main entrance was repaired. 

The building is provided with l. T. networking linked back to County Hall in Clonmel.

Conservation Architects

PSDP

Employer's Representative