Conservation Plan
On Tuesday 27th October, at 5 pm, Rothe House Trust Limited and the Kilkenny Archaeological Society launched the final phase of their Conservation Plan for Rothe House on Parliament Street in Kilkenny city.
Rothe House is an early 17th century Irish merchant’s town house and garden situated in the heart of Kilkenny City. It was built between 1594 and 1610. The house and gardens are built on a burgage plot originally granted to the Cistercians in the 14th century, and it is the only intact Burgage plot remaining in Kilkenny and in Ireland. The property is privately owned, having been purchased by the Kilkenny Archaeological Society in 1962. The Society is a voluntary body, and has provided the expertise and sourced the funds necessary for restoration and conservation works.
The property comprises of three- Elizabethan style cut stone houses, each with its own enclosed courtyard, a large garden and orchard is located to the rear of the property, and the garden extends back to the line of the Kilkenny City Walls.
The KAS began its restoration work in 1966 and opened the property to the public as a museum, a genealogical research facility, and a research library. All three houses have been restored, and Rothe House now provides facilities for exhibitions, concerts, and cultural events.
The Rothe House Conservation Plan was the first conservation plan to be commissioned in Ireland by the Heritage Council of Ireland and by the Kilkenny Archaeological Society in 2002, and its aim was to secure, conserve, and restore the historic property and gardens for future generations to enjoy and use. The Conservation Plan had four major recommendations and to date three of these recommendations have been completed: they are as follows
1. The formation of a professional Management Company (Rothe House Trust Ltd. was formed in 2004 and has full Charitable status.)
2. The reconstruction of the Burgage Garden to the rear of the property. (opened in April 2008, and the gardens have won the Local and National awards in the 2008 Tidy Towns Awards)The Garden to the rear of the house was reconstructed after a major study and a garden archaeological investigation to recreate a typical early 17th century Irish merchant’s garden, and it was opened to the public in April 2008, by the President of Ireland, Mrs Mary McAleese. This project was supported by Fáilte Ireland, Kilkenny Local Authorities, Kilkenny Civic Trust, the OPW, D.O.E.L.G, the Kilkenny Archaeological Society, and by private individuals, and the project cost almost €800,000
.3. The Structural Conservation and Maintenance of the buildings. (Works were completed in November 2008)The Structural conservation and maintenance works of the buildings was undertaken in October and November 2008, was supported by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and by private donations. The project cost was €200,000.
4. The re-presentation of the site as an exemplar of life in 17th century Kilkenny and Ireland. It is planned to tell the story and history of the Rothe family, of Kilkenny, of Ireland, and of Europe in the 17th century Renaissance period. (Work will be phased to allow for visitor access, and 1st phase will start November 2009 with the final phase being completed by Spring 2011)
The Renaissance phase of the Conservation Plan will now commence in November 2009, and the project is being supported by the NDP programme, by Fáilte Ireland, and the Kilkenny Local Authorities, together with private individuals. It is a major conservation and presentation project coming to Kilkenny in these difficult times, which will see substantial investment in the Heritage of the County. The project is estimated to cost €3.1 million and will take two years to complete.
The project design will provide full accessibility for all to Rothe House and Garden, and when complete will prove to be a major tourist attraction and historical and genealogical research facility for Kilkenny and the South East of Ireland.The project programme is being undertaken in two phases, during the winter months of 2009 and 2010.This is to ensure that the House and Garden can continue to operate as one of Kilkenny’s major tourist attractions during the busy season next year.
Rothe House & Garden will be the flagship of Kilkenny’s heritage and tourist industry when the Renaissance project is completed, and all conservation works finished. This will complete the restoration and the presentation of one of Ireland’s treasures for present and future generations.