Architectural Heritage

Donaghpatric Headfort House Rear Newbridge Headford Demense Stackallen House

County Meath possesses a remarkably diverse and rich architectural heritage that forms an integral part of the county's landscape. In 1998 the Government launched a package of measures aimed at protecting our built heritage. At the heart of the system is a statutory requirement that the protection of buildings of artistic, architectural, historical, cultural, archaeological, scientific, technical or social interest be a mandatory objective of each local authority's Development Plan.

Each planning authority is obliged to have a Record of Protected Structures (RPS). Owners and occupiers of protected buildings are required to ensure that buildings do not become endangered through harm, decay or damage. Planning authorities operate a conservation grant scheme to assist the owner or occupier of a protected structure to undertake necessary works.

For further information please contact:

Jill Chadwick,
Conservation Officer
Planning Department
Meath County Council
Abbey Mall
Abbey Road
Navan
Co. Meath.
Tel: 046-9097521
Email: jchadwick@meathcoco.ie

Built Heritage Information Seminars

As an action of the County Meath Heritage Plan 2007-2011, Meath County Council, supported by the Heritage Council, held two built heritage information seminars in July 2008. ‘A key objective of the County Heritage Plan is to raise awareness and provide advice on best conservation practice’ Loreto Guinan, Heritage Officer, Meath County Council.

The purpose of the events was to raise awareness of the built heritage of County Meath, clarify the main aspects of legislation and promote best practice in the care of historic properties focusing on protected structures. The updating of the Record of Protected Structures (RPS) has had regard to the DoEHLG ‘National Inventory of Architectural Heritage for County Meath’ which recommended that structures deemed of regional, national or international significance should be included on the RPS.

‘Over the past year, there have been over 600 new additions to the RPS. Sympathetic maintenance, adaptation and re-use can allow the architectural heritage to yield aesthetic, environmental and economic benefits’ Jill Chadwick, Conservation Officer, Meath County Council.

The creative challenge is to find appropriate ways to satisfy the requirements of a structure while retaining its character and special interest. The seminars created huge interest and both venues were fully subscribed. The first seminar was held in Annesbrook House, Duleek and the second in Oldbridge House (Battle of the Boyne).

Speakers included Willie Cumming and Jacqui Donnelly, Conservation Architects, Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government (DoEHLG), Jill Chadwick, Conservation Officer, Meath County Council and Alastair Coey, Alastair Coey Architects. Patrick Shaffrey from Shaffrey Associates Architects and the County Meath Heritage Forum chaired both sessions.

Each attendee at the seminar was given an information pack which contained funding information, maintenance advice and other relevant information. The information packs are available from the Heritage Office; contact 0469097406 or email heritage@meathcoco.ie

Pictured above are as follows;

Photograph 1 Oldbridge House (L-R): Back: Jill Chadwick, Conservation Officer, Meath County Council; Patrick Shaffrey, Shaffrey Associates Architects; Willie Cumming, National Inventory of Architectural Heritage, DoEHLG; Loreto Guinan, Heritage Officer, Meath County Council; Jacqui Donnelly, Conservation Architect, DoEHLG; Rosanne Meenan, Field Monuments Advisor, Meath County Council. Front: Louise McKeever, Research Assistant, Meath County Council; Cllr. Liz McCormack, Cathaoirleach, Meath County Council.

Photograph 2 Annesbrook (L-R): Willie Cumming, National Inventory of Architectural Heritage, DoEHLG; Alastair Coey, Alastair Coey Architects; Cllr. Liz McCormack, Cathaoirleach, Meath County Council; Patrick Shaffrey, Shaffrey Associates Architects; Loreto Guinan, Heritage Officer, Meath County Council; Louise McKeever, Research Assistant, Meath County Council; Jill Chadwick, Conservation Officer, Meath County Council.