Architectural gems recreated with Ibstock Brick

Ibstock's skill and persistence, in recreating brick to match the original non-standard size and colour, assist architects to restore the streetscape with buildings.

Illegal demolition in the centre of Drogheda, Ireland, had robbed the town of some of its outstanding 18th century buildings.

Architects Reg Chandler and Partners commented that Ibstock's skill and persistence, in recreating brick to match the original non-standard size and colour, assisted them to restore the streetscape with buildings that have attracted praise from all over Ireland.

A particularly interesting feature was that Ibstock was able to reproduce more than 60 brick window and doorway arches to match the originals, using Ibstock's Intelligent Brickwork i-Arch prefabricated archways system, thus saving labour and time.

The buildings originally comprised the Dr Clarke Freeschool, built in 1730, architect Michael Wills, and the Singleton Townhouse, built in 1732, architect Edward Lovatt Pearse who was probably Ireland's finest architect of the early 18th century and designed the Irish Houses of Parliament.

The buildings were occupied by the Drogheda Grammar School from the early 19th century until 1978.

After the Grammar School moved to new premises, the buildings were listed for preservation by the Local Authority, but were illegally demolished in 1989.

Following a protracted series of court actions that resulted in an undertaking by the owners to reconstruct the buildings as close as possible to the originals, the present owners, Parolen , purchased the site in 1996.

Reg Chandler and Partners were appointed architects for the reconstruction by Parolen and, on adjacent land, a major development, the St Laurence Towncentre.

However, the original elaborate grey limestone embellishments and even the bricks had been so crushed and damaged as to be unusable.

Careful work with eminent architectural historian Dr Arthur Gibney established the close dimensional correlation between the limestone embellishments and the brick size.

Cutting new limestone was not the problem, but sourcing the correct brick might have been.

Reg Chandler: "Ibstock Brick provided bricks of the necessary non-standard size (225X111X76mm) and colour.

After much experimentation and many trial firings, Ibstock produced bricks virtually identical to the originals.

These bricks, which interrelated perfectly in size with the limestone dressings, were used in the reconstruction, which has resulted in the now restored streetscape.

Without this precise replication, it would not have been possible to reconstruct the facades so exactly." Architect: Reg Chandler and Partners.

Client: Parolen Building/Brickwork.

Contractor: John Woods Building Contactor.

Back to top