durrow abbey co. offaly conservation plan - Offaly County Council

CONSERVATION POLICIES
BASIS OF APPROACH
The purpose of a Conservation Plan is to help identify
how best to maintain or enhance the cultural
significance of a building or place. To this end it will
generally conform to the current principles of good
conservation thinking by promoting, wherever possible,
the retention and sensitive treatment of all
significant elements and building fabric.
One of the fundamental principles of good conservation
should also be to keep buildings alive
– par ticularly those threatened with redundancy or
decline – by identifying, promoting and, wherever
possible, accommodating compatible and viable
new uses. It is likely therefore, that changes to
the building fabric will be necessary and in some
instances compromise may be inevitable in balancing
conservation with viability in order to achieve
the long-term survival of the building as a whole.
Provided such changes are sensitively handled and
carefully managed, there is no reason why their
overall effect should not make a positive contribution
to the conservation of the building. Indeed, in
some instances sensitive and well designed interventions
may be actively encouraged in order to
stimulate beneficial change to the way the building
is occupied or operated and to add interesting new
layers. The successful conservation of old buildings
should be seen as a positive and creative process
rather than a negative and reactionary one 36 .
This philosophy, together with all the other issues
covered in this conservation plan, have influenced
the preparation of a number of policies which are
laid out below.
The cultural significance of Durrow Abbey arises
from the survival of evidence of many layers of
human habitation on the site from the sixth century
to the twenty-first century. With some of these
layers viewed in isolation they may be considered
to be of greater impor tance than others, however,
all are significant interdependent and mutually
enriching to each other.
Policy 1. Approach to site
The conservation and preservation of Durrow
Abbey should take account of and value all layers of
its history as par t of a unique cultural landscape.
Policy 2. Elements identified as being
of ‘primary significance’
Elements identified as being of ‘primary significance’
to the site should be carefully conserved,
repaired or restored, and subsequently maintained,
to the highest internationally recognised standards.
Alterations or adaptations to the historic fabric will
generally be discouraged, however, limited changes
or interventions may be considered if a convincing
case is presented and the proposed work is sensitively
designed, with no detrimental visual or physical
impact on the historic fabric. The removal of
intrusive elements and the restoration of missing or
damaged features in areas of ‘primary significance’
will be encouraged.
Policy 3. Spaces or elements identified
as being of ‘secondary significance’
Spaces or elements identified as being of ‘secondary
significance’ should be treated similarly to those
of ‘primary significance’, but with greater latitude
given with regard to the extent and impact of necessary
alterations and adaptations. Even so, the
existing building fabric and architectural features
should be treated with respect and retained wherever
possible. Any changes or interventions should
take due account of the existing historic fabric, and
not diminish the significance of the buildings and
site as a whole.
Policy 4. Spaces or elements identified
as being of ‘neutral significance’
Spaces or elements identified as being of ‘neutral
significance’ are able to accommodate more extensive
and radical alterations or adaptations, provided
any resultant changes or interventions take due
account of the underlying or uncovered historic
fabric and do not diminish the significance of the
building as a whole.
Policy 5. Spaces or elements identified
as being ‘intrusive’
Spaces or elements identified as being ‘intrusive’ may
be altered or adapted without undue restriction. The
removal of intrusive spaces, or of intrusive elements
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