The Palace — Cathedral Square

Detached nine-bay three-storey over raised base Classical-style Bishop’s palace, built 1741 - 1752, on a symmetrical plan retaining some original fenestration with four-bay three-storey side elevations to north-east and to south-west, and seven-bay three-storey rear elevation to north-west. Subsequently in use as school. Renovated, c.2000. Now in use as Waterford City Council offices. Hipped slate roofs on a quadrangular plan behind parapet with clay ridge tiles, rendered chimney stacks on axis with ridge, and cast-iron rainwater goods. Limestone ashlar walls to front (south-east) and to rear (north-west) elevation with rusticated blocks to ground floor having stringcourse over, pedimented tetrastyle Doric frontispiece to first floor on rusticated advanced ‘arcaded’ base, medallion to centre top floor, and moulded cornice over having blocking course to parapet. Unpainted rendered, ruled and lined walls to remainder. Square-headed window openings with cut-limestone sills, Gibbsian surrounds to ground floor rear (north-west) elevation, and moulded surrounds over having pediment over to centre first floor. 3/3, 6/6 and 6/9 timber sash windows with some replacement models, c.2000. Round-headed door openings to front (south-east) elevation with replacement timber panelled doors, c.2000, and fanlights. Square-headed door opening to rear (north-west) elevation with cut-limestone Gibbsian surround having entablature over, and replacement glazed timber door, c.2000. Interior with stairhall having carved timber staircase with decorative plasterwork to walls, and timber panelled shutters to window openings. Set back from road in own grounds on an elevated site with terrace to front having limestone ashlar retaining and parapet walls with flight of seventeen cut-stone steps to lower level.