Court House — Brigown

In Mitchelstown, centrally placed on E side of New Market Square. Indicated on 1842 OS 6-inch map as rectangular structure (long axis N-S) with off-centre projection to rear, named 'Market & Court House'; enclosed yard to rear named 'Potatoe Shambles Market'. Rectangular 2-storey structure, front elevation and part of N and S elevations are of coursed limestone ashlar construction, rear and side walls of random-rubble with dressed quoins. Hipped roof. Front elevation (W) of 3 bays with central slim 1-bay pedimented breakfront; 3-bay arcade with wide elliptical-headed arches on ground floor, infilled with door and windows; modern memorial plaque to Irish patriots adjacent to S arcade. String course divides ground and 1st floor, rectangular sash windows on 1st floor, limestone plaque with two crowns under central window. Inserted door on N elevation, set slightly higher than ground level, cuts into an earlier blocked window with stone surrounds. Ground floor of rear elevation masked by modern additions, three stone-lintelled windows at 1st-floor level with stop and start surrounds; slightly off-centre door between ground and 1st-floor level. Modern buildings extend from S elevation. Erected in 1823, at cost of £3,000, by the Earl of Kingston (Lewis 1837, vol. 2, 373). Purchased by Mitchelstown Co-op in 1940s, now part of Co-op shop. Part of open yard to rear survives. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 4: North Cork' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2000). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 14 January 2009