Town hall in Gardens (kilkenny City By., St. Mary’s Par.)

On the E side of High Street, no. 83. This refers to an earlier Tholsel, the predecessor of the present Tholsel (built in 1761), the loggia of which occupies the site of the earlier building. Built in the late 16th/ early 17th century, as suggested in an inquisition of 1619 which was held in, 'le new Tholsell' (Hogan 1879-82, 243). This building functioned as a town hall, though it also carried out market house and court house functions. A visitor in 1730 noted that, 'the Tholsel is remarkable; though small, it is very neat' (ibid.). In the Kilkenny Corporation minute book there are references to rebuilding taking place in 1695 (Bradley 2000, 15). Hogan (ibid. 244), refers to repairs made in 1753 relating to a payment to a bricklayer, 'for arching under the Market part of the Tholsel' and gives extracts from the treasurer of the Corporation's ledger which show that there were four stalls or shops at ground-floor level, rented out to tenants, while the upper floor was occupied by the 'City Chambers or Town hall'. Rocque's map of 1758 shows the building projecting into the street with a row of buildings adjoining to the E, and rear access to the building from a narrow lane extending westward from Saint Mary's Lane. The old tholsel was demolished in 1760. Reference: Hogan, J. 1879-82 The three Tholsels of Kilkenny. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquarians of Ireland 15, 236-53. Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 15 March 2023