Page created 29 March 2004

[Continuation from Section 3]

4.1 DEFINITIONS AND CRITERIA FOR SIGNIFICANCE
The process of assessing cultural significance used in this study is derived from the ICOMOS Charter for the Conservation of Places of Cultural Significance (Burra Charter). Article 1.1 of the Burra Charter defines cultural significance as 'the aesthetic, historic, scientific or social values for past, present or future generations'. These were enumerated more as examples than a prescriptive list, and J. S. Kerr has maintained that 'questions of significance should be tailored to each project after the assessor has analysed the... evidence'.
Thus the significance of Rothe House has been considered on the following criteria:

Table 1: Criteria for Considering Significance

4.2 DEGREE OF SIGNIFICANCE
One of the key elements of a Conservation Plan is its assessment of how important each element of a site is in terms of the criteria listed above. The means of doing so will be idiosyncratic to each site, but common to most will be some form of relative hierarchy. The use of an elaborate system of scores is avoided here because it is prone to misinterpretation and lends a false sense of precision to a subjective process. Instead, a relative hierarchy has been used which helps to clarify the issues, but which does not impose a numerical value. It is recognised that assessing significance will always be a subjective process based upon current information. The current assessment of significance will undoubtedly change over the years - one reason for reviewing the plan on a regular basis. The following six-rung ladder of significance has been adopted for Rothe House.

Table 2: Ladder of Significance

Insofar as possible, significance has been assessed objectively, based on the intrinsic importance of the element. It is often the case that people's perceptions of the significance of an element are based on limited understanding - some elements may be far more important than many visitors or residents are aware. However, it is also true that some people and organisations may place a higher value on an element than might be objectively ascribed; if these people are in positions of influence, their perceptions carry weight. In the discussion below, 'intrinsic significance' is used except where otherwise noted.

.3 URBAN SETTING/CONTEXT OF ROTHE HOUSE
The present urban setting/context of Rothe House is considered to be nationally significant because of the wide range of original post-medieval features which survive in good condition. These are discussed at greater length below.
The burgage plot on which Rothe House was built survives intact. This may not be unique, but there can be few in such an unaltered state. Therefore it is likely to be of national importance. In addition, the medieval city wall forms part of the curtilage of the Rothe House complex and is recognised as being of national significance.
It is significant that the Rothe House complex has survived the historical turmoil of the history of Ireland - the Cromwellian Campaigns, the Georgian redevelopment programmes, the Great Famine, 19th-century industrialisation and development, and considerable intervention in the 20th century.
The configuration of the original Rothe House development - that is, the consecutive building sequence of John Rothe's three houses - has survived intact. Rothe's sequential building programme is significant, as he deliberately built three independent houses rather than extending the first house to accommodate the needs of his growing family. In this, he followed the pattern of development chosen by his wife's family (the Archers) in their arrangement of the Archer house fronting High Street West and the subsequent house built behind it, now known as 'The Hole in the Wall'.
It is significant that the house was built by one of the oligarchy of c. ten families who controlled Kilkenny throughout the 15th and 16th centuries, and during the first half of the 17th century. The development of Rothe House took place at the peak of the oligarchy.
Rothe House has not survived unchanged, but remains the most complete of a group of about seven houses currently known to survive from the same period (Table 3). These were built by members of some of the families who were sovereigns during the period of oligarchy.

Table 3: Houses in Kilkenny which survive from the same period as Rothe House.

In addition to the identification of the buildings listed in Table 3, a brief and cursory survey of the centre of Kilkenny revealed that several other examples of 17th-century architecture may still survive behind later facades (see Table 4). These structures were largely identified through visible period features, e.g. window mouldings, chimneys, chimney pots etc.

Table 4: Buildings in Kilkenny behind which earlier façades may survive.

4.4 ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE
Despite the fact that repeated restorations and rebuilding have diminished the authenticity of much of the fabric, the architecture of Rothe House is considered to be nationally significant. Its architectural significance is discussed at greater length below.
Rothe House is a prime example of a house of Kilkenny's influential merchant class. It was built in the English Renaissance style which was introduced to the south-east of Ireland by the 10th Earl of Ormond in the 1560s (Murtagh, 1993).
Although all three houses, their associated out-buildings and the garden/orchard fell into a considerable state of decay and disrepair over the centuries, the original plan and basic configuration of the Rothe House group survives. This survival is rare - as a group, the buildings have served the many purposes of single and multi-family occupancies of the last four centuries.
The process of decay has been reversed by several campaigns of alteration, repair and restoration undertaken during the 1890s (House 2), the 1960s (House 1), and the 1990s (House 3).
Of the elements dating to c. 1600, the street elevation survives in its original form in many ways. Elsewhere, later restorations have all been hypothetical to some degree, with the consequent likelihood of some falsification of the interior, and in some case the exterior appearance.
The street elevation is arcaded, creating a covered area which may once have formed part of a longer arcaded thoroughfare at pavement level. This area may have been used for trading in association with the ground floor rooms. The best surviving comparison is with the 'Rows' in Chester, England (Brown, 1999). The original carved carboniferous limestone columns of the arcade survive. A passageway through the central arch leads to a courtyard at the rear. Set in the masonry above the passageway is the stone-carved coat of arms of John Rothe Fitz-Piers and his wife Rose Archer, dated 1594. Some worked stone window dressings also survive. At pavement level, a flight of steps leads down to a cellar below the southern arch of the arcade. A second cellar is accessed from the ground floor room on the north side of the house. Fragments of a flight of possibly original steps survive, leading from this cellar to the pavement. The cellars (or cellar, if they were originally one) are not large and may not have been built to store large quantities of goods. It is significant that John Rothe willed to his wife '...ye great cellar under ye forestreete building of my saide house...' for her own use, together with the room above and the staircase from the room to the cellar.
Some original elements survive within the complex of buildings such as the carved stone fireplaces and the remains of the great kitchen fireplace and bread oven. These fireplaces give an indication of how the associated rooms are likely to have been arranged.
The original well survives on the south side of the second courtyard, with a second (undated) well in the former OPW site.
Various dressed stones survive ex situ, including a complete stone window surround, from No. 1 Parliament Street standing near the well, and a pile of surplus fragments in the garden at present part of the OPW yard. These may be left over from the House 3 restoration or from earlier campaigns elsewhere in Houses 1 and 2, or alternatively from other houses in the area.
Beyond the enclosing wall of the third courtyard, the area that once contained John Rothe's gardens, castle and dovecote remains defined by the surviving walls of the burgage plot. There are many breaches in these enclosing walls, currently in a state of considerable disrepair. Although large sections of the garden have been concreted over and several buildings of a temporary/semi-temporary nature have been erected on the site, it is significant that these areas remain largely open, having escaped permanent redevelopment.
Archaeological recording, mortar sampling, and analysis during future repairs might identify phasing and chronology.

4.5 HISTORICAL AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE
The historical and archaeological elements of Rothe House are considered to be nationally significant because of the wide range of features dating from c. 1202 to the 1650s which survive in good condition. The fabric of the structure, much altered by rebuilding, is nonetheless legible archaeologically and therefore this significance is undiminished. The significance of the archaeological deposits is discussed below.
The burgage plot within which Rothe House stands predates the construction of the house and belongs to the laying-out of this part of lrishtown in c. 1202-18. The plot may well contain a wealth of archaeological remains from the l3th-l7th centuries, as well as traces of John Rothe's garden and evidence of later uses.
Rothe House is one of a very few largely intact merchant's houses dating from the late 16th-early 17th centuries surviving extant in Ireland. Extensive alterations and changes have been made to the fabric of the structures - particularly in the 1890s, 1960s and 1990s. The authenticity of the fabric of the structures is low. As a consequence, if the individual elements are considered separately, the degree of alterations could result in quite low ranking in significance. However, its structural evolution is relatively well documented and potentially explicable through archaeological recording and, as one of few such structures surviving in Ireland, its group value is high; coupled with public access, it assumes national significance.
There are likely to be significant archaeological deposits below House 2, House 3 (as demonstrated in Archaeological Development Services report, 1991), the three courtyards, and the works depot to the rear of the plot where the Rothes' garden was located. Over time, archaeological investigations could add greatly to our knowledge of the early history of Kilkenny during the medieval period, the continuity in use of the plot into the l6th-l7th centuries, the nature of trade and business during those centuries, and the Rothe family.
The walls of the burgage plot, one of which is on the site of the medieval city wall, are some of the few surviving that may date to the earliest foundation of this part of Kilkenny. The authenticity of the fabric of the walls is unknown, but would repay detailed investigation. The significance of these structures is potentially national.
A significant amount of documentary information has been loosely drawn together above which would repay more detailed study and analysis.

4.6 MUSEUM AND ARCHIVE COLLECTIONS
There are several collections housed at Rothe House which consist of:

• An artefact collection
• Costume and textile collections
• A painting collection
• A library and genealogy records

These museum and archive collections vary from locally to nationally significant. The artefact and paintings collections are of local/regional significance; the costume and textile collections are of national significance; and the contents of the library and the genealogical material are of national significance.
The Kilkenny Archaeological Society has accumulated the collections over a period of 60 years. It appears that three different documentation systems were used for logging and recording items; the degree of duplication and even the full extent of the collections are unknown. There are also various miscellaneous objects which may form collections; the extent of these is also unknown.
The artefact collection is representative of the history of the region and is thus regionally significant. Rothe House does not have a clearly identified collections policy and until recently, artefacts were collected on an ad hoc basis. This has now been slightly refined whereby only items with a Kilkenny city/county provenance are collected. However, the relevance of the artefacts to Rothe House or to the Rothe family is limited, if not negligible. There is the potential significance for some elements of this collection to be used as an educational resource, with a selection of artefacts set aside to form a 'handling collection'.
There are no publicly accessible collections of costumes or textiles outside of Dublin; what is on display in Dublin is limited in scope. Springhill in Londonderry houses a fine and extensive costume collection which is far more 'glamorous' (Maguire, pers. comm.) than the one in Rothe House. The Rothe House costume and textile collections are judged to be nationally significant, and would make a worthy focus for a national collection. A conscious effort was made to begin this collection in the early 1980s. Initially, it formed a small selection of late 19th-century ladies' gowns; accessories, textiles and children's and gentlemen's clothing were added later (Johnston, 1994). The date of the collections ranges from the late 18th century to the 20th century. In 1994, the collection numbered in the region of one thousand items (Johnston, 1994). The textile section is extensive and is representative of Irish and continental textiles ranging from lace cuffs and collars to linen table covers and bedspreads (Johnston, 1994). The range of this collection is quite broad. All the items have an Irish provenance. The display and storage conditions at Rothe House do not do justice to the collections and are wholly inadequate, threatening their longterm survival. Much like the artefact collections, the relevance of the textiles and costumes to Rothe House is limited.
The collection of paintings appears to be small-to-medium in size, with most of them on display. The full extent of the collection does not appear to be documented. They cover a wide variety of topics. Their relevance to Rothe House is limited and the link to Kilkenny tenuous.
The library and other paper records form a large archive of material of unique national significance. Its content is mostly Kilkenny orientated; containing journals, books and newspapers of Kilkenny interest; books on Irish history, topography, maps, genealogy; the family papers of the landed gentry; and a small photographic collection. Its curation is inadequate, as the lack of appropriate storage conditions and conservation measures have left the paper archive open to bright light and fluctuating temperatures which lead to desiccation. Much of the material (e.g. the historic newspapers) is too delicate for everyday use and should be digitised or microfiched. In addition, there does not appear to be a complete listing of the contents of the library. The collection could be enhanced through proper documentation and wider access.
The genealogy material has mostly been computerised through the joint KAS/FAS project and potentially provides regionally/nationally significant material. Combined with the rest of the library papers, it could form the nucleus for a 'one-stop shop' for historical information on Kilkenny and its former inhabitants.

4.7 TOURISM, EDUCATION AND PRESENTATION
The Rothe House complex is currently considered by tourist organisations to be highly (i.e. regionally) significant, but with the potential to be nationally significant as a prospective heritage resource. The tourism agencies are all agreed on this. This significance could only be realised if fairly radical changes in management and administration were to be made. In addition, the covenant that accompanied the Bord Failte/European Community funding for the restoration of House 3 specifically requires this structure to be open to the public and used for heritage interpretation.
In its present state, the garden has no real significance. However, there is considerable national potential for archaeological investigations to reveal evidence about urban gardens and orchards of the late 16th and early 17^th centuries. If the garden were restored to a city merchant's garden of c. late 16th-early 17th century (informed by the archaeological investigations), it has considerable potential significance as a tourist attraction and an educational facility. In addition, if the wall of courtyard 3 could be reduced, this would provide a view of the gardens from House 3 and reintegrate the house with the rest of the plot. If this were done, there would be considerable consequences for the significance and value of the site as a heritage attraction.
The artefact and costume collections are probably not significant tourist attractions in their own right, but would make worthy additions to a larger collection if displayed in more appropriate conditions.
The library and other paper records form a large archive of material of national significance. Access to the library is currently restricted to members of the Kilkenny Archaeological Society. The library is staffed only one evening a week at present. Access to the general public is therefore very limited.
From an educational perspective, Rothe House could have regional significance as a facility for short courses in subjects like history, geography etc. It could also be a venue for 'Life Long Learning' programmes, as well as resurrecting links with the local universities by providing specialist courses.

4.8 KILKENNY COMMUNITY/SOCIAL VALUE
It would appear from our consultations that Rothe House is considered to be a very important city monument and periodically used for a wide variety of regionally significant activities. it is a well-loved institution in Kilkenny, but perhaps more as an 'ideal' than as a place that is regularly used. This is probably best translated as 'locally' or 'regionally' significant, but the consensus seems to be that there is potential for this significance to be greatly increased.
Potential community use is limited by the size and layout of the rooms; for example, the ground floor of House 2 is almost exclusively used by the Gaelic League. The likelihood that the Heritage Council will vacate House 3 opens up many opportunities to reconsider the current uses. The Gaelic League's occupancy of the ground floor of House 2 could, for example, be transferred elsewhere in the complex and shared with other organisations so that such an easily accessible room is not left vacant for the vast majority of the time.
The garden is currently of limited significance (see Section 4.7). However, if taken into consideration within the burgage plot, it would require protection through city policies and planning/development controls, as these elements are potentially of considerable national significance.

4.9 KILKENNY ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY
Although the Kilkenny Archaeological Society clearly has very mixed feelings and perceptions about Rothe House and the plot within which it sits, Rothe House is of great symbolic and emotional value to them. The Society is justly proud of their accomplishment in achieving the structural restoration of Houses 1 and 3 (and House 2 to a lesser extent). They clearly wish to see Rothe House flourish as a visitor attraction, to the benefit of local citizens, Kilkenny and Ireland as a whole. However, managing the complex places a heavy burden on their resources. It is felt that the management of Rothe House has come to dominate the Society, to the detriment of its other functions.

4.10 SUMMARY OF OVERALL SIGNIFICANCE
The following table provides a summary of the significance of each of the individual elements within the context of the six-rung ladder approach (see Section 4.2):

5. ISSUES OF VULNERABILITY
The following discussion is necessarily critical of Rothe House, in the sense that it points out instances where the complex has been threatened in the past or where it could be vulnerable in the future. This must not be taken to be critical - in the sense of attributing blame - to any individuals or organisations. It is recognised that, without the contributions and tireless efforts of Society members over the years, there would now be no Rothe House to discuss. The point to be made is that the coming years mark a turning point in the history of Rothe House (as House 3 and the plot to the rear become available) and therefore represent a great opportunity. In order to make the most of the opportunities, it is necessary to take a dispassionate view of the past, to learn lessons from it, and make plans for the future.

5.1 ISSUES AFFECTING URBAN SETTING
The urban setting of Rothe House is judged to be of national significance for the following reasons:

• The plot on which Rothe House was built originates from the setting out of lrishtown between 1207 and 1231 and still exists intact.
• Dating from 1594, Rothe House was built on the street frontage of the plot and still presents a prominent and unique profile on the main thoroughfare of Parliament Street.
• The site of the original garden still exists.
• Many original post-medieval features remain preserved in good condition.

5.1.1 INSENSITIVE DEVELOPMENT OF SETTING
The house and garden have already suffered from insensitive development of adjacent sites and loss by demolition of sections of original boundary walls. The impact of insensitive development in the past has to a certain extent marred the overall character of the site in terms of visitor experience and its presentation. The site, although surrounded by 4-6m high boundary walls, is overlooked, especially in the 'gardens', by a multi-storey car park and a new residential development to the south. Upon entering the 'gardens', it is painfully obvious that being overlooked by an oversized modern development does not enrich the experience of visiting a historic property.
The new residential development along Evan's Lane has also demolished a section of the historic boundary wall which may date to the founding of this part of Kilkenny. Although the demolished wall was to have been reinstated by the developer, this has not been done.

5.1.2 INAPPROPRIATE DEVELOPMENT
Structural elements of this site may date back to as early as c. 1220. Future development and enhancement of the site as a visitor attraction may leave it vulnerable to unsympathetic development or modification. This must be avoided, as it would notably diminish the significance of the site. Future changes, developments and other works should be seriously considered, be authentic and add to the integrity of the plot.
The site and setting will remain vulnerable to further insensitive development and loss of original fabric until such time as the essence of the original fabric is respected and valued and planning policies are conservation-led.

5.2 ISSUES AFFECTING ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE
Rothe House is a nationally significant building and is generally in good structural condition. However, limited and uncoordinated maintenance programmes in the past have rendered some elements of Rothe House vulnerable to external weather conditions, which, if left unchecked, could cause serious damage to the structure (see Section 5.2.2).

5.2.1 AUTHENTICITY AND UNDERSTANDING
The authenticity of Rothe House as a nationally significant building of the Renaissance period has been threatened by many campaigns of alteration, repair and restoration. The three houses as they exist today are the result of restorations undertaken:

• to House 1 in the 1960s
• to House 2 in the 1890s
• to House 3 in the 1990s

The absence of conservation policies is understandable for the works undertaken on House 2 in the 1890s (although the conservation philosophy of William Morris and his Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings [SPAB] would have been well known at the time). The development of such an ideology is reflected in Percy Le Clerc's work to House 1 in the 1960s, but his determined restoration philosophy is at odds with the gentler SPAB approach. The recent work to House 3 is also clearly a restoration rather than a conservation exercise. It is unfortunate that work in the 1990s was undertaken without sufficient regard for the surviving elements of House 3. Although houses 1 and 3 have been restored in the spirit of the original period, some aspects of the external elevations and the interior arrangements are conjectural to a degree. The external and internal arrangements of the 19th-century alterations to House 2 remain generally undisturbed.
Had conservation policies been in place when the most recent Rothe House restoration projects were carried out, it is likely that our knowledge of the original form, structure, materials, interior arrangements, decorative finishes, appearance and use patterns of the house would be richer and more extensive.
The three houses, the garden site and the surviving walls to the burgage plot will remain vulnerable to conjectural restoration until the archaeology of the complex, both above ground and below, is fully understood and conservation-led policies are in place (see also Section 5.3).

5.2.2 MAINTENANCE PROGRAMME
The absence of a coherent maintenance programme constitutes a serious vulnerability in the future, especially since this may allow the attention of management to be diverted towards specific one-off opportunities or threats that may arise. This natural tendency must be resisted.
Despite the three major restoration campaigns, elements of Rothe House are showing the detrimental effects of inadequate maintenance, which, if left unchecked, will cause serious damage to the structure. At present, the principal threat is to House 2. The roof coverings, rainwater goods and windows are in very poor condition, permitting a continuing ingress of water in a number of areas. As a result, the integrity of the roof timbers, the wall heads and the window frames is increasingly vulnerable to decay. This threatens the library collections on the floor below. Unchecked, this threat could extend to the interior furnishings, the costume and textile collections, and electrical services. (Such problems were identified prior to the commissioning of this Conservation Plan. House 2 has been re-roofed since this Plan was prepared.)
The windows of House 2 are generally in poor condition and need attention. It must be ensured that any new windows are of an appropriate form, design and materials (timber sash). A report on the condition of the roof timbers and the timber windows, dated August 2000 and commissioned by the Kilkenny Archaeological Society, includes a schedule of remedial works (see Appendix 3). These are generally consistent with current recommendations; the architect responsible has produced a schedule of works (see Appendix 4) which were underway during the final production of this report.
Secondary threats include:

• structural stability of floors in all three houses (see Section 5.2.3)
• ongoing wear and tear
• fire hazards
• unpredictable disasters (see Section 5.6.3)
• health and safety (see Section 5.6.4)

5.2.3 STRUCTURAL CONSTRAINTS
The structures appear to be vulnerable to misuse through a lack of awareness of the physical constraints of the structures themselves. For example, the loading capacities for the 1960s floors of the first and second floor rooms of House 1 are unknown. This observation is immediately pertinent because visitor traffic has caused 'spring' in the floor of the second floor of House 1 (Lanigan Room) which is sufficient to topple artefacts displayed in the cases. The capacities of the various rooms for fire regulations are also unknown, and in the case of the first floor of House 1 and possibly the ground floor of House 2, it is entirely likely that attendance at some of the periodic major events may lead to unsafe numbers of people being present.
Constraints include:

• Floor loadings
• Fire regulations

5.3 ISSUES AFFECTING ARCHAEOLOGY: THE BUILDINGS AND THE GARDEN
The historical and archaeological aspects of the Rothe House burgage plot are judged to be of national significance. However, while collating information for the preparation of this Plan, it became abundantly clear that information about the site was dispersed and disjointed. This Plan provides a brief historical summary based on the information gathered to date, but it also illustrates that the significance of the structures and archaeological remains are vulnerable to poorly informed management actions. In order to maximise the future collection of information, links must be maintained with the maintenance plan and any future development.

5.3.1 RE-INTEGRATING THE BURGAGE PLOT
The original burgage plot and all three of Rothe's houses survive. This survival of houses and plot is very rare in Kilkenny and Ireland generally. Unless the structures and plot are integrated into one functioning unit, they will remain vulnerable to division and piecemeal loss. Further, the recent acquisition of the plot offers the opportunity to capitalise on this rare survival and transform the present OPW builders' yard into an attractive presentation of its historic appearance.

5.3.2 UNDERSTANDING THE HISTORY
Rothe House sits on a plot which is over 800 years old. Archaeologically and historically, the site holds information which has the potential to enhance both the current knowledge and its significance. Indeed it also has the potential for highlighting gaps in current knowledge and providing opportunities for targeting specific areas for research for the plot, as well as contributing to regional/national research agendas. There is a need for active research and investigation to enhance our understanding.
If left in its current state, the information is extremely vulnerable to:

• Deterioration (library conditions etc.)
• Remaining in the individual knowledge-base of KAS members
• Loss or dispersal

5.3.3 PUBLICATION
Work on the history of the house should be published, thereby disseminating information to the general public and the wider academic world. This will add to the knowledge of late Tudor merchant houses and the lives of the middle classes at that time. Greater awareness of the site and what it has to offer will increase its public profile, which could provide useful support in the future.

5.4 ISSUES AFFECTING MUSEUM AND ARCHIVE COLLECTIONS
Rothe House maintains several collections of varying significance: the artefact and paintings collections are of local/regional significance. Some individual paintings are nationally important and are unique. The costume and textile collections are of national significance, and some items may be unique. The archive and other paper material in the library are of national significance. In addition, the Kilkenny Archaeological Society has also accumulated genealogical material that is judged to be of national significance.

5.4.1 RELEVANCE OF COLLECTIONS
The collections appear to bear little relevance to Rothe House or to the Rothe family. The current manner of collection has a wide remit, encompassing all items relating to County Kilkenny. The result of this has been a deluge of various artefacts loosely grouped into collections, but without any direct bearing on the house. The care and retention of many of these artefacts may be better suited to other accredited museums with the appropriate resources.

5.4.2 ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS AND CONSERVATION
All of these collections, and the un-catalogued artefacts, are vulnerable to, and at risk from, inappropriate storage conditions, leaving items open to deterioration. Absence of environmental monitoring may leave items open to UV damage, insect and bacterial infestations, drying out, rotting etc. The collections are also vulnerable to misuse and overuse, especially in the case of some of the fragile volumes in the library. The majority of these points have been left unchecked in the past due largely to the lack of professional expertise, knowledge, and funds within the Kilkenny Archaeological Society.

5.4.3 DOCUMENTATION
Over time, the use of different documentation systems by various personnel has led to the absence of a complete catalogue. If items were to go missing for any reason, it would be impossible to provide the authorities with specific details. This was the case in the last few years, when the house was burgled. Documentation is essential if Rothe House is to continue in its current capacity as a regional repository. Once items have been donated (whether permanently or as temporary exhibitions), it is the responsibility of the Kilkenny Archaeological Society to ensure the long-term care and survival of those objects whilst they are in its care for future generations.

5.4.4 COLLECTION-SPECIFIC VULNERABILITIES

ARTEFACTS
The artefact collection is vulnerable to all the general points made above. The full size and nature of this collection appears to be unknown. Although many - perhaps a majority - of the items do appear to have been accessioned, the location of the items catalogued on the record cards needs to be confirmed. In addition, the nature and extent of any conservation work undertaken needs to be catalogued thoroughly. The collection appears to be compromised by storage and display conditions. The lack of environmental monitoring may have led to deterioration.

COSTUMES AND TEXTILES
The costume and textile collections do not seem to have been catalogued; their full extent appears to be unknown. The costumes are in three locations: those on display; those in storage in the back of the display case in House 2; and those stored personally by the chairman of the Kilkenny Archaeological Society. Inappropriate storage conditions and the lack of care/maintenance and monitoring of the costumes and textiles may be compromising this collection.

PAINTINGS
The collection of paintings at Rothe House has not been catalogued. In addition, although conservation work has been carried out to restore some of the paintings, the extent of this work on individual paintings has not been detailed.

LIBRARY
The library currently forms an exceptional resource of national significance and would benefit from refurbishing and relocating to a more accessible space. Its contents need to be stored within environmentally secure conditions, ideally within the complex. The quality, quantity and the varied nature of the information it contains on County Kilkenny has the potential to be redefined as an important records office. Additionally, it could provide a much wider service for academics and the public alike, generating additional income in the process. However, the resources to provide this service need to be carefully considered.

GENEALOGY
The genealogy information, accumulated by the Kilkenny Archaeological Society and collated and computerised by the FAS project, is nationally significant. It provides a good service and earns enough income to sustain its current level of activity (Rev. O'Doherty pers. comm.). It could, however, be up-graded, with public access improved to provide a better service with greater public awareness of its existence. In addition, if its role were more focussed, gaps in the information currently held could be targeted for further research and integration. The genealogy and library services are complementary.

5.5 ISSUES AFFECTING TOURISM, EDUCATION AND PRESENTATION
The best means of ensuring the continued conservation of historic structures such as Rothe House is through continued occupation and use. However, the reverse of this is that the structure becomes vulnerable to poor management, as conservation issues become secondary to current activities and functions. The use of spaces within a building complex is something which develops over time, often without a coherent plan.

5.5.1 ROTHE HOUSE

HOUSE 1
The first space which visitors encounter is the shop in House 1. This area is attractive and adequate, although separating visitor reception and payment of entrance fees from book and souvenir purchases might be beneficial. However, the entrance door is tucked away just within the arched passage (with a closed wrought-iron gate just beyond), giving the appearance of a private out-of-the-way entrance. An entrance with more 'presence' on the pavement might be more effective in attracting visitors.
The Heritage Council currently uses the ground floor and cellar, to the south of the entrance passage in House 1, as storerooms. These spaces will be vacated when the Council moves to alternative accommodation. In front of these rooms, the covered arches currently provide a semi-private area that all too often shelters vagrants and collects litter. In front of this, the cellar access (which is not original) attracts litter where it steps down from street level.
To the north of the entrance, the Kilkenny Archaeological Society shop occupies the ground floor; with video presentations of Rothe House in the second cellar. The rooms on the first and second floors are used for displaying furniture, exhibitions etc.
The ground floor rooms front the street, offering reasonably good means of access, and ought to be used for functions where maximum access is important. The window displays in both the ground floor rooms (particularly on the south) fail to attract visitor interest, compounded by poor lighting and presentation.

HOUSE 2
The Gaelic League currently leases the ground floor of House 2. The extent of the League's use of this room is unknown, but it is periodic at best. For most of the year, this space stands empty and un-used. In providing this space to an external body, KAS has no use to which this large, reasonably well-appointed and easily accessible room could be put at present. It might be more effective if a number of the periodic users/functions could share a single space; e.g. the Society could also use this room, thereby providing easier access to meetings for older KAS members.
The KAS/FAS project is currently housed on the first floor. This partnership has been beneficial to the Kilkenny Archaeological Society in terms of compiling a database for the genealogy research. There is no need for the FAS project to be housed here, although it is understood to be ending soon.

HOUSE 3
The restoration of House 3 was partly funded by the EC with a grant of c. IR£162,000 (total cost of IR£500,000). South East Tourism recognised Rothe House as the interpretive centre for Kilkenny, and to this end arranged the restoration grant. A condition of the grant was that the building should serve as a heritage interpretation centre. To date, this condition has not been honoured and the departure of the Heritage Council could now provide the necessary opportunity. Kilkenny is recognised as both a 'Medieval' City and as a 'heritage capital' for Ireland, largely due to the density of historic buildings and heritage attractions. Rothe House could potentially fulfil the role not currently served by other local heritage attractions - that of telling the story of Kilkenny. By not complying with the conditions stipulated for the use of EC funds, Rothe House leaves itself financially vulnerable to having to repay the grant.

5.5.2 UNIVERSAL ACCESS
Since Rothe House is a nationally significant building and tourist attraction, consideration should be given to universal access. Without such arrangements, a proportion of visitors will come away disappointed. Frustration can lead to poor publicity. Impending legislation will make accessibility to all buildings open to the public mandatory.
Following Government policy to adopt the principles of the Barcelona Declaration, 1995, made on the occasion of the European Congress 'The City and the Disabled', an Irish Disability Act is scheduled to be introduced in the Dail in the near future. This Act will provide the framework for the implementation of 'accessibility for all'. Commissioning an accessibility audit would provide Rothe House and the Kilkenny Archaeological Society with the basis for decision making and implementation of a programme to provide universal access.
As a complex of nationally significant structures, Rothe House is visually attractive to the arriving visitor. The continued survival of Rothe House is very likely to depend upon attracting visitors (consider the interviews with all stakeholders; see Appendix 1). The presentation and marketing of the complex are consequently of primary importance. Conversely, poor presentation and the lack of a marketing strategy make the complex vulnerable to a drop in visitor numbers and income.

5.5.3 TOURISM
Rothe House is located on the main thoroughfare in Kilkenny and is midway between the two most significant and. popular tourist attractions in Kilkenny: Kilkenny Castle and St Canice's Cathedral. The current tourist trail runs from the castle to the cathedral, and vice versa, without stopping at Rothe House. In comparison to these two sites, Rothe House has a relatively low community profile as well as a lower national profile. If the profile of the house is not raised through marketing as an enjoyable experience of a historic property of national significance, the house is vulnerable to being omitted as one of Kilkenny's main attractions. Without promotion, Rothe House will become relatively forgotten and its significance diminished.

5.5.4 VISUAL AESTHETICS
Rothe House's exterior maintains the presence of a 17th-century stone building amongst its rendered neighbours. On closer inspection, window displays on the ground floor (the shop and Heritage Council storeroom) look tired and worn. A more attractive window display may encourage passers-by to stop and enter the shop. The front entrance is ambiguous and fails to attract visitors.

5.5.5 VISITOR CIRCULATION
The arrangement of the spaces in the Rothe House complex is disorientating and complicated for the visitor. There is no natural progression through the buildings, the museum or the collections. The opportunity to create a centre that is authentic, interesting, informative, inspiring, relaxing and peaceful must be grasped. Not doing so would leave Rothe House vulnerable to a new cycle of potentially unsympathetic uses.
Upon entry, the shop forms a pleasing diversion before beginning the main tour. The route taken through the complex is disorientating, not allowing the visitor to make any sense of the development of the site or the original uses of the rooms (e.g. the first few steps the visitor takes are through the back of the shop and across the courtyard to reach the first floor of House 1). To compound this, although the literature available about the house is quite good (the leaflets and the booklet), none provides a map showing the route taken around the complex. There is also inadequate signage to direct visitors around the complex or to specific facilities.

5.5.6 LACK OF FOCUS
The visitor reaches the first floor to find this attractive room laid out in no particular period or theme. The objects, paintings and furniture are all of different dates and there appears to be an overall lack of focus for the room. Subsequent rooms similarly lack focus, an impression which permeates the tour. Generally, the tour leaves the visitor barely aware of the history of the house, its former occupants or uses and generally lacks any cohesion. The focus seems to be to display the collection of objects rather than to present the house. The house and collections are unconnected. The positive first impression is not maintained after entry and touring the complex; this may lead to visitor disappointment.

5.5.7 EDUCATION
In the past, the Kilkenny Archaeological Society has presented lectures and summer courses for teachers on a variety of topics, although this element has declined recently. Rothe House has the potential to link in with current learning initiatives and specialise in the provision of a series of programmes aimed at schools, adult education, teachers and academics, thereby widening access to information about Rothe House, the Rothe family, Kilkenny etc. Without community links, awareness of Rothe House will be limited at a local level. This would leave Rothe House potentially vulnerable to reduced public profile, diminished attendance and income.

5.6 ISSUES AFFECTING MANAGEMENT AND FINANCIAL STRATEGIES
The management and administration of Rothe House underpin all of the other activities and functions discussed above. Due to this central role, management effectiveness is critical in offsetting vulnerability to any or all of the individual threats. It is therefore valuable to consider reactive management as 'vulnerability' in its own right which could lead to the deterioration of Society assets (i.e. building conditions, collection conditions and financial accounts).

5.6.1. ROTHE HOUSE MANAGEMENT
Kilkenny Archaeological Society committee members determine all decisions, including the day-to-day management of Rothe House, at periodic meetings. As a direct result, management decisions are slow and may be hampered by the daily availability of committee members who involve themselves in detailed implementation. The management of the complex includes functions of site management, administration, organisation of staff, genealogy enquiries, shop stock etc. and any of the house's other functions.
The unsatisfactory management arrangements for the running of the house leave the affairs of Rothe House and the Kilkenny Archaeological Society increasingly vulnerable to protracted delays; with no one person directly responsible and authorised to take action. Decision-making and communication lines are unclear and confused.
Due to a lack of strategy and structure, the Kilkenny Archaeological Society is in a reactive role, with a lack of resources and limited staffing. It would be far more effective and productive if specific roles and functions were designed for a team which would administer the house, meeting on a frequent and regular basis. A professionally qualified Site Manager, supported by a dedicated team of professionals and volunteers, could run the house and carry out specific roles/functions, e.g. the day-to-day marketing, conservation, exhibitions, secretarial etc. to name a few, thus ensuring the smooth running of the house.
A new management structure is essential in providing the impetus for the introduction of a new pattern of use for Rothe House and meeting its resulting needs.

5.6.2 BUDGET AND FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
It appears that the Kilkenny Archaeological Society operates on a rolling fund which covers a number of items (Table 6).

As far as we are aware, Rothe House has no set annual (revenue) budget and no clear distinction between running or capital expenditures. Incomplete knowledge of basic running costs for the house and all it entails (e.g. a capital budget, see Table 6) could leave the Society with financial problems. Once a vision of the future of Rothe House has been agreed and adopted (see Section5.8), a Business Plan should be developed. This would set in place the opportunities to raise finances and to structure a financial marketing strategy and provide financial support for specific functions and projects (e.g. conservation and cataloguing of library collections). This could provide for the maintenance of the buildings and the collections. Without a Business Plan, activities and services would continue to be limited to available finances, resulting in diminishing assets (e.g. buildings, collections and financial savings). Once a budget has been established, grant-giving bodies could then be targeted to provide financial support.

5.6.3 DISASTER PLANNING
Rothe House, like all buildings, is vulnerable to unexpected disasters such as a major fire. This raises the issues of fire detection and fire prevention. Although the Fire Department carried out a fire audit five years ago, its recommendations do not appear to have been acted upon. The audit noted the following:

• only two smoke alarms observed in the whole of the complex
• only one fire extinguisher (which has not been serviced)
• no emergency lighting
• no exit signage
• no fire assembly points no evacuation route
• no evacuation procedures for staff, visitors or collections
• no way of accounting for the number of individuals in the complex at any given time.
• no fire drills
• no complete record of contents held securely off-site

House 3, while it is rented by the Heritage Council, has its own fire evacuation procedures. Since House 3 has only one means of exit (through the courtyard and out onto Parliament Street), it is essential that a combined disaster plan is established; otherwise the whole complex is vulnerable.

5.6.4 HEALTH AND SAFETY
Visitors and staff are currently at risk from a number of health and safety hazards:

• apparent absence of Health and Safety Plan although there is a Health and Safety Officer
• absence of fire/smoke detection system
• apparent absence of trained/certified First Aid staff no First Aid kit
• lack of emergency exit signage
• staff do not know how to use fire extinguishers
• lack of adequate protection on stairs (balustrades)
• irregular courtyard surfaces - slippery and forming a trip hazard windows on north side of Administrator's office are barred
• uncertainty regarding Public Indemnity and Employers' Liability insurances

5.6.5 SECURITY OF BUILDINGS AND CONTENTS
Security arrangements for Rothe House appear to be inadequate.
There is no formal documentation of the entry and exit of visitors, although the shop keeps a basic tally of visitor numbers. The gate is ostensibly locked, but as a consequence of tenancy, FAS and the Heritage Council both have keys to the gate. The negative result of this is that the gate is not always locked when the shop opens (at 10:00am), allowing individuals to enter and remain unaccounted for during their visit.
Rothe House does have a burglar alarm which is linked to the alarm company in Dublin and the Gardaí. Sensors are situated in House 1, House 2 and the intermediate outscale. The toilet block is not linked to the system. There are two key holders.
There are no alarms on any of the display cases; only the cases in House 1 can be locked.
The first floor of House 1 (Phelan Room) is the only area to have closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras linked to the Administrator's office.

5.6.6 MANAGEMENT PLAN
The many aspects of the future of Rothe House must not be treated in isolation. In order to avoid management chaos, a heritage attraction such as this needs an integrated management plan which ensures that all aspects of the operation are mutually supporting and in harmony with each other.

5.7 ISSUES AFFECTING KAS AND COMMUNITY VALUE
The foregoing discussion has enumerated a number of issues which affect the Kilkenny Archaeological Society and the value of Rothe House to the wider community. One further issue that requires mention here concerns the management of Rothe House and the means of mitigating conflicts of interest between the Kilkenny Archaeological Society and other uses, principally tourism/public access. It should be clear that Rothe House holds a very special place in the hearts and minds of the Society - it is no less than a symbol of their identity and the product of 50 years of concerted and highly successful work. Nonetheless, the future of Rothe House will depend upon going outside the Society - visitors and funds generated by tourists will be the means of ensuring the continued survival and success of Rothe House. This will inevitably bring the two into conflict: the Kilkenny Archaeological Society, with its desire to retain much of the complex for their own uses; and the imperative to open the complex to more visitors. A careful consideration of the uses which the Society makes of the complex must be balanced against the creation of an effective heritage attraction.

5.8 VISION
The Society's vision for Rothe House is based on the retention of at least part of the complex for their headquarters, library and meeting room. The continued conservation of the structures supports this aim. This is accompanied by a very real desire to open the complex for the enjoyment and appreciation of visitors and, if possible, to use Rothe House as a symbol of a revitalised Society.

LINK TO:
Sections 1 & 2    Section 3    Sections 6, 7 & 8