2 Aug 2012
New Heights Reached at Lifetime Lab!
Anyone passing Lifetime Lab at the Old Waterworks is asked to keep a close eye on the Victorian chimney stack over the next few days as necessary maintenance work is being carried out.
The work at the iconic landmark involves the external laddering of the 100ft stack to enable specialist steeple jacks to assess the high areas and carry our remedial work as required, the Cork Coat of Arms dated to 1865 can be seen on the south face and the building is credited to Sir John Benson, City Architect and Engineer.
Lifetime Lab manager Mervyn Horgan said “The work was necessary due to the appearance of flora close to the top and also fragmentation of the brickwork caused by severe winters over the last few years” he further added “As well as linking to the 200th anniversary of the birth of Sir John Benson, we were mindful to be completed for Cork Heritage Open Day on August 18th”
The stack at Lifetime Lab is one of the most elaborate nineteenth century examples to survive, built on a cut stone plinth surmounted by alternating string courses of cut limestone and sandstone blocks, containing Romanesque style blind windows and bottonée crosses.
Lifetime Lab is located in the old Cork City Waterworks buildings on Lee Road, and is open from Monday to Friday 9.00-17.00 and weekends from 10.00-17.00.Admission is €7 for a family of four with activities including interactive environmental exhibits, a steam centre with the original boilers and huge steam engines, a schools resource centre, a coffee dock, a picnic area and children’s playground and is fully wheelchair accessible.
For further information, please contact Lifetime Lab at: 021-4941500 or view the website www.lifetimelab.ie