| Description | Soft cover notebook of ‘Bill of Quantities for Erection of New Chapel Block at Mater Hospital Dublin for Reverend Mother; from Messrs William H Byrne and Son, Architects, 20 Suffolk Street, Dublin; Bill of Quantities measured by A Edward Smith, F S I [Fellow of the Surveyors Institute], Chartered Quantity Surveyor, 19 Upper Merrion Square, Dublin, and Cork.’ The contractor who carried out the works, Fitzgerald and Leonard, 408 Harold’s Cross Road, Terenure [Dublin] are also noted at the end of the document. This document was drawn up for tendering in the construction of the Chapel block as a way of estimating building costs, in which all materials, parts, and labour are all itemized, and their costs noted. It also details the terms and conditions of the construction contract. The notebook contains numerous manuscript notes in pen and pencil, contingency sums [price recalculations and unforeseen costs incurred during the contract], and rough architectural/builders sketches by the contractors, with dates, regarding changes made to the original plans as the building of the chapel and the convent extension for the Sisters of Mercy progressed, and the cost of same. The document is divided into sections dealing with all aspects of the construction, the main headings of which are: ‘General Items and Preliminary Works’ (p2); ‘Cut Stone’ (p8); ‘Taking Down and Excavation, etc.’ (p25); ‘Concrete, Brickwork, etc.’ (p33); Copperwork, Leadwork and Ironwork’ (p55); ‘Plastering’ (p71); ‘Carpentry and Joinery’ (p89); ‘Glazing and Painting’ (p140) including ‘Stone Laying Ceremony’ (p144); ‘Internal Plumbing, Heating Installation, Electric Lighting and Gas Services (All Trades)’ (p146); and ‘Formation of Opes etc. Into and Alterations to Existing Buildings’ (p163) [includes alterations to existing operating theatre on First Floor]. All sections are individually listed and itemised with the total amount in £ s d noted at the end of each section. These totals are then forwarded to the overall ‘Summary’ of works (p168-171). There are some pages and the back cover missing from the end of the notebook; the final existing page is the beginning of an ‘Alternative Estimate No. 1’ with the subsequent pages missing. Builders’ notes frequently mention various supply companies, tradesmen and firms for building materials and work. |