Search Notes
GENERAL NAVIGATION
Once a user has selected a particular county to search on the Survey Index page, they may search by one of three different methods; by Survey Highlights, Quick Search or Advanced Search. Tips on how to run each type of search are outlined below. Navigation between different methods of searching is available by using the quick links buttons on the left hand side of the screen, similarly, a user can also return to the Survey Index to choose another county.
To exit the survey part of the website to back to the Home, Links or Publications section, click on one of the buttons in the grey footer bar at the bottom of the screen.
SURVEY HIGHLIGHTS
These are thematic selections from the survey. Each set of buildings may be viewed by clicking on the 'view buildings' link.
QUICK SEARCH
The Quick Search options are designed to introduce users to the NIAH county survey material. More comprehensive search options are available in the Advanced Search section.
NAME
The name of the building as known to NIAH survey staff. This search will also scan the street address of a building, as often buildings will not have specific names. The search uses the term entered by the user on a 'best fit' basis. If you are unsure of the spelling, enter a truncated version of the word, 'Stackal' instead of 'Stackallan House'.
TOWN
The name of the town the building is located in. If you are unsure of the spelling, this search will also accept truncated versions of words, e.g. 'Dunsha' instead of 'Dunshaughlin'.
TOWNLAND
The name of the townland the building is located in. Townlands are the smallest administrative territorial unit in the Ireland. They are used as an informal address system in rural Ireland. Only the townlands that have buildings recorded in them are listed, so if the townland is not listed in the drop-down menu then it does not contain any recorded buildings.
ADVANCED SEARCH
The advanced search options allow the user to combine the geographical searches with a TYPE classification search and a DATE search. Users construct the search variables by clicking the relative check boxes, entering a search term, and pressing the submit button. The search will run quicker if less search terms are entered.
DATE
The date assigned to each building. The NIAH approximates the date in brackets for each building. For best results in this search, try to use a broader rather then narrower date bracket.
TYPE
The NIAH Building Type classification, assigned to each building. Specific building types will only appear for selection if they are present in the respective county survey.
NAME
The name of the building as known to NIAH survey staff.
TOWN and STREET
The name of the town the building is located in.
TOWNLAND
The name of the townland(s) the building is located in.
VIEWING SEARCH RESULTS
When a user runs any of the searches they will be faced with a Search Results page. Each building is represented by it's; name/address, registration number, thumbnail image, and an excerpt from its Description. For more information on any building in the Search Results page, click on the Full Record link or the thumbnail image.
MAIN RECORD
The Main Record page consists of an image and data from the NIAH database. If Additional Images are available, this button will appear above the grey title bar for the building.
The following fields of information exist in a typical NIAH building record:
Name/Address - the name and address of the building as known to the NIAH.
Registration Number - a unique identifying number added to each building surveyed.
Date - a date bracket for the date of a building's construction. A narrow bracket indicates greater precision in the estimation of a building's age.
Townland - the townland is a subdivision of the Irish county and are the smallest territorial units in Ireland. They are used as an informal address system in rural areas.
County - Ireland is divided into county administrative areas.
Coordinates - these are the locational coordinates for the building, they are referenced to the Irish National Grid datum. They are intended as a reference tool only, and do not indicate the extent of the building's curtilage.
Categories of Special Interest - the architectural heritage importance of each building/ structure is classified according to the following categories as outlined in the "Planning and Development Act, 2000";
Architectural, Archaeological, Technical, Historical, Artistic, Scientific, Cultural, Social.
Original Use/In Use as/Additional Use - each building recorded by the NIAH is classified by building 'type'; and when it was used as the assigned type. It is only possible to search for types that are present in each particular county survey. The complete list of NIAH building types is extensive and can be acquired by e-mailing niah@environ.ie.
Description - a qualitative account of the main architectural and distinguishing features of the building.
Appraisal - a qualitative account of why the building is an important part of Irish architectural heritage and justifies its awarded Categories of Special Interest.