History of a Dublin replica
QUESTION What is the history of the unusual KBC Bank building on the corner of Dublin’s Fenian and Sandwith streets? THIS building is Archer’s Garage and, despite looking like a relic from the era of art deco architecture, it is only around two decades old — though that doesn’t tell the full interesting story.
This is because the structure that stands there today is merely a recent replica of an almost identical building that had stood on the site since 1946.
The original Archer’s Garage was exactly that: a Ford dealership run by a man named Dick Archer. This is why there is the unusual forecourt on the ground level of the premises.
Due to its unique appearance, it was given listed status but by the 1990s it was no longer in great repair.
Then, over the June Bank Holiday weekend of 1999, it was illegally demolished by the developer Noel O’Callaghan — causing an outcry and leaving Mr O’Callaghan facing a fine of IR£1million, or even two years behind bars.
Mr O’Callaghan claimed he was unaware of that Archer’s Garage was listed, and eventually came to an agreement with the authorities that his company would rebuild it as it had been before.
The following year, the rebuilt version was completed and an architectural gem was supposedly brought back to life.
But the controversy didn’t end there. While the sudden demolition was far from the first time an Irish building of note was illegally knocked down, the decision to rebuild it sparked heated debate among heritage experts, architects and the general public.
While the new building is a reasonably faithful replica, many felt that it should never have been rebuilt at all, claiming the new structure is merely a pastiche of what was there before and offers nothing of architectural note.
Beyond the obvious fact of the building not being an original, there are numerous differences between the 1946 and 2000 versions that irked many in architectural circles.
Others felt that allowing the developer who destroyed the original to build the replacement would erase from history the fact that the illegal demolition had taken place at all.
However, some countered that argument by pointing out that the order to rebuild would serve as a warning to any future developers who might think they could get away with a gentle rap on the knuckles for knocking down one of our listed buildings.
Whatever the merits of these arguments, not many people are aware of the colourful history of a landmark building that looks a lot older than it actually is.
Darragh Charlton, Dublin.
QUESTION Why is a deer the logo for Babycham?
BABYCHAM is the trade name of a light (6% ABV) sparkling perry (pear cider) launched in 1953 by Francis Showering, a brewer in Shepton Mallet in Somerset.
The word ‘cham’ signified the baby deer, or chamois, used in marketing campaigns. The iconic Babycham deer was designed by John Emperor of Collett Dickenson Pearce and trademarked on December 20, 1955.
Life in the early 1950s was rather sexist. Respectable women were not expected to frequent pubs and, if they did, they were limited to gin-based concoctions, port and lemon, lager and lime or stout, which was associated with Coronation Street’s Ena Sharples. Wine was rarely seen outside posh restaurants and clubs.
Babycham was marketed to women. Showerings wanted a drink made from fermented pear juice that would match the sales of its ciders. The little prancing fawn, together with the maraschino cherry on a stick, created the image of a drink for a modern woman who would ‘love a Babycham’, as the slogan went.
Tim Mickleburgh, Grimsby, Lincolnshire.
QUESTION Is there evidence that murderers tend to return to the scene of a crime?
CRIMINAL psychologists place murderers into three categories: organised, disorganised and mixed. If a crime is disorganised, the murderer may return to clean up the scene or due to remorse.
In 2018, James Sutcliffe, 28, of Denholme, West Yorkshire, shot Tyron Charles, 29, who was pursuing him for an £800 debt. Sutcliffe dumped the body in a shipping container near Bradford. He returned to the scene to move the body, was captured and sentenced to at least 30 years.
In 2009, Mohammed Ali, 29, was convicted of murdering sisters Yasmine, 22, and Sabrina LarbiCherif, 19. He told the court he felt remorse and returned to the scene of the crime, claiming he said a prayer for his victims. He was jailed for a minimum of 34 years.
Jasmine Iyer, Halesowen, West Midlands.
QUESTION
What was Britain’s ‘SOS! Switch Off Something’ campaign in the 1970s? THE earlier answer detailed the British government’s 1974 SOS campaign in response to the coal miners’ and railway workers’ strikes and the three-day week.
Petrol rationing was proposed but wasn’t implemented. Such rationing was announced, though, and coupons were issued through post offices. I remember wondering whether there might be time to apply for mine. A couple of days later, the scheme was cancelled. I’ve often regretted that I didn’t claim my coupons, as they would have become collectors’ items.
Robbie Goodwin, Ixworth, Suffolk.
O Is there a question to which you have always wanted to know the answer? Or do you know the answer to a question raised here? Send your questions and answers to: Charles Legge, Answers To Correspondents, Irish Daily Mail, DMG Media, Two Haddington Buildings, 20-38 Haddington Road, Dublin 4, D04 HE94. You can also fax them to 0044 1952 510906 or you can email them to charles. legge@dailymail.ie. A selection will be published but we are not able to enter into individual correspondence.