Market houses in Northern Ireland
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Market houses are a notable feature of many Northern Ireland towns with varying styles of architecture, size and ornamentation making for a most interesting feature of the streetscape. Originally there were three, four or even five bays on the ground floor which were an open arcade. An upper floor was often used as a court house or ballroom. Ornamentation consisted of a cupola, a clock or sometimes a dome or tower. Today most of the market houses in Ireland have been put to use as cultural venues or business premises. Some are still derelict.
Sort by Town, County or Date
| Town |
County |
Built (date) |
Current use |
Image and/or link |
| Antrim | Antrim | 1726 | Vacant (formerly Court House) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Armagh | Armagh | 1815 | Library & Learning Centre | |
| Aughnacloy | Tyrone | – | Shops ? | |
| Ballycastle | Antrim | 1830 c. | Local Museum | |
| Ballyclare | Antrim | 18th century ? | Demolished 1866, Town Hall built on site | |
| Ballyclare | Antrim | 19th century | (2nd Market House) Shopping Centre | |
| Ballymena | Antrim | 1684 | Burnt down 1919, Town Hall built on site | History of Ballymena, photograph of Market House |
| Ballymoney | Antrim | 1755 c. | Masonic Hall | |
| Ballynahinch | Down | 1795 | Community centre (recently restored) | |
| Banbridge | Down | 1832 | Offices | |
| Bangor | Down | 1810 or 1780 | Bank | |
| Belfast (Waring Street) | Antrim | 1769 | Formerly a Bank, now unused | Belfast markets history |
| Brookeborough | Fermanagh | 1837 (before) | Vacant ? (Formerly Orange Hall) | |
| Caledon | Tyrone | 1830 c. | – | |
| Carrickfergus | Antrim | 1755 ? | Art gallery | |
| Castlewellan | Down | 1764 c. | Library | |
| Clogher | Tyrone | 1837 | – | |
| Crossgar | Down | 1829 | Boarded up and missing its clock | |
| Dervock | Antrim | 1805 | Cafe & Hairdressers | |
| Donaghadee | Down | 1819 c. | Shops | |
| Draperstown | Londonderry | 1839 | Ground Floor, Library; 1st Floor, Toddler's Playgroup | |
| Dromara | Down | 1830 c. | Masonic Hall | |
| Dromore | Down | 18th century | Replaced in 1886 | |
| Dromore | Down | 1886 | – | |
| Ederney | Fermanagh | 1839 c. Rebuilt in 1889 as a town hall | 1989 Redeveloped to a Community Centre | |
| Hillsborough | Down | 1760 c.; 2nd phase c. 1810 | Court House and Tourist Information | |
| Hilltown | Down | 1828 | Part of Public House | |
| Irvinestown | Fermanagh | 1835 (before) | Shop | |
| Killyleagh | Down | 1788 c. | "Drop-in" centre | |
| Lisbellaw | Fermanagh | 1830 c. | Butchers | |
| Lisburn | Antrim | 18th century ? | Irish linen Centre & Museum | |
| Loughgall | Armagh | 1746 | – | |
| Maghera | Londonderry | 18th century ? | Replaced in 1824 | |
| Maghera | Londonderry | 1824 | (2nd Market House) Offices | |
| Maguiresbridge | Fermanagh | 1835 c. | Vacant ? | |
| Markethill | Armagh | – | Shop | |
| Middletown | Armagh | 1829 | Offices | |
| Moira | Down | 1810 c. | Offices ? | |
| Moneymore | Londonderry | 1819 | Public House & Vacant | |
| Moneymore | Londonderry | 1839 | Shops & Private Houses | |
| Newtownards | Down | 1765 | Town Hall | |
| Newtownbutler | Fermanagh | 1830 c. | – | |
| Portaferry | Down | 1752 | Sub-Office of Northern Ireland Housing Executive | |
| Randalstown | Antrim | 1831 | Library (previously Court House?) | |
| Rathfriland | Down | 1770 c. | – | |
| Saintfield | Down | 1802 | Orange Hall | |
| Toome | Antrim | 1830 (before) | Bookmaker | |
| Trillick | Tyrone | 1820 c. | Masonic Hall |
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Market houses in Northern Ireland. |
See also
- Architecture of Ireland
- Historic houses in Northern Ireland
- List of towns in Northern Ireland
- Market Houses in the Republic of Ireland
References
- A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland, Samuel Lewis (1838)
- Buildings at Risk (various volumes) – Ulster Architectural Heritage Society
- Saintfield Conservation Area – The Planning Service agency of Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland
Further reading
- McParland, Edward (2001) Public Architecture in Ireland 1680–1760 Yale University Press ISBN 0-300-09064-1
