Market houses are a notable feature of many Northern Ireland towns; their varying styles of architecture, size and ornamentation make for a most interesting feature of the streetscape. The market houses were designed with 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.
Town | County | Date built | Current use | Image and/or link |
---|---|---|---|---|
Antrim | Antrim | 1726 | Vacant (formerly court house) | |
Armagh | Armagh | 1815 | Library and 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 | |
Ballygawley | Tyrone | 19th century | Now an accountant's office | |
Ballymena | Antrim | 1684 | Burnt down 1919, town hall built on site in 1924 | History of Ballymena, photograph of Market House |
Ballymoney | Antrim | 1755 c. | masonic hall | |
Ballynahinch | Down | 1795 | Community centre | |
Banbridge | Down | 1832 | Offices | |
Bangor | Down | 1810 or 1780 | Bank | |
Belfast (Waring Street) | Antrim | 1769 | Formerly a bank, now unused | Belfast markets history |
Belfast (St George's Market) | Antrim | 1890s | Still in use as market | |
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 | |
Cushendall | Antrim | 1858 [1] | ||
Dervock | Antrim | 1805 | Cafe and hairdressers | |
Donaghadee | Down | 1819 c. | Shops | |
Draperstown | Londonderry | 1839 | A library on the ground Floor; a toddlers' playgroup on the first floor | |
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 | Redeveloped in 1989 as a community centre | |
Eglinton | Londonderry | 1825 | Occupied by Faughanvale Credit Union [2] | |
Hillsborough | Down | 1760 c.; 2nd phase c. 1810 | Court house and tourist information centre | |
Hilltown | Down | 1828 | Part of a public house | |
Irvinestown | Fermanagh | 1835 (before) | Shop | |
Kilkeel | Down | 1800 | Upper floor was used as a courthouse. Demolished in 1952 | |
Killyleagh | Down | 1788 c. | "Drop-in" centre | |
Lisbellaw | Fermanagh | 1830 c. | Butchers | |
Lisburn | Antrim | 18th century ? | Irish linen centre and 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 and vacant | |
Moneymore | Londonderry | 1839 | Shops and private houses | |
Newtownards | Down | 1765 | See full article on Market House, Newtownards | |
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 |
Clones is a small town in the west of County Monaghan in Ireland. The area is part of the Border Region in the Republic of Ireland, earmarked for economic development by the Irish Government due to its currently below-average economic situation. The town was badly hit economically by the Partition of Ireland in 1921 because of its location on the border with County Fermanagh in Northern Ireland. The creation of the Irish border deprived it of access to a large part of its economic hinterland for many years. The town had a population of 1,680 at the 2016 census. The town is in a civil parish of the same name.
Monaghan is the county town of County Monaghan, Ireland. It also provides the name of its civil parish and Monaghan barony.
The architecture of Ireland is one of the most visible features in the Irish countryside – with remains from all eras since the Stone Age abounding. Ireland is famous for its ruined and intact Norman and Anglo-Irish castles, small whitewashed thatched cottages and Georgian urban buildings. What are unaccountably somewhat less famous are the still complete Palladian and Rococo country houses which can be favourably compared to anything similar in northern Europe, and the country's many Gothic and neo-Gothic cathedrals and buildings.
Saintfield is a village and civil parish in County Down, Northern Ireland. It is about halfway between Belfast and Downpatrick on the A7 road. It had a population of 3,588 in the 2021 Census, made up mostly of commuters working in both south and central Belfast, which is about 18 km away. The population of the surrounding countryside is mostly involved in farming.
Cootehill is a market town and townland in County Cavan, Ireland. Cootehill was formerly part of the neighbouring townland of Munnilly. Both townlands lie within the barony of Tullygarvey. Cootehill is 20 km north-east of Cavan town and 20 km south-west of Monaghan town.
Stewartstown is a village in Northern Ireland, close to the western shore of Lough Neagh, about 5 miles (8 km) from Cookstown, 3 miles (5 km) from Coalisland and 7 miles (11 km) from Dungannon. Established by Scottish Planters early in the 17th century, its population peaked before the Great Famine of the 1840s at over 1000. In the 2011 Census the town had a population of 650 people. Formerly in the historic County Tyrone, today it is in local-government district of Mid Ulster.
Sir Charles Edward Bainbridge Brett, KBE, CBE, was a Northern Irish solicitor, journalist, author and founding member, and first chairman, of the Ulster Architectural Heritage Society (UAHS). He was known to many simply as Charlie Brett.
Killeshandra or Killashandra, described as a small town or village and civil parish in County Cavan, Ireland. Killeshandra is located 20 kilometres (12 mi) west of Cavan Town and is recognised as a gateway to the UNESCO Cuilcagh Lakelands Geopark region, part of the Erne catchment environment of rivers, lakes, wetlands and woodland. Together with the Lough Oughter Special Protected Area (SPA), it has been recognised by the EU programme for wildlife Natura 2000 since 2010. Killeshandra is noted by Fáilte Ireland as an "Angling Centre of Excellence", and is base for the Killeshandra Camino Calling Walking Festival (www.killeshandracamino.ie) which takes place in June each year. There are several looped walking and cycling trails within Killykeen Forest Park. The town is also home to Killeshandra Gaelic Football Club, known locally as the Killeshandra Leaguers. Rockfield Lake, which is popular with anglers, is a few kilometres southwest of the town. Killeshandra, with its active community has a long record of participation in the National Tidy Towns Ireland competition (www.tidytowns.ie) has won several awards over recent years and is currently third tidiest town or village in County Cavan.
The buildings and structures of Belfast, Northern Ireland comprise many styles of architecture ranging from Edwardian through to state-of-the-art modern buildings like the Waterfront Hall. The city's beautiful Edwardian buildings are notable for their display of a large number of sculptures. Many of Belfast's Victorian landmarks, including the main Lanyon Building at Queens University in 1849, were designed by Sir Charles Lanyon.
Ulster Architectural Heritage Society was founded "to promote appreciation and enjoyment of good architecture of all periods and encourage the conservation, restoration and re-use of Ulster's built heritage to regenerate and sustain our communities".
Portnablagh is a small village in County Donegal in Ulster, the northern province in Ireland. Portnablagh is located on the north-west coast of County Donegal, specifically the west side of Sheephaven Bay. It is on the N56 road.
The architecture of the United Kingdom, or British architecture, consists of a combination of architectural styles, dating as far back to Roman architecture, to the present day 21st century contemporary. England has seen the most influential developments, though Ireland, Scotland, and Wales have each fostered unique styles and played leading roles in the international history of architecture. Although there are prehistoric and classical structures in the United Kingdom, British architectural history effectively begins with the first Anglo-Saxon Christian churches, built soon after Augustine of Canterbury arrived in Great Britain in 597. Norman architecture was built on a vast scale throughout Great Britain and Ireland from the 11th century onwards in the form of castles and churches to help impose Norman authority upon their dominions. English Gothic architecture, which flourished between 1180 until around 1520, was initially imported from France, but quickly developed its own unique qualities.
Lisburn Courthouse is a judicial facility in Railway Street in Lisburn, County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is home to the magistrate's and county courts.
Tholsel was a name traditionally used for a local municipal and administrative building used to collect tolls and taxes and to administer trade and other documents in Irish towns and cities. It was at one stage one of the most important secular buildings in Ireland's town and cities and the level of importance was reflected in the prominence and size of these buildings as well as the expensive materials and architectural techniques used. Some historic tholsels still exist, notably The Tholsel, Kilkenny. Towards the end of the 18th century the term tholsel was typically swapped for Market House with many of the administrative functions of the original tholsel transferring to another dedicated local council or government building such as a court or sessions house.
Market House is a municipal building in Conway Square, Newtownards, County Down, Northern Ireland. It is a Grade B+ listed building.
The Down Arts Centre, formerly Downpatrick Town Hall and also Downpatrick Assembly Rooms, is a municipal structure in Irish Street in Downpatrick, County Down, Northern Ireland. The structure, which was the meeting place of Down Urban District Council, is a Grade B1 listed building.
Ballyclare Town Hall is a municipal structure in The Square, Ballyclare, County Antrim, Northern Ireland. The structure, which is primarily used as an events venue, is a Grade B2 listed building.
Portrush Town Hall is a municipal structure in Mark Street, Portrush, County Antrim, Northern Ireland. The structure, which is used as an events venue, is a Grade B+ listed building.
Ederney Town Hall, also styled as Ederney Townhall, is a municipal structure in Market Street, Ederney, County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. The structure, which is used as a community events venue, is a Grade B1 listed building.
Ballynahinch Market House, formerly known as Ballynahinch Court House and as Ballynahinch Town Hall, is a municipal structure in the Market Square, Ballynahinch, County Down, Northern Ireland. The structure, which is used as a community events venue, is a Grade B1 listed building.