Market houses in Northern Ireland explained

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.

Table of market houses locations

Town
County
Date built
Current use
Image and/or link
1726 Vacant (formerly court house)
Armagh1815 Library and learning centre
AughnacloyShops
Ballycastle1830 c. Local museum
Ballyclare18th century ? Demolished 1866, Town Hall built on site
Ballyclare19th century(2nd Market House) Shopping centre
Ballygawley19th centuryNow an accountant's office
Ballymena1684 Burnt down 1919, town hall built on site in 1924 History of Ballymena, photograph of Market House
Ballymoney1755 c. masonic hall
Ballynahinch1795 Community centre History of Ballynahinch Market House
Banbridge1832 Offices
Bangor1810 or 1780 Bank
Belfast (Waring Street)1769 Formerly a bank, now unused Belfast markets history
Belfast (St George's Market)1890s Still in use as market
Brookeborough1837 (before) Vacant ? (Formerly Orange Hall)
Caledon1830 c.
Carrickfergus1755 ? Art gallery
Castlewellan1764 c. Library
Clogher1837
Crossgar1829 Boarded up and missing its clock
Cushendall1858[1]
Dervock1805 Cafe and hairdressers
Donaghadee1819 c. Shops
Draperstown1839 A library on the ground Floor; a toddlers' playgroup on the first floor
Dromara1830 c. Masonic hall
Dromore18th century Replaced in 1886
Dromore1886
Ederney1839 c. Rebuilt in 1889 as a town hallRedeveloped in 1989 as a community centre
EglintonLondonderry1825Occupied by Faughanvale Credit Union[2]
Hillsborough1760 c.; 2nd phase c. 1810 Court house and tourist information centre
Hilltown1828
Irvinestown1835 (before) Shop
Kilkeel1800 Upper floor was used as a courthouse. Demolished in 1952
Killyleagh1788 c. "Drop-in" centre
Lisbellaw1830 c. Butchers
Lisburn18th century ? Irish linen centre and museum
Loughgall1746
Maghera18th century ? Replaced in 1824
Maghera1824 (2nd market house) Offices
Maguiresbridge1835 c. Vacant ?
MarkethillShop
Middletown1829 Offices
Moira1810 c. Offices ?
Moneymore1819 Public house and vacant
Moneymore1839 Shops and private houses
Newtownards1765
Newtownbutler1830 c.
Portaferry1752
Randalstown1831 Library (previously court house)
Rathfriland1770 c.
Saintfield1802 Orange Hall
Toome1830 (before)
Trillick1820 c. Masonic hall

See also

Sources

Further reading

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: National Museums NI . www.nmni.com . 8 September 2020.
  2. Web site: Faughanvale Credit Union . faughanvalecreditunion.co.uk . 17 September 2021.