Market houses in Northern Ireland

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.

Table of market houses locations
Town
 County
 Built (date)
 Current use
 Image and/or link
Antrim Antrim1726Vacant (formerly Court House)
Armagh Armagh1815Library and Learning Centre
Aughnacloy Tyrone–Shops
Ballycastle Antrim1830 c.Local Museum
Ballyclare Antrim18th century ?Demolished 1866, Town Hall built on site
Ballyclare Antrim19th century(2nd Market House) Shopping Centre
Ballygawley Tyrone19th centurynow an accountant's office
Ballymena Antrim1684Burnt down 1919, Town Hall built on site in 1924History of Ballymena, photograph of Market House
Ballymoney Antrim1755 c.Masonic Hall
Ballynahinch Down1795Community centre (recently restored)

History of Ballynahinch Market House

Banbridge Down1832Offices
Bangor Down1810 or 1780Bank
Belfast (Waring Street) Antrim1769Formerly a Bank, now unusedBelfast markets history
Belfast (St George's Market) Antrim1890sStill in use as market
Brookeborough Fermanagh1837 (before)Vacant ? (Formerly Orange Hall)
Caledon Tyrone1830 c.–
Carrickfergus Antrim1755 ?Art gallery
Castlewellan Down1764 c.Library
Clogher Tyrone1837–
Crossgar Down1829Boarded up and missing its clock
Cushendall Antrim1858[1]
Dervock Antrim1805Cafe and Hairdressers
Donaghadee Down1819 c.Shops
Draperstown Londonderry1839Ground Floor, Library; 1st Floor, Toddler's Playgroup
Dromara Down1830 c.Masonic Hall
Dromore Down18th centuryReplaced in 1886
Dromore Down1886–
Ederney Fermanagh1839 c. Rebuilt in 1889 as a town hall1989 Redeveloped to a Community Centre
Ederney Townhall
Eglington Londonderry 1825 Derelict[2]
Hillsborough Down1760 c.; 2nd phase c. 1810Court House and Tourist Information
Hilltown Down1828Part of Public House
Irvinestown Fermanagh1835 (before)Shop
Kilkeel Down1800upper floor was used as a courthouse. Demolished in 1952
Killyleagh Down1788 c."Drop-in" centre
Lisbellaw Fermanagh1830 c.Butchers
Lisburn Antrim18th century ?Irish linen Centre & Museum
Loughgall Armagh1746–
Maghera Londonderry18th century ?Replaced in 1824
Maghera Londonderry1824(2nd Market House) Offices
Maguiresbridge Fermanagh1835 c.Vacant ?
Markethill Armagh–Shop
Middletown Armagh1829Offices
Moira Down1810 c.Offices ?
Moneymore Londonderry1819Public House and Vacant
Moneymore Londonderry1839Shops and private houses
Newtownards Down1765See full article on Market House, Newtownards
Newtownbutler Fermanagh1830 c.–
Portaferry Down1752Sub-Office of Northern Ireland Housing Executive
Randalstown Antrim1831Library (previously Court House)
Rathfriland Down1770 c.–
Saintfield Down1802Orange Hall
Toome Antrim1830 (before)Bookmaker
Trillick Tyrone1820 c.Masonic hall

See also

References
  1. "National Museums NI". www.nmni.com. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  2. "Eglinton Market House". irishantiquities.bravehost.com. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
  • 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
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