Market House, Newtownards


Market House is a municipal building in Conway Square, Newtownards, County Down, Northern Ireland. It is a Grade B+ listed building.

History

The building was commissioned by Robert Stewart, 1st Marquess of Londonderry to be the center of the market town, a role previously undertaken by Newtownards Priory. It was designed by Ferdinando Stratford in a Grecian-Doric style and built of Scrabo stone between 1767 and 1771.
The ground floor was originally an open space where a market could be held and was entered from Conway Square through a central archway which was fitted with gates that could be opened and closed at night. The upper floor had an assembly room over the west wing with a drawing room in the east wing, now known as the Londonderry Room.
The market House was held by the United Irishmen travelling to the Battle of Saintfield during the Rebellion against British rule in June 1798.
The Market House was used as the local town hall from the early 20th century, but it is now used as an Arts Centre.