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.
Sort by Town, County or Date
Town
County
Built
Current use
Image and/or link
AntrimAntrim1726Vacant
ArmaghArmagh1815Library & Learning Centre
AughnacloyTyrone–Shops ?
BallycastleAntrim1830 c.Local Museum
BallyclareAntrim18th century ?Demolished 1866, Town Hall built on site
BallyclareAntrim19th century Shopping Centre
BallymenaAntrim1684Burnt down 1919, Town Hall built on site
BallymoneyAntrim1755 c.Masonic Hall
BallynahinchDown1795Community centre
BanbridgeDown1832Offices
BangorDown1810 or 1780Bank
Belfast Antrim1769Formerly a Bank, now unused
BrookeboroughFermanagh1837 Vacant ?
CaledonTyrone1830 c.–
CarrickfergusAntrim1755 ?Art gallery
CastlewellanDown1764 c.Library
ClogherTyrone1837–
CrossgarDown1829Boarded up and missing its clock
DervockAntrim1805Cafe & Hairdressers
DonaghadeeDown1819 c.Shops
DraperstownLondonderry1839Ground Floor, Library; 1st Floor, Toddler's Playgroup
DromaraDown1830 c.Masonic Hall
DromoreDown18th centuryReplaced in 1886
DromoreDown1886–
EderneyFermanagh1839 c. Rebuilt in 1889 as a town hall1989 Redeveloped to a Community Centre
HillsboroughDown1760 c.; 2nd phase c. 1810Court House and Tourist Information
HilltownDown1828Part of Public House
IrvinestownFermanagh1835 Shop
KillyleaghDown1788 c."Drop-in" centre
LisbellawFermanagh1830 c.Butchers
LisburnAntrim18th century ?Irish linen Centre & Museum
LoughgallArmagh1746–
MagheraLondonderry18th century ?Replaced in 1824
MagheraLondonderry1824 Offices
MaguiresbridgeFermanagh1835 c.Vacant ?
MarkethillArmagh–Shop
MiddletownArmagh1829Offices
MoiraDown1810 c.Offices ?
MoneymoreLondonderry1819Public House & Vacant
MoneymoreLondonderry1839Shops & Private Houses
NewtownardsDown1765Town Hall
NewtownbutlerFermanagh1830 c.–
PortaferryDown1752Sub-Office of Northern Ireland Housing Executive
RandalstownAntrim1831Library
RathfrilandDown1770 c.–
SaintfieldDown1802Orange Hall
ToomeAntrim1830 Bookmaker
TrillickTyrone1820 c.Masonic Hall