Ballymena Town Hall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ballymena Town Hall |
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Ballymena Town Hall
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| Location | Bridge Street, Ballymena |
| Built | 1928 |
| Architect | Jones and Kelly |
| Architectural style(s) | Neoclassical style |
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Listed Building – Grade B1
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| Official name: Town Hall, Bridge Street / Mill Street (Museum and Arts Centre), Ballymena, County Antrim | |
| Designated | 22 November 1988 |
| Reference no. | HB 07/16/019 |
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Ballymena Town Hall is an important building on Bridge Street in Ballymena, County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is where the local council, Mid and East Antrim Borough Council, makes decisions. This town hall is also a special historic building, known as a Grade B1 listed building.
Contents
A Look Back: The First Town Building
The very first important building in Ballymena was a market hall. It was built on Bridge Street in 1684. This old building had a tall steeple, which was about 60 feet high. People even called it one of Ballymena's "Seven Towers."
The 1798 Rebellion
On June 7, 1798, during the Irish Rebellion of 1798, a large group of about 10,000 people, called the Society of United Irishmen, attacked the market hall. They set it on fire. The building, which also held the local post office and the council's meeting room, completely burned down in 1919.
Building the New Town Hall
After the old market hall was destroyed, leaders in Ballymena decided to build a brand new town hall. They chose the same spot for the new building.
Laying the Foundation Stone
The foundation stone for the new town hall was placed on July 24, 1924. A very important person, the Duke of York (who later became King George VI), helped with this special ceremony.
Design and Opening
The new town hall was designed by architects named Jones and Kelly. They used a grand style called neoclassical style. The building was made from strong stone by John Carson and cost £26,400.
The new Ballymena Town Hall officially opened on November 20, 1928. Another important person, the Duke of Abercorn, opened it.
What the Building Looks Like
The town hall has a balanced look, especially where Bridge Street and Mill Street meet. At the corner, there is a main entrance on the ground floor. Above it, on the first floor, is a window with tall columns on either side. These columns support a stone beam that has the dates "1684–1928" carved into it. These dates remember the first market hall and the new town hall.
On the second floor, there are three tall, narrow windows. At the very top, there is a two-part clock tower with a roof-like cover. Inside the building, the most important room is the council chamber, where local leaders meet.
Modern Use of the Town Hall
In 1937, Ballymena became a municipal borough, which is a type of town with its own local government. The town hall became the main place for this new government.
Changes Over Time
The town hall continued to be the meeting place for the Ballymena District Council when it was formed in 1973.
Later, the town hall went through a big update. It cost £16.8 million to make it better and add new parts. The goal was to create a place for arts and a museum. This work was designed by Consarc Design, with the museum part designed by Ralph Appelbaum Associates.
The Braid Arts & Museum Centre
On May 21, 2008, the updated building was officially opened. The Prince of Wales (now King Charles III) and the Duchess of Cornwall (now Queen Camilla) opened it. It was named the Braid Arts & Museum Centre, after the local river called the Braid.
Even after the new Mid and East Antrim Borough Council was created in April 2015, the town hall remained the main place for local government meetings.
