Ballymoney Town Hall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ballymoney Town Hall |
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Ballymoney Town Hall
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| Location | High Street, Ballymoney |
| Built | 1866 |
| Architectural style(s) | Italianate style |
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Listed Building – Grade B1
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| Official name: Town Hall | |
| Designated | 17 July 1978 |
| Reference no. | HB 04/15/006 |
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Ballymoney Town Hall is a cool old building in Ballymoney, Northern Ireland. It's on High Street and is super important! This building is also home to a local history museum. It's so special that it's a "Grade B1 listed building," which means it's protected because of its history and beauty.
Contents
History of Ballymoney Town Hall
A New Start for Ballymoney
Long ago, the first important town building in Ballymoney was a market hall. It was built in 1775 by Randal William MacDonnell, a powerful local leader. This old market hall was used for important trials during the Irish Rebellion of 1798.
By the 1860s, new town leaders, called "town commissioners," wanted a bigger place. They decided to build new "assembly rooms" for the town. People helped pay for it by giving money, which was called "public subscription." They chose a spot on the High Street.
Building a Beautiful Hall
The new building was designed in the "Italianate style." This means it looked like buildings from Italy, with fancy details. It was made of red brick and cost about £1,300. The building was finished in August 1866.
The original design had a main front with six sections facing the street. It had a special doorway with columns and arches. The windows were also fancy, with rounded tops. At the very top, there was a decorative roof edge and a small tower. Inside, there was a big assembly room, a library, offices, and a museum.
Important Meetings and Speeches
In October 1869, the town hall hosted a meeting that led to the creation of the "Route Tenants' Defence Association." This group worked to protect the rights of farmers and renters across Ulster.
In 1899, Ballymoney became an "urban district." This meant it had its own local government. The assembly rooms then became known as the town hall and served as the main office.
Famous speakers visited the new town hall. In 1913, the Irish nationalist, Roger Casement, gave his first political speech there. He talked about peacefully opposing the government.
When the First World War started in September 1914, many young men joined the army at the town hall. They signed up for the Royal Irish Rifles before going to fight in France.
Modern Changes and the Museum
In the early 1930s, the building got a big makeover. It was made larger with extra sections on both sides. The outside was covered in a white, smooth finish called "stucco."
After the changes, the building was reopened in 1934 by Robert Megaw, a local politician. The town hall continued to be the meeting place for the local council for many years.
However, in 1973, a larger council was formed, and their main offices moved to a different building.
In 2005, the town hall had more big updates. New spaces were created for the museum and a tourist information center. One cool thing you can see in the museum is a sword that belonged to John Nevin, a United Irishman from the 1798 rebellion.
