Coleraine Town Hall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Coleraine Town Hall |
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Coleraine Town Hall
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| Location | The Diamond, Coleraine |
| Built | 1859 |
| Architect | Thomas Turner |
| Architectural style(s) | Italianate style |
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Listed Building – Grade B1
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| Official name: Town Hall | |
| Designated | 25 May 1976 |
| Reference no. | HB 03/18/001 |
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Coleraine Town Hall is a special building in The Diamond, a central area in Coleraine, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It's like the main office for the town, and it used to be where the Coleraine Borough Council (the local government) met. This building is also a Grade B1 listed building, which means it's officially recognized as an important historical or architectural site that needs to be protected.
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History of Coleraine Town Hall
The Coleraine Town Hall you see today was built to replace an older building. This older building was a market house, finished in 1743. It was paid for by a group called The Honourable The Irish Society.
By the 1840s, the old market house was falling apart. So, the town's leaders decided to build a brand new town hall in the exact same spot.
Building the New Town Hall
The first stone for the new building was laid on 21 July 1857. A talented architect named Thomas Turner designed it. He used a style called Italianate style, which often features grand, classical elements.
The building was made from ashlar stone, which means carefully cut and shaped blocks of stone. A company called McLaughlin & Harvey built it. The total cost was about £4,147, and most of the money came from The Honourable The Irish Society again.
The town hall officially opened on 9 June 1859. This happened during a time known as the 1859 Ulster revival. Many people were deeply affected by this religious movement. On the opening day, nearly a hundred people who felt very emotional were brought into the building for shelter.
Special Features and Events
The front of the town hall faces west onto The Diamond. It has a balanced design with three main sections. The middle section sticks out a little and has a tall, five-story tower.
- The ground floor of the tower has a special rounded window.
- The second floor has a window divided by a stone bar.
- The third floor looks a bit like Baroque style, with decorative columns called pilasters.
- The fourth floor holds a clock.
- The very top, the fifth floor, has a small, decorative tower with a dome, called a cupola.
In 1912, an important event happened here. A politician named Hugh T. Barrie was the first person to sign the Ulster Covenant at the town hall. This was a protest against a new law proposed by the British Government called the Third Home Rule Bill. People who signed the Covenant wanted Northern Ireland to remain part of the United Kingdom.
In 1913, a beautiful stained glass window was put into the town hall. It shows four local scenes and was made by Campbell Brothers Belfast. This window celebrated 300 years of The Honourable The Irish Society.
Town Hall's Role and Repairs
In 1928, Coleraine became a municipal borough, which is a type of town with its own local government. The town hall became the main office for the Coleraine Borough Council. The council continued to meet there until the mid-1970s, when they moved to new offices. After that, the town hall became a place for different events and exhibitions.
On 13 November 1992, a bomb exploded in the town centre. It caused a lot of damage to many buildings, and some had to be knocked down. Luckily, no one was killed. The town hall needed a lot of repair work because of the damage. It finally reopened in August 1995.
In 2003, another special window was added to the town hall. This one celebrated the Golden Jubilee of Elizabeth II, marking 50 years since Queen Elizabeth II became queen.
The town hall also displays art, including statues of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra. Queen Elizabeth II herself visited the town hall on 25 June 2014. She laid a wreath to remember the start of the First World War.
See also
