Down Arts Centre facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Down Arts Centre |
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Down Arts Centre
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| Location | Irish Street, Downpatrick |
| Built | 1882 |
| Architect | William Batt |
| Architectural style(s) | Gothic Revival style |
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Listed Building – Grade B1
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| Official name: Down Arts Centre (former Assembly rooms) | |
| Designated | 20 October 1982 |
| Reference no. | HB 18/19/001 |
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The Down Arts Centre is a cool building in Irish Street, Downpatrick, County Down, Northern Ireland. It used to be called the Downpatrick Town Hall or the Downpatrick Assembly Rooms. This historic building was once where the local council met. Today, it's a special place for arts and culture. It's also a Grade B1 listed building, which means it's an important historical site.
Contents
A Look Back in Time
The First Building
The very first public building in Downpatrick was a market house. It was a gift to the town from Wingfield Cromwell, 2nd Earl of Ardglass. This building was finished way back in 1660.
The ground floor had open arches, perfect for holding markets. Upstairs, there was a big room used for meetings and events. By the 1870s, the building was getting old and falling apart.
A local politician, John Mulholland, stepped in to help. He offered to pay for a brand new building. It would be built right on the same spot!
Building the New Town Hall
The new building was designed by an architect named William Batt. It was built in a style called Gothic Revival. This style looks a bit like old castles and churches. Dixon & Co. built it using red bricks, and it was finished in 1882.
The building has a unique look with five sections facing Irish Street. A tall, three-part clock tower stands out on the corner. The tower has an arched doorway at the bottom. Above that, there's a fancy window with columns. The clock face is on the top part of the tower.
The front of the building has narrow windows on the ground floor. Upstairs, there are four wider windows, also with columns. Inside, there were two main halls. The bigger hall upstairs could hold 800 people. The smaller hall downstairs could fit 200 people.
A Busy Community Hub
As Downpatrick grew, the area became an "urban district" in 1925. This building became the main meeting place for the local council. It was also a popular spot for events.
During the Second World War, a famous singer named Gracie Fields even performed there! It was a true center for the community.
New Life as an Arts Centre
The building continued to be the meeting place for the Downpatrick council for many years. But in 1974, a bigger council was formed, and they moved to new offices.
Sadly, the building was badly damaged by a fire in 1983. But don't worry, it was fixed up in 1984! Then, in 1989, it got a new purpose. It was turned into the Down Arts Centre.
In the 1990s, a famous local rock band called Ash played one of their first shows there. The building got another big upgrade starting in 2011. This £1.4 million project made the facilities modern and added more creative spaces. It was finished in June 2012.
Today, the Down Arts Centre is a lively place. It hosts art shows, plays, music, and workshops for everyone to enjoy.
