Enniskillen Town Hall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Enniskillen Town Hall |
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Enniskillen Town Hall
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| Location | The Diamond, Enniskillen |
| Built | 1901 |
| Architect | William Alphonsus Scott |
| Architectural style(s) | Renaissance style |
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Listed Building – Grade B+
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| Official name: Town Hall | |
| Designated | 20 August 1976 |
| Reference no. | HB 12/17/001 |
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Enniskillen Town Hall is a really old and important building in Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. It's located right in The Diamond, a central spot in the town. This grand building is where the local council, called Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, meets to make important decisions for the area. Because of its history and beautiful design, it's officially recognized as a Grade B+ listed building, meaning it's protected for its special architectural value.
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History of Enniskillen Town Hall
From Market House to Modern Town Hall
Before the current town hall was built, there was an older building on the same spot. This was a market house, completed around 1618. It was built by Sir William Cole, who was involved in setting up new towns and settlements in Ulster a long time ago.
By the late 1800s, the old market house was very worn out. The town's leaders decided it was time for a new, grander building. They chose to build the new town hall in the exact same place.
Building the New Town Hall
The first stone for the new building was laid by Lady Enniskillen on 2 May 1898. It was designed by an architect named William Alphonsus Scott from Drogheda. He designed it in the beautiful Renaissance style.
The building was made from strong limestone with special Dungannon sandstone decorations. It cost about £13,000 to build, which was a lot of money back then! The Countess of Erne officially opened the new town hall on 6 January 1901.
Design Features of the Town Hall
The town hall has a very balanced and grand look. The front of the building has five sections facing Townhall Street. The middle section sticks out a little bit and has a fancy entrance with strong oak doors. Above the doors, there's a curved window called a fanlight.
On the first floor, there's a balcony and a French door. Two pairs of tall, decorated pillars support a decorative frame and a triangular top section called a pediment. Inside this triangle, you can see a coat of arms.
In one corner of the building, there's a tall, six-story tower with a shiny copper dome on top. On the third level of the tower, there are special spaces called niches. Inside these niches, you can see stone statues of soldiers. These statues represent two local army groups: the 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons and the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. The most important room inside the building is the council chamber, where meetings are held.
Town Hall's Role Over Time
For many years, the building was the main office for Enniskillen Borough Council. But in 1967, its administrative jobs were taken over by Fermanagh County Council.
Later, in 1980, the eastern part of the building was changed into offices. After that, it became the meeting place for Fermanagh District Council.
Recent Events and Repairs
In 2015, the Enniskillen Town Hall became one of two main meeting places for the new Fermanagh and Omagh District Council. The other meeting place is The Grange in Omagh.
Around the same time, one of the stone soldier statues on the tower lost an arm due to bad weather. Luckily, both statues were carefully repaired in May 2015, bringing them back to their original look.
See also
