Larne Town Hall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Larne Town Hall |
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Larne Town Hall
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| Location | Upper Cross Street, Larne |
| Built | 1870 |
| Architect | Alexander Tate |
| Architectural style(s) | Gothic Revival style |
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Listed Building – Grade B+
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| Official name: Town Hall | |
| Designated | 25 June 1979 |
| Reference no. | HB 06/12/002 |
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Larne Town Hall is an important building in Larne, County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It's located on Upper Cross Street. This historic building used to be where the local government, Larne Borough Council, held their meetings. Today, it is recognized as a Grade B+ listed building, meaning it's a special place that needs to be protected.
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A Look Back: History of Larne Town Hall
Building the Town Hall
The idea for Larne Town Hall came from a generous gift. A wealthy merchant named Charles McGarel, who was from the Ulster-Scots community, donated the money. The building was designed by an architect named Alexander Tate.
It was built in a style called Gothic Revival, which looks a bit like old castles or cathedrals. The construction company, Stewart & Company from Belfast, used rubble masonry (stones put together roughly). The whole project cost £5,500. The Town Hall officially opened its doors on 25 August 1870.
Design and Features
The Town Hall has a unique look. The front of the building, facing Upper Cross Street, isn't perfectly even. It has a tall clock tower in the middle. This tower has four parts: a main entrance with arches, a narrow window, a round window, and then the clock tower itself with a pointed roof.
On the left side of the building, there are six tall, arched windows. On the right side, which is set back a little, there are similar arched windows on two floors. These windows have fancy stone patterns called tracery. The far left part of the building was actually a house for the caretaker.
Inside, the main hall was called the "McGarel Hall." There was also a public reading room on the ground floor and a library and museum upstairs.
A Hub for the Community
In 1938, Larne became a "municipal borough," which means it got its own local government. The Town Hall became the main office for this new council. It also became a popular place for events. For example, the famous singer Bridie Gallagher performed there in 1949.
However, the council eventually moved to new offices, the Sir Thomas Dixon Buildings, in the early 1960s. The Town Hall then underwent a big renovation. An old part of the building was taken down, and a new three-story section was added. This work was finished in 2012.
Royal Visit and Recent Discussions
After some very bad winter storms in March 2013, Prince Charles (who is now King Charles III) visited the Town Hall in June 2013. He met with local farmers who had been affected by the extreme weather.
In June 2020, there was a discussion about the name of the McGarel Hall. A group called Amnesty International suggested renaming it. This was because Charles McGarel, who funded the building, had been involved in activities in his past that are now seen as very wrong. Council officials decided not to change the name at that time.
See also
