List of Grade B+ listed buildings in County Armagh facts for kids

County Armagh is in Northern Ireland.

Have you ever seen an old building and wondered about its history? In Northern Ireland, some buildings are so special that they get a special title: "listed buildings." This means they are important because of their history or how they were built. This article tells you about the Grade B+ listed buildings in County Armagh.

These buildings are like treasures that we want to keep safe for the future. They show us how people lived and built things a long time ago.

What are Listed Buildings?

A "listed building" is a building or structure that the government officially says is very important. It has "special architectural or historic interest." This means it's either really old, built in a unique way, or has an interesting story.

There are different levels of listed buildings. Grade B+ buildings are super special. They are almost as important as the very best (Grade A) buildings. Maybe they have a small part that was changed later, or they are just slightly less perfect. But they still have amazing features, cool interiors, or are in beautiful places. They are definitely better than regular Grade B buildings. Sometimes, a building gets Grade B+ because its history is extra important.

Protecting Old Buildings in Northern Ireland

The idea of protecting these special buildings started a bit later in Northern Ireland than in other parts of the UK. The first rules for listing buildings came out in 1972. Today, the main rules are from the Planning (Northern Ireland) Order 1991.

The Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) is in charge of this. They are part of the government and their job is to find and list these important buildings. They started looking for special buildings in 1974. They finished their first big search in 1994.

Now, they are doing a "Second Survey" to update all the information. This helps them check the old details and add new ones. All the information about listed and unlisted buildings goes into a public database. This way, everyone can learn about these historic places.

Once a building is listed, you can't just change it however you want. There are strict rules about what you can do to its structure or inside parts. If someone wants to make changes, they need special permission from the local authorities. This helps make sure these old buildings stay protected.

There are about 8,500 listed buildings in Northern Ireland. That's about 2 out of every 100 buildings! Around 580 of these are Grade B+.

County Armagh's Special Buildings

County Armagh is a beautiful area that covers about 1,254 square kilometers (that's about 484 square miles). Around 160,000 people live there. This county is home to 48 Grade B+ listed buildings. These buildings include old houses, churches, bridges, and even an old prison!

Let's look at a few examples of these amazing places:

Historic Churches

Many Grade B+ listed buildings in County Armagh are churches. These old churches often have beautiful architecture and long histories.

• St Francis' Church of Ireland in Portadown is a Grade B+ church.
• St. Aidan's Church on Salter's Grange Road in Armagh is another important church.
• Armagh First Presbyterian Church and The Mall Presbyterian Church are both found in Armagh. They show different styles of church building.
• St. Mark's Church in Armagh is also listed. It's a very old and interesting church.
• St. Gobhan's Church in Portadown is another example of a church that has been protected.

Grand Houses and Estates

Several large houses and parts of old estates are also listed.

• Castle Dillon House in Turcarra, Armagh, is a grand old house.
• Hockley Lodge in Drumnasoo, Armagh, is another historic home.
• The Royal School in Armagh is a school building that is also listed because of its special design and history.
• Sovereign's House and other houses on Beresford Row in Armagh are also listed. They are part of a historic street.

Unique Structures

Not all listed buildings are houses or churches. Some are bridges, walls, or even old prisons!

• The Main gateway of Manor House in Loughgall is a listed structure, showing off impressive entrance designs.
• The Aqueduct Cargans/Terryhoogan near Tandragee is a canal structure. It's a reminder of how people used to transport goods.
• Clare Bridge in Poyntzpass is an old bridge that is protected.
• The Former Armagh Gaol (prison) in Armagh is a very important historic building. It tells a lot about the past.
• The Egyptian Arch over Camlough Road in Bessbrook is a unique bridge with an interesting design.

These are just a few examples of the many special Grade B+ listed buildings in County Armagh. Each one has its own story and helps us understand the rich history of the area.

Images for kids

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  Main gateway of Manor House at Loughgall

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  St. Mark's Church, Armagh

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  The Royal School, Armagh

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  Sovereign's House, Armagh

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  Former Armagh Gaol

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  First Armagh Presbyterian Church, Armagh

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  The Mall Presbyterian Church, Armagh

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  Former Northern Bank, Armagh

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  Synod Hall and Sacristy of St. Patrick's R.C. Cathedral, Armagh

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  St. Gobhan's Church, Portadown

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  Methodist Church, Portadown

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  Creggan Church, Newry

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  St. Malachy's R.C. Church, Camlough

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  Egyptian Arch over Camlough Road, Bessbrook