Market House, Newtownards facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Market House, Newtownards |
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Market House, Newtownards
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| Location | Newtownards |
| Built | 1771 |
| Architect | Ferdinando Stratford |
| Architectural style(s) | Grecian-Doric style |
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Listed Building – Grade B+
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| Designated | 4 March 1977 |
| Reference no. | HB 24/13/001 |
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The Market House is an important old building in Newtownards, County Down, Northern Ireland. You can find it in Conway Square. It's a special building because it's a Grade B+ listed building, which means it's protected for its history and architecture.
Contents
History of the Market House
Building the Market House
The Market House was built a long time ago, between 1767 and 1771. A person named Robert Stewart, 1st Marquess of Londonderry asked for it to be built. He wanted it to be the main spot for the market in Newtownards. Before this, the market was held at Newtownards Priory.
The building was designed by Ferdinando Stratford. He used a style called Grecian-Doric, which is part of Greek Revival architecture. It was made from local Scrabo stone.
Original Design and Use
The building had a unique design with eleven sections, called bays, facing Conway Square. The middle part stuck out a bit. It had a main door on the ground floor with a fanlight (a window shaped like a fan) above it. On the first floor, there was a Venetian window (a large window with three parts). Above that, a pediment (a triangular shape) held a clock.
The sides of the building had arcading (a row of arches) on the ground floor. This open area was where markets were held. People could enter through a central archway from Conway Square. This archway had gates that could be closed at night.
On the first floor, there was a large room called an assembly room in the west wing. This was used for meetings or gatherings. In the east wing, there was a drawing room, which is now known as the Londonderry Room. In 1778, a tower with a weathervane was added to the building.
The 1798 Rebellion
In 1798, there was a big rebellion against British rule in Ireland. A group called the Society of United Irishmen took control of the Market House for about a week. This happened as they were on their way to the Battle of Saintfield. British and loyalist forces took back control in June 1798.
The story of this conflict, including what happened in Newtownards, was written about in a novel called Betsy Gray. Wesley Guard Little wrote this book, and it was first published in 1896.
Changes and New Uses
In September 1897, Charles Vane-Tempest-Stewart, 6th Marquess of Londonderry gave the Market House to the town. This happened just before the Newtownards Borough Council was formed.
In 1903, some changes were made to the building. The arches on the ground floor were replaced with round windows. This allowed the whole building to be used for town business. The Market House was the main office for Newtownards Borough Council until the early 1970s.
Later, in 1972, a new law changed how local government worked. The new Ards Borough Council moved its offices to Church Street. The Market House was not used much for a while and started to show its age.
However, it was given a fresh look in 1990 with new stonework. Then, in 1998, the inside was fully updated. On February 24, 2000, the mayor, Alan McDowell, officially reopened the building. Today, the historic Market House is used as an arts centre.
