Roe Valley Arts & Cultural Centre facts for kids

Roe Valley Arts & Cultural Centre
The old town hall, now part of the Roe Valley Arts & Cultural Centre
Location	Main Street, Limavady
Built	1872
Architect	Turner & Williamson
Architectural style(s)	Neoclassical style
Listed Building – Grade B1
Official name: Town Hall
Designated	28 March 1975
Reference no.	HB 02/12/004
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The Roe Valley Arts & Cultural Centre is a special place in Limavady, Northern Ireland. It's a community hub where people can enjoy art, music, and cultural events. This building has a long history, once known as the Alexander Memorial Hall and even earlier as the Limavady Town Hall. It stands proudly on Main Street and has been an important part of the town for many years.

What is the Roe Valley Arts & Cultural Centre?

This centre is a modern space for arts and culture. It hosts art exhibitions, live music, theatre shows, and workshops. It's a place where people of all ages can explore their creativity and learn new things. The building itself mixes old and new styles, keeping the historic front while having modern spaces inside.

How the Building Started

The story of this building began a long time ago. In 1830, Limavady got its first official building, a courthouse. But leaders in the town wanted an even bigger, special place for community events. So, they chose a spot on Main Street.

A local company, Turner & Williamson, designed the new building. It was built in a grand style called Neoclassical, which means it looked like ancient Greek and Roman buildings. It was made from strong stone and finished in 1872. The front had three main sections. The ground floor looked strong and solid, with three rounded openings. The middle opening had a small stone balcony above it. On the next floor, there were three large windows. At the very top, there was a triangular section with a round, blind window.

A New Name and Famous Visitors

In 1886, a local leader named Samuel Maxwell Alexander passed away. To remember him, the town decided to rename the building the Alexander Memorial Hall. Around that time, a clock with two faces was added to the front, showing the new name.

Years later, during the First World War in November 1916, a very important person visited the building. William Massey, who was the Prime Minister of New Zealand and was born in Limavady, came back to his hometown. He had a special dinner in the hall to celebrate his visit.

Changes Over Time

For many years, the building was the main place for the local government, the Limavady Urban District Council. This council was in charge of running the town. However, in the 1970s, a bigger council, the Limavady Borough Council, was formed and moved to new offices. So, the old town hall was no longer the main government building.

Over time, the building started to show its age. In the late 1990s, it was decided that the back part of the building needed to be taken down. This was to make way for a brand new cultural centre. The front part, the historic facade, was kept. The demolition work happened in 2007.

A Modern Makeover

After the old parts were removed, a big project began. A new, modern building was constructed behind the old front, and another new section was built next to it. This huge project cost £4 million.

In March 2011, the new and improved building officially opened. It was named the Roe Valley Arts & Cultural Centre. A famous broadcaster, Mark Carruthers, helped open it. Even though some people suggested going back to the old name, Alexander Memorial Hall, the building is still known as the Roe Valley Arts & Cultural Centre today. It continues to be a lively spot for art and culture in Limavady.