1 and 1a Market Place

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

An attached two-bay two-storey former market house, dated 1755, located on the corner of Market Place and North Street. Rectangular-on-plan, facing south.

Pitched pantile roof, gutters concealed behind rendered parapets with rectangular cast-iron downpipes. Walling is painted smooth-rendered over chamfered plinth. Windows are square-headed replacement metal three-light casements with moulded architraves and sills, unless otherwise stated.

Principal (south) elevation is symmetrical with slight central bend. Ground floor has round-headed entrances to ends with two segmental-arched windows between; moulded cornice over straight-channelled rustication. First floor is six windows wide and has entablature with modillioned cornice and parapet over quoins; central pediment with round clockface, metal hands, moulded architrave with keyblocks to cardinal points. Metal date plaque affixed to right end of ground floor, street lantern attached to right end of first floor. Ground floor windows have painted signage to tympanum, square-headed display windows over plinth-level rendered stall-risers; doors are square-headed three-panelled double-leaf with painted timber tympanums; right door has modern sidelights.

East gable ground floor is two windows wide; remainder is blank. Windows are without architraves and have metal security grilles; window to left is taller.

The market house is situated in the town centre in view of the harbour and at the end of High Street.

Roof: Concrete tile
Walling: Painted smooth render
Windows: Replacement square-headed three-light casements (timber to gd fl and aluminium to fst fl)
Rainwater Goods: Replacement rectangular metal downpipes

Historical information

A mid-eighteenth century market house, built in 1755. It had an arcaded ground floor market and a covered first floor capable of accommodating court sessions, representing a multi-functional layout typical of the period.

Although symmetrical and having a rusticated base with a apparent piano nobile, it lacks Palladian proportions by having an even number of bays, and it is characterised by a central front elevation bend surmounted by a pediment with clock. After the castle and St. Nicholas’s Church of Ireland, the former market house is the third oldest surviving public building in Carrickfergus.

In 1843 the building became the town hall, until 1935, when this function was transferred to the Old Courthouse. Since then the ‘market house’ has served a variety of commercial uses, including a branch of the Ulster Bank. Since the late 1990s it has been used as a ground floor gallery shop and first floor offices. (Emerson, and Information from Plaque).

The first edition OS map of 1836 shows the building approximately in its current form, although without the extension to rear.

The Townland Valuation of 1836 records a Market House under exemptions which is valued at £24.

Valuation Revisions from 1894 to the 1920s, record a ‘town hall’ under exemptions, and the building is valued at £20.

References

Primary Sources:
1. PRONI OS/6/1/52/1 - First Edition OS Map (1832)
2. PRONI OS/6/1/52/2 - Second Edition OS Map (1857)
3. PRONI OS/6/1/52/3 - Third Edition OS Map (1901-2)
4. PRON VAL/1/B/187- Townland Valuation (1836)
5. PRONI VAL/2/B/1/22D - Griffiths Valuation (1860)
6. PRONI VAL/12/E/20/2/1 - Town maps (1872-98)
7. PRONI VAL/12/E/20/1/1 - Town maps (1898-1908)
8. PRONI VAL/12/B/7/7 A-C - (1894-1929)

Secondary Sources:
1. Emerson, George Hill. An Historical Sketch of Carrickfergus. London, Montgomery, 1848.
2. Information Plaque on site.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
H-. Alterations detracting from building

Criteria for listing: historic interest

X. Local Interest
Y. Social, Cultural or Economic Importance

Evaluation

An attached two-bay two-storey former market house, dated 1755, situated in a prominent location at the end of High Street (with the former courthouse, now town hall, at the other end) and facing the harbour and castle. After the castle and church, the former market house is the oldest public building in Carrickfergus. The market house served as a town hall until the 1930s. Although the ground floor arcade has been blocked and interior features largely removed, it is still easily recognized as a former market house and retains a commanding presence in the historic streetscape.