(www.nitowns.com)
Antrim Town, Co Antrim
The
old courthouse was originally a market house. Antrim being a popular location
for markets and fairs since 1605.
Early in the c18 the county Antrim grand jury awarded £150 towards building
a session house in the town.
Theft,assult and other crime prompted this courthouse,the upper floor was now
to be used as a courtroom and part of the ground floor was to be equiped with
cells,an underground passageway was also constructed leading under Market square
to the police station about 100 yards away.
The original market house was unsightly,poorly built with a rough masonary finish
. To spruce it up for it's new title it was given a grand florentine style
appearence.(photo)
The
new structure was actually built around the old
market
house with a new roof added it must have been a real pleasure for the residence
of the town..well as long as they behaved themselves!!
A few years after the renovation the building was in the center of a
fierce
battle "The Battle Of Antrim".
Lord
O'neill
from Shanes castle near Antrim chose the courthouse for the county magistrates
to discuss the imposition of martial law. United Irishmen from far and
wide came to take over and hold the magistrates as hostage.
Sadly
O'Neill was one of those killed (7th june 1798)in the
battle.
Eventually crown forces defeated the rebels.
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