Down Arts Centre

The first municipal building in Downpatrick was a market house which was a gift to the town from Wingfield Cromwell, 2nd Earl of Ardglass and was completed in 1660. It was arcaded on the ground floor, so that markets could be held, with an assembly room on the first floor. The new building was designed by William Batt in the Gothic Revival style, built in red brick by Dixon & Co. and completed in 1882. The building continued to serve as the meeting place of Downpatrick Urban District Council for much of the 20th century, but ceased that role after the enlarged Down District Council was formed with offices in Stangford Road in 1974. It was badly damaged in a fire in 1983 but was restored in…