The Market House
In March 1764 Henry Waring of Waringsford submitted to Miss Theodosia Magill what he called “A scheme for the improvement of the estate and town of Rathfriland.” Amongst things he recommended “That all proper methods be taken to promote and encourage the Linen Market, and that a Market House be immediately built for the accommodation of the buyers and sellers of Linen, Cloth, Yarn, Meal etc.”
Following this recommendation, the Market House was erected shortly after 1764. The top portion was first used as an Estate Granary where the small farmers, who had no barns of their own, threshed and stored their grain while awaiting the market. The bottom was used to facilitate the buyers and sellers of flax and other commodities, the access to this portion being through open arched gateways, three on each side and one in the gable facing North.
In the year 1775 the roof required attention as appears by an account of James Waddell, Agent for the Clanwilliam Estate, to Samuel Murphy of Rathfryland for £5.17s.5d for repairs. The upper portion of the building was subsequently used for holding the Manor Courts and later it was used for holding the monthly Petty Sessions Court, and for other purposes. Within living memory, the lower portion was used by women from the Hilltown district for the sale of socks and other garments made from wool, which had been spun by themselves on their spinning wheels. This industry no longer exists.
In 1951 Major Meade added a room for the accommodation of the Magistrate of the Petty Sessions Court and new weighbridges were installed, one inside for the weighing of pork, and one outside for the weighing of lorries.
A portion of the lower part of the building which had been used as a prison in connection with the Petty Sessions Court after 1821, was removed in 1951, when the work of reconstruction was carried out. Major Meade’s crest appears on a granite stone which is set into the gable on the southside with his initials JWM and the date 1951.
The Market House remained in community use until the late 1970s. It was sold by the Meade estate and is now in private ownership.