Market Square1

This Present day photograph is of Market Square and the building in front of you was the Court House. It was built in 1726 and cost £150.00, the lower half was an arched market hall for local produce and the upstairs was where the court sessions where held. The double sided steps leading up to the Courts was where Lord O'Neill of Shane's Castle was killed during the Battle of Antrim in 1798. The Cupola on the top was added in 1817, on the lower floor by 1836 had been converted into a prison yard for prisoners attending trials and also for the confinement of Drunkards and Rioters. From the nearby police station there was an underground tunnel which went over to the Court house, this was to prevent the possible escape of prisoners on their journey to the Court house. As you can see in the Past photgraph all the shops behind the Court house have all gone, Thompson's shop sold fancy goods and tourist eitems. Going left the next shop was called the Bluebird cafe and on the corner you had Pat's pub. Back then there were 14 grocer's shops and 22 shops selling spirits!