|
The Market House, Castlepollard, Co. Westmeath  The above image is Copyright ©. Please observe that no unauthorised use, printing or copying is allowed. Market House - iPhone.m4v An early nineteenth-century civic building, which retains its importance to the streetscape and is an integral element of the history of Castlepollard. It was originally constructed as part of the extensive remodelling of Castlepollard and its redevelopment around a central market square, c.1815. It is a feature building in the town and, as such, is vital to the understanding and appreciation of the planned urban form of Castlepollard following this major redevelopment. It is interesting that this building faces away from the Church of Ireland church (15302036), perhaps an intentional design feature as not to give equal billing to religion and commerce in the centre of the village. Although altered, the form of this building is similar to a number of early nineteenth-century public buildings found in small towns in Ireland, having a courthouse to the upper floor and a market house to the ground floor, such as is found at Ballymahon, Co. Longford. The cantilevered cut stone doorcase to the south elevation, originally giving access to the courthouse, is an interesting survival.
|