Former Market House, 1 Scarva Street, Banbridge, Co Down, BT32 3DA

A detached symmetrical two-storey three-bay stone former market house, dated 1833 and built to designs by Michael McGavigan. Located north of the junction of Scarva Street and Bridge Street in Banbridge town centre. Square on plan with breakfront entrance to south. Hipped natural slate roof topped by timber square cupola clock tower, pedimented with leaded roof topped by weathervane. Cast-iron ogee rainwater goods on projecting eaves. Walling is roughly coursed squared blackstone on an ashlar granite plinth with granite quoins, granite impost mouldings and red-brick dressings; sandstone cornice and parapet, advanced on east face over breakfront and decorated with the Downshire coat of arms. Windows are replacement 6/6 timber-framed sliding sash in recessed segmental-headed sandstone reveals with red- brick dressings and projecting sandstone sills to first floor; ground floor has large plate-glass segmental-headed windows, also in sandstone reveals with red-brick dressings. The principal elevation faces east with granite plinth to slope of hill and is three windows wide to each floor. Central bay projects slightly with granite quoins and is topped by sandstone parapet decorated with the Downshire coat of arms and inscribed “1833”. The entrance elevation faces south and has three evenly-spaced windows to each floor. At right is a recessed entrance bay having window to first floor and modern double-leaf nine-panelled door surmounted by transom light in sandstone reveal and red-brick surround. The west elevation has a timber-framed round-headed stairwell window to first floor and ground floor right; flanked to either side by smaller uPVC windows. Ground floor has modern fire door to right of centre. To far left is a projecting bay with modern double-leaf fire doors opening to south. The north (rear) elevation is almost entirely abutted by adjoining buildings. Setting Prominently sited on the brow of the hill at the junction of Bridge Street and Scarva Street, directly east of the former Post Office (HB17/06/028). Abutted to north by an early nineteenth-century terrace. Roof: Natural slate Walling: stone/brick Windows: timber/uPVC RWG: Cast-iron