Former Market House, 14 High Street, Newtownbutler, Co. Fermanagh, BT92 8JD

Former Market House, 14 High Street, Newtownbutler

This is a two-storey early 19th-century former market house, erected around 1830 and designed by Dublin architect W.D. Butler. It stands on the west side of High Street, aligned roughly north–south, and is one of only a few exposed stone buildings within the village. The building is now used as a church hall.

The principal elevation faces east and features a hipped roof of artificial slate with a central gable, which contains a blind roundel with moulded stone surround. An advanced eaves course is supported on heavy block corbels, and half-round metal rainwater goods serve the main roof.

The façade is constructed of sandstone ashlar to ground floor over an advanced basecourse, with coursed limestone rubble above; a stringcourse delineates each floor. The elevation is articulated by two arcades—one on each floor—each containing four semi-elliptical ashlar arch recesses. These rest on engaged piers with advanced bands at the spring of each arch. The second and fourth openings on the ground floor contain pairs of modern stained and glazed timber doors with transoms, accessed by four stone steps; the fourth arch has been infilled with modern bricks and bears a plaque reading "NEWTOWNBUTLER/ CHURCH HALL". The remaining eight openings contain 6/6 sliding sash windows with horns and stone cills, set within stepped sandstone reveals with lintels and keystones. The building has no chimneys.

The left and right gables are abutted by lower two-storey adjacent buildings; their exposed sections are blank. To the left stands the former hotel (a listed building in its own right). A modern lean-to addition abuts the rear elevation to ground floor level, featuring an artificial slate roof with plastic rainwater goods, cement rendered and painted walls, timber casement windows, and a modern timber door. The exposed section of the rear shows three infilled window openings.

Historically, the building appears in the 1836 Valuation book and map, and is recorded in the 1860 Valuation book as "market house, stores and yard". Contemporary records note that the market place and weight house occupied the ground floor, while two public meeting rooms and a rent office were situated on the first floor.

Although internally refurbished, the fine sandstone and limestone façade contributes positively to the character of the village.