The Shambles, Dromore Road, Hillsborough, County Down, BT26 6AQ

The Shambles, Dromore Road, Hillsborough

A symmetrical U-plan range of rubblestone single-storey market structures built in 1829 on the east side of Dromore Road. The buildings were constructed at the expense of the Marquis of Downshire and replaced an earlier shambles and pound that had occupied the site. According to the Ordnance Survey Memoirs, the original structure measured 60 feet long and 30 feet broad. Historical evidence suggests the earlier shambles dated from the time of Wills Hill (1718–1793) and was replaced partly due to a raising of the road level to facilitate the building of the Moira Road in 1826, and partly because the site would thereafter fall within the newly-enclosed area of the Castle grounds.

The buildings are arranged around a lawned green space and enclosed to Dromore Road by decorative cast-iron railings on a low plinth wall with sandstone coping, matching gates, and cylindrical decorative cast-iron piers. The central spine runs on a north-south axis to the east of the green, featuring a raised central carriage house with a pair of projections to the north and south.

The roofing consists of single-pitched natural slate with black brick coping to the walls, whilst the central carriage house has a hipped natural slate roof with lead ridges. Cast-iron rainwater goods are mounted on iron brackets. The rubblestone walling incorporates redbrick window and gate linings to the carriage house, north screen wall and rear east elevation, with painted brick walling to the remainder. Ground-level openings are elliptical-headed, fitted with replacement glazed timber doors and fixed-pane windows. The south projection is largely an open arcade with cast-iron columns supporting the roof.

The raised carriage house features roughly squared sandstone quoins and a three-centred redbrick carriage arch with a cobbled floor and sandstone eaves course. A single round-headed opening to the carriage house is formed in redbrick with an iron pedestrian gate. The east elevation fronting onto Park Lane has a central gable corresponding to the carriage house, with diminutive elliptical-headed redbrick-lined window openings on a raised continuous sandstone sill course containing fixed-pane glazing.

To the west elevation of the north projection stands a tall rubblestone screen wall with sandstone coping and a single square-headed window opening formed in redbrick. This wall encloses the rear yard to No. 1 Park Lane and continues at an angle with an elliptical-headed opening formed in redbrick fitted with a steel pedestrian gate. Cobblestones front the entire elevation facing the green.

An original iron weighbridge survives in the yard, installed around 1830 by H. Pooley & Son and positioned to the north screen wall. Three granite bollards also remain. The weighbridge formerly served the market: Griffith's Valuation records that Thomas Crozier, a weigh master, operated the weighbridge in the Shambles until 1870, when David Caruthers replaced him.

The site retains group value with Hillsborough Castle and the Court House, situated south of the Square, and contributes significantly to the town's built heritage. The symmetrical composition and agricultural associations make this a rare remnant of the former farming economy of Hillsborough. Although no longer in active use as a market, the structure remains in good condition with most original materials intact.

In 1834 the Townland Valuations listed the Shambles as "Shambles, sheds and yard," valued at £5 4s. after a one-third deduction. From Griffith's Valuation onwards until 1930, the Shambles was continually valued at £10. After 1874 the Marquis of Downshire appears as the sole occupant. Brett notes that the Shambles was used as a pen for cattle travelling the Dublin Road.

In 1970 the Shambles were modified for use as an Art Centre providing open-air exhibition space for artists, though the centre did not fulfil its potential and has since been converted into offices. Since the opening of the Hillsborough Village Centre on Ballynahinch Street in 2005, the Shambles has not been used as an art centre. The site is located within a conservation area.