Site of former Shambles, Corner of East Street - Kings Lane, Warrenpoint, Newry, Co Down, BT34 3JE

The site marks the location of the former Shambles, a market building that stood on the corner of East Street and Keys Lane in Warrenpoint. The original Shambles was constructed between 1820 and 1839, commissioned by Roger Hall of Narrow Water Castle. It was described in the Valuation Book of 1835 as a "new shambles built by R. Hall to be let," with dimensions of 43 feet 6 inches by 17 feet by 9 feet, and a return measuring 23 feet by 20 feet 6 inches by 9 feet. All that remains is an oval ashlar sandstone plaque, now set into a modern pebble-dashed surround consisting of a smooth rendered panel with granite block trim. The plaque reads 'MEAT MARKET / AND / SHAMBLES / RH / 1834'. A later bronze plaque explains that the stone marking the former site of the Shambles (slaughterhouse) and meat market was erected in June 1984 by Newry and Mourne District Council on behalf of Warrenpoint Historical Group, with J. McCart as Chairman. The site was previously recorded as an area of local interest.