A lease of 1736 from Hugh Boyd to the Earl of Antrim states “a house in the village of Ballycastle wherein the said courts have lately been held, which was lately built for that purpose … situate on the south side of the said village of Ballycastle.” (PRONI D2977/3A/2/29/1; see also Montgomery in The Glynns vol.28 (2000)).

JMcC research states that the building stands on “Margie More” the original market location at the intersection of the road from Dunineny Castle (now Clare Street and Moyle Road) and Main Street (now Castle Street), see also McGill in The Glynns vol.34 (2006).

OSM IX vol.24, pp.89, 98

(p.89) “The market house stands in one of the principal streets and near the centre of the town. It is a plain 2-story building. The lower part is viewed as a sort of shambles or market place and the room above as a place for holding manor courts and petty sessions.

“The gaol or bridewell is in the rear of the market house and consists of 2 cells or rooms underground and 2 above. It is merely used for confining riotous persons in, but was formerly used in connection with the manor court for the purpose of confining debtors decreed in it.”

(p.98) “2 magistrates reside in the town of Ballycastle and 1 about a mile from it … There are no stipendiary magistrates. There is no place where the laws or magistrates are more respected, or where there is more domestic peace or security. There are 6 constabulary and 4 coastguards in Ballycastle.

“A manor court is held in Ballycastle on the first Wednesday in the month for the recovery of debts under 10 pounds, and a court leet is held once in 6 months. Petty sessions are held in Ballycastle on every second Tuesday. At least 2 magistrates always attend.

“No outrages of any kind have been committed even within a remote period. No combinations exist, nor is there any smuggling. There is a little illicit distillation carried on in Glenshesk, but since the establishment of the revenue it has greatly decreased…”

Historic Buildings Record HB05/15/016.

Andrew Sharpe is listed as a grocer in Slater’s 1856 Directory.

Census – building no. 10

No occupants

Census – building no. 10

No occupants

SMcM research based on Griffith’s Valuation registers.

Historic Buildings Record HB05/15/016.

According to Danny Morgan (oral history 14/05/24), downstairs housed a private museum exhibition belonging to Jimmy Gunn (originally from Draperstown). This appears to have been a single year as the following year the exhibition was housed at ‘Scarlett’s’, no.41 Castle Street.

Harriet Hamilton (12/11/24) worked for Moyle Council 1972-1978. She worked at Dalriada House (the old workhouse fever hospital building) in the winters, but in the Tourist Office based downstairs in 59 Castle Street during the summers. The manager of the Tourist Office was Peter Logue.

According to Melanie Brown (oral history 14/05/24), the Ballycastle Tourist Office operated through to the late 70s or 80s. Her mother was one of the seasonal staff.

Court sessions still heard upstairs until 1980s, Built Heritage at Risk NI BHARNI Ref: 05/15/002.

Upstairs used as courts until the 1980s, but also public library and credit union, Historic Buildings Record HB05/15/016.

According to Danny Morgan (oral history 14/05/24), the courthouse continued to function after Irish World were established downstairs (1987).

JMcC research states the courthouse was used right up to the 1970s and then the local library was situated upstairs, accessed by the stone steps inside. Jean Fogarty, was the librarian (daughter of Ted Fogarty the Town Clerk). The Credit Union was also relocated to here from Market Street before moving to Ann Street.

According to Roger Perritt, Peter Molloy and Danny Morgan (oral history 14/05/24), the Marconi radio club used the courtroom as their meeting space and premises for a number of years.