The yard, behind 73-75 and 77-79 Main Street, is constructed in part in very fine ashlar stone and in rubble stone. Before 1870, marketing activity centred on this Market place located behind the former Petty Sessions building. The buildings were constructed in the mid-nineteenth century by the Montgomery family as a market yard for the village of Fivemiletown. The Former Petty sessions building is already listed.
A spokesperson from Environment & Heritage Service (EHS) said that the buildings are particularly noteworthy because they retain many original features, notably stone arches, a projecting canopy supported on stone corbels and an external cantilevered stone staircase. They represent a significant part of the development of Fivemiletown, and have social history linked to many of the local families.
The building has been threatened with demolition as part of a planning application which proposes to remove the buildings and replace with retail units and apartments.
Notes to Editors:
- BPN’s were introduced for the first time in 2003 to protect historic buildings which are in danger of demolition or major alteration for a period of up to six months as a listed building. This allows the Environment and Heritage Service of the Department of the Environment time to carry out detailed research and consultation. At the end of the period it must decide if the structure should be permanently listed.
- Under the terms of a 2003 amendment to the Planning Order a building must satisfy two criteria to be temporarily listed in this way; In the view of the Department the building must be of special architectural and historic interest and it must be in danger of demolition or of alteration in such a way as to affect its character as a building of such interest.
- Upon the evidence gathered to date the view of EHS Built Heritage is that the building is likely to meet the special interest test.
- The evidence of the submitted planning application (ref M/2008/0050) demonstrates there is a threat to its character.
- EHS now has six months to consider this building in detail before deciding whether to proceed with permanent listing. The Historic Buildings Council and the local council will be formally consulted during this time.
- For further media enquiries contact DOE Press Office on 028 9054 0014. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Office via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.
