DOWNPATRICK’s former workhouse has been given a temporary reprieve after it faced the axe in council demolition plans.
The entrance block to the once huge workhouse is all that now remains and is part of the former Down Council complex on the Strangford Road which was earmarked for demolition next month.
But after concerns were raised last week that the demolition would remove an important historical building the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) said further research is warranted before any action is taken.
In the light of this information, and appeals from South Down MP Margaret Ritchie, the council said the future of the site would now be discussed at the next meeting of the council.
The Downpatrick Workhouse admitted its first inmates in 1842 and was designed to accommodate 1000 people on an 11 acre site.
The entrance block to the workhouse remains and was incorporated into the 20th century Down Council buildings.
A spokeswoman for the Department of the Environment (DoE) said there is currently a review of historic buildings underway in Northern Ireland to determine what new buildings, if any, should be listed.
“The department can confirm that the systematic second survey of historic buildings is underway at present by NIEA,” she said. “Downpatrick has not yet been surveyed.”
The spokeswoman said former Environment Minister Alex Attwood, in a written response to Miss Ritchie on the topic, said NIEA architects recently judged the workhouse to be “of sufficient interest to justify further research”.
Miss Ritchie said she understood this research would be carried out in
advance of the second survey, sometime after September. She said if the DoE considered the building merited protection, the council would be consulted before a final decision is made.
“Such protection would make this building eligible for grant assistance from this department for repairs,” said Miss Ritchie.
“In that part of the council buildings there is considerable history, the social and political history of Downpatrick. Downpatrick is a heritage town and I want to see this heritage preserved.”
Miss Ritchie said she understood the council was naturally concerned about the commercial value of the site and preventing vandalism.
“These matters should be considered, however, in the light of the heritage value of this site and the local economy,” she said.
A spokeswoman for Down Council said: “In light of these comments, Down District Council will place this on a Council agenda for information and discussion.
“The advertisement to appoint a contractor will be in the papers next Tuesday and we will proceed with this but will take into consideration the NIEA comments and the views of Council.”