The first mention of the plan to apply for Conservation Area status for Randalstown appears in ARCHES’ minutes of 4th July 1995 although approaches had already been made to the Department of the Environment through the Randalstown Historical Society.
In September a DOE representative visited the group and indicated that the Department looked favourably on the application and would be happy to work with the group to achieve conservation area status for Randalstown as a typical 19th century small Ulster town. It was unanimously agreed at the meeting to proceed with the designation.
In the following months much background work was done to progress this and in May 1996 confirmation was received that Conservation Area status had been granted.
An official designation ceremony was held on 3rd June at Neillsbrook Community Centre where the then Secretary of State, Sir Patrick Mayhew, conferred Conservation Status on the town. Signs to denote this were placed on the main approach roads to the town.
ARCHES is grateful to the late Hugh McKay of DOE, who was the officer in charge of the designation, and to members of Randalstown Historical Society who contributed greatly to the process and to the Designation booklet, copies of which can still be seen in ARCHES office. Hugh McKay remarked at the time that the Randalstown designation process was the quickest and least troublesome in his experience.
