The intention of this document (June 2004) is to give information not just about the Old Courthouse building itself but its various uses and how these affected the lives of those employed there.
During the period 1952/3 – 1976 the Old Courthouse was used for a very different purpose than that for which it was originally intended. It housed a clothing factory. At the time of writing almost all clothing manufacturing in N Ireland has virtually ceased; unfortunately, future generations will not have the opportunity of learning first hand to appreciate the training and skills required by those employed in this industry - their parents and grandparents.
During World War 2 (circa 1941) the firm Regal Styles began life manufacturing children’s clothing. Initially based in premises to the rear of the Regal Cinema in Portadown, as production increased the business moved first to Mandeville Street, then Shillington Street and eventually to the Old Courthouse in Markethill. Daily transport was provided for workers from Portadown.
To facilitate the firm’s expansion alterations were made to the building. Provision was made for a cloth store, cutting and sewing rooms as well as the requirements of finishing, pressing, despatch, design and administration work.
Basically the firm was concerned with the production of children’s garments, particularly winceyette pyjamas for major stores i.e. Littlewoods (Mail Order and Chain), British Home Stores and C & A. Eventually the company diversified into designing and manufacturing various styles of girls’ dresses, children’s dressing gowns, boys’ Trutex shirts and even Girl Guide Uniforms. Sales were either direct to the organisations or through an agent in London.
Eventually more space was required and in 1963 the company transferred its stitching operations to a new Ministry of Commerce factory of 7,000 square feet, at Fairgreen . Employee numbers rose to about 120 working from 8am to 5.15pm. Transport was arranged from surrounding areas including Newtownhamilton, Keady and Hamiltonsbawn. A small stitching unit was also opened in an old schoolhouse in Castleblaney Street, Newtownhamilton. For a time all other operations remained in the Courthouse.
Business increased, employees numbers rose to 150 and in 1970 an additional 7,000 square feet were added to the Fairgreen site. This extension was opened by Brian Faulkner Minister of Commerce in Northern Ireland. The pressing and finishing, despatch and administration operations were subsequently moved from the Courthouse and a new training section was established. However the Courthouse continued to be an essential part of the organisation housing design, cloth store and cutting room.
For a time Regal Styles flourished. The firm kept up-to-date through continual review of manufacturing methods and the use of new machines/ attachments such as that for the insertion of dress zippers and the use of jigs for collar manufacture. A high standard of work was ensured though rigorous training in skills such as the control of machines and the production of good quality machining.
It is a sad fact of life that competition in the clothing industry has always been fierce and the effects of this are increasingly apparent on the High Street. C&A stores have vanished, BHS and Littlewoods have changed greatly in character, even Marks and Spencers has had great problems maintaining its share of the clothing market. To keep prices as low as possible such firms have looked further afield to low cost economies such as Hong Kong, Taiwan, the Philippines, Portugal, Hungary, Yugoslavia and the Republic of China. The effects of such overseas sourcing were felt much earlier and more dramatically in the clothing industry than in other consumer goods such as cars, electronics and computers. Regal Styles suffered as the nature of the children’s trade altered completely. It was forced to close in 1976.
The Old Courthouse was allowed to deteriorate until in 1997 it was purchased by Markethill District Enterprises Ltd.