Downpatrick

This photo of Irish Street, Downpatrick was taken around 1915. Irish Street used to the commercial centre of the town until the marshes were drained in 1832 then Market Street (off the the far left of the photo) became the hub. In the centre of the photo you can see the Assembly Rooms which were built in 1882 on the site of the old market house. On the skyline is the massive Downpatrick gaol; built in 1835 by the Grand Jury, it was taken over by the government in 1878 and converted into a convict prison for those convicted of agrarian crimes. Today it is a high school.

Downpatrick is one of the oldest Irish towns and was noted by the Roman geographer Ptolemy in his map of the country in the 2nd century AD. But although its early history undoubtedly influenced its shape and development the Downpatrick that we know today dates mainly from the 18th and 19th centuries. The contribution of the Southwell family during the 18th century was particularly noteworthy. In 1703 Edward Southwell, Chief Secretary of Ireland, married Elizabeth, daughter of the Earl of Ardglass, thus acquiring the Manor of Down. He decided to develop its economic potential; he controlled the waters of the Quoile river and reclaimed the marshes, built a harbour and customs house and reconstructed the streets of the town. His son, who succeeded him in 1730, continued his work and through their efforts, Downpatrick changed from a derelict town of less than 1,000 inhabitants into a prosperous commercial centre for the barony.

Holy Trinity Church of Ireland Cathedral
at the end of English Street, Downpatrick

Down Cathedral stands on a flat-topped hill that was formerly almost completely surrounded by water and is now reached along the steep incline of English Street, Downpatrick This is supposed to be the site where St. Patrick erected the first cathedral in 431 AD on land granted to him by Keltair MacDuach, who was then chieftain of the ancient district of Dal Dichu. It was created a Bishopic by St. Cailan about 699 AD. When John de Courcy reached Lecale,there was a monastery of secular canons there, which he replaced by Benedictine monks from Chester, in England. It was burned down by Edward Bruce, brother to the Scottish king, in 1310. Over the centuries the Benedictine Abbey was frequently attacked and finally destroyed in 1538, by Lord Deputy Gray. It then lay in ruins until 1790 when its restoration began. The new Cathedral was opened for Divine Worship in 1818 after a lapse of more than 250 years. This lapse of time was caused by the state of total dilapidation of the building and lack of funds from the dean and chapter. Rev. William Annesley proposed to give £300 per annum towards its repair. After that the Marquis of Downshire and the Earl of Hillsborough became interested and gave £568 and £341 respectively. Work commenced under the supervision of Mr Lilley, the architect. By 1825 the body of the cathedral was finished but it took another £1,183 to complete the tower.

In the restoration few of the ancient structures could be used, but some capitals of the 14th and 15th century and two carved figures set in the wall by the door of the chapter room, provide a link with the medieval abbey. When the Cathedral was opened for public worship there was no central seating; the pews were ranged on either side , with the Bishop's throne amidst the congregation and opposite the stall used by the Minor Canons in conducting the services. On the backs of the pews are elegant brass candelabra, while ranged round the upper walls are the coats of arms of the great county families. It is capable of holding 800 people. On the exterior wall are three niches containing pedestals on which formerly stood images of St. Patrick,m Columkille and St. Bridget, who are said to have been interred here.

The date of the oldest legible gravestone is 1688; it reads, " Here lyeth interred the body of Charles Devick, who served as captain in the regiment of Colonel Anthony Hamilton in this kingdom and died in Downpatrick on 17th March 1688". In the middle of the graveyard which surrounds the Cathedral, is part of a very ancient cross hewn out of granite, marking the spot where the national saint, St. Patrick, is said to be interred. Another portion of this cross is lying at the corner of the last house on the north side of English Street near the Cathedral As you enter by the main door there is a stone belonging to the Crommellin family dated 1607. The Dean in 1846 & 1852 was Very Rev T. Blakely with the Reader Rev Horatio Moffat; archdeacon, Ven. Walter Bishop Mant, precentor was Rev H.S. Cuming, chancellor was Rev. J.L.M. Scott, treasurer was Rev G.H. McD. Johnston & organist was Robert McCune. In 1910, the Dean was Very Rev. E. Maguire & sub dean Archdeacon Brown.

Newspaper article form Down Recorder;
reopened 7 Jan 1843 & 13 Sep 1845; improvements 19 Oct 1861; overcrowded graveyard 18 Jan 1862; reopening 5 Dec 1863; photo of Cathedral Choir of 1925 available to email (14 Aug 1926)

UHF have baptisms 1887-1900 ;gravestone inscriptions UHF Vol 7 ; email me for a gravestone look-up or pay per view gravestones on www.irishgenealogy.ie

St.Margaret's, Church of Ireland, Downpatrick
in Church Street, Downpatrick

This is an old building built on the site of an earlier church. The tower on which the two bells are hung is said to be the oldest part of the building and dated to 1560. The date on a silver chalice used at the communion table is dated 1636. There is a monument in the church bearing the date 1709 belonging to Dean McNeal. The present church underwent great repairs and alterations in 1733. It has a long hall-type naive, with a splendid Venetian window which was built in 1735. The church in 1836 contained 50 pews of irregular size and capable of seating 500 people. In the adjoining cemetery is the grave of Thomas Russell, a United Irishman, who was hanged outside Downpatrick goal in 1803.

Originally the entrance to the church was from English Street, Downpatrick, but when the new road from Bridge Street to the town centre was opened in 1838, the boundary wall and steps shown in the photo were built. During the late 1960s the graveyard which is on all sides of the church was leveled and tidied and eight old stones were lost in the process. Other stones were transferred to the edge of the graveyard. The oldest stone belongs to John Lawe who died in 1668. Before 1790 the burying ground was confined to the south-east of the churchyard. The curate in 1840-42 was Rev John Reid & in 1846 & 1852 was Rev James Forde with John Heron, the clerk. In 1910, the rector was Rev. Canon Pooler with Rev. C.K. Pooler & J. Adamson as organist.

Newspaper articles from Down Recorder;
Sunday School fete 30 June 1855; new cemetery needed 18 Jan 1862; reopening of the church 31 May 1873; new organ 24 Oct 1874; Church Blue Ribbon Army 5 May 1883; Sunday School feast 20 Feb 1886; Grand Bazaar 13 Nov 1886

Records available are baptisms 1733- 1854, marriages 1700- 1736 & 1740- 1874, burials 1719-1867 ; PRONI MIC /1/39; graveyard attached, gravestone inscriptions UHF Vol 7; email me for a gravestone look-up or pay per view gravestones on www.irishgenealogy.ie
This photo was kindly sent to me by Brian McCleary.

Hollymount Church of Ireland
W of Downpatrick;

Originally built to serve the families on the Hollymount Estate. A Chapel of Ease. The vicar 1879-1882 was Rev. Ralph Wilde.

Newspaper articles from Down Recorder;
new church built 30 Mar 1839; consecration 31 Jul 1841: Rev P. Butler 24 Sep 1853; Rev H. Moffat address 17 Apr 1858; reopening 28 Mar 1885; centenary commemoration of laying of foundation stone 8 Feb 1939*

modern graveyard;pay per view gravestone inscriptons on www.irishgenealogy.ie ; marriages available 1851-1935 PRO

1st Presbyterian Church, Downpatrick
Non-Subscribing
in Stream Street /Infirmary Lane

The congregation met in the Flying Horse in Ballyvange townland before 1692 when their first minister was a Royalist in the Cromwellian period. Then they built in Stream Street, Downpatrick in 1692 with the money being raised by general subscription. By 1804 the meeting house was in decay and entirely rebuilt by subscription. It's capable of holding 800 people. The minister in 1846 & 1852 was Rev Samuel Craig Nelson & in 1901 & 1910 was Rev. M.S. Dunbar. (POD)

Newspaper article from Northern Herald;
installation of Rev. Samuel C. Nelson 28 Feb 1835

Newspaper articles from Down Recorder;
soiree 19 Nov 1853;Sunday School picnic to Portaferry 18 Aug 1855*; Sunday school excursion 22 Jul 1882; harvest festival 18 Oct 1935; ordination of Rev James Murray Moore 13 Apr 1937*; harvest festival 10 Oct 1939*; WW2 memorial service conducted by Rev. Henry Hall 13 Nov 1939*

Newspaper article from Newtownards Chronicle;
death of Rev. S.C. Nelson, minister 31 Jan 1891

Graveyard attached gravestone inscriptions available 1700-1876, UHF Vol 7; the oldest legible stone is 1763 ; email me for a gravestone look-up or pay per view gravestone inscriptons on www.irishgenealogy.ie

2nd Presbyterian Church of Downpatrick
Fountain St, Downpatrick

This is the 2nd Presbyterian church in Downpatrick having been built in 1826 after the separation from the Non-Subscribers. It was used by the military garrison housed in the barracks in nearby Scotch Street.
The meeting-house is in Fountain Street, Downpatrick and the graveyard behind the church extends steeply up to the 200 foot contour. It is a plain, substantial stone building, in the traditional T plan, measuring 60 feet by 35 and capable of holding 400 people. The minister in 1846 was Rev William White. (minister for 58 years) The cost of the building was defrayed by subscriptions of the congregation. The church has the following inscription on the west wall- "To the Glory of God this foundation stone was laid on 25th March 1954 to record the date of the rebuilding of this church. Original church was built in 1826". The earliest gravestone dates from 1828 and the first internment in this graveyard was Robert Thompson Young who died in 1828 aged 4. He was the son of George Young of Downpatrick. The minister 1899-1936 was Rev. Robert McElney.

Records from 1827, graveyard nearby ,gravestone inscriptions UHF Vol 7 ; email me for a gravestone look-up or pay per view gravestones on www.irishgenealogy.ie

Newspaper articles from Down Recorder;
new minister 9 Nov 1839; Infirmary St meeting 11 Dec 1843; soiree 25 Sep 1858; Rev William White sermon 29 Oct 1859; installation ceremony of Rev. David Graham 10 Jun 1871; Sunday School soiree 31 Jan 1880; Sabbath school excursion 11 Sep 1880;ordination of Rev James Murray Moore 16 Apr 1937*

Wesleyan Methodist Church
in Scotch Street

This Methodist Chapel in Scotch Street was built in 1777 and is capable of holding 200 people. The minister in 1846 was Rev Edward Harpur & in 1852 was Rev. Robert Devers & Robert Collier & & in 1901 was Rev. C. Baskin & in 1910 Rev. J. Clayton. It was rebuilt around 1940.

Newspaper articles from Down Recorder;
meeting to consider changes 1 Mar 1845.

UHF has baptisms 1838-1900; No graveyard

St. Patrick's Catholic Church,
between Stream St. & St. Patricks Ave, Downpatrick BT30 6DN
Parochial House 54 St. Patricks Ave, Downpatrick Tel; 4461 3008

The old church between St. Patrick's Avenue and Stream Street, Downpatrick replaced a modest Mass-house behind Darby's Inn in Ballyvange townland and was erected on the new site where there was a hay-yard in 1787. The main instigators of this venture were Edward O'Donnell, William Sawey and John Dogherty. The foundation stone was laid by Mrs. William Trotter, whose husband was the agent for the Southwell Estate.

It was described in 1836 as a parallelogrammical building, 93 feet by 33 feet, with 84 pews , capable of holding 800 people. Inside the altar and surrounding ornaments were "splendid" and it was surrounded on three sides by a large gallery. The present church was built in 1869. It was described in 1836 as Gothic style with a large rose window over the entrance was by Belfast architect John O'Neill. It was solemnly dedicated by Bishop Dorrian, a native of Downpatrick, on 30th June 1872. The interior is equally impressive; the altar is of carved stone, the chancel walls are covered in rich mosaic and the high eastern windows are by Meyer of Munich. There have been some alterations in the altar in recent years to take account of changes in the liturgy and a major extension will double the seating capacity. The parish prist in 1846 was Rev Bernard McCalla & in 1852, Rev Bernard McAuley.

The main graveyard used by Catholics in the last century and earlier than that was beside the Downpatrick Cathedral. There was clearly not enough ground surrounding St. Patrick's so after it was filled a new graveyard was opened on the Killough Road about half a mile from the St. Patrick's Avenue and Stream Street cross roads after 1870. It slopes up steeply from the newer loop to the old direct road across a small hill. The oldest recorded dates on gravestones there are that of Edward McGrady who died in in 1871 and the earliest burial is that of Robert Denvir of Downpatrick who died 2nd April 1875 aged 100 then Maria Carr, wife of John Carr of Downpatrick, who died 6th May 1875 aged 50 years.

The earliest date in the small graveyard surrounding St. Patrick's is that of Patrick McCartin of Downpatrick who died 11th May 1838 aged 78. There are also a few graves alongside the south wall of the church.

Newspaper articles from Down Recorder;
Reception of Nuns- Sisters of Mercy 27 Jun 1857;List of subscriber to Downpatrick's Catholic school, Rev. P. O'Kane 12 Nov 1864; pilgrimage to Lough Derg, Donegal 24 Jul 1915*; Canon McWilliams P.P.opens new parochial hall 29 May 1935*Fr. Scullin organised a ceilidhe to raise funds 3 Jan 1936*; Badminton Club's annual dance 16 Apr 1937*; annual parochial dance in hall 13 Nov 1939*

Newspaper article from Northern Star;
meeting to rejoice in the end to intolerance 2 Feb 1793; resolutions passed at meeting 19 Mar 1795

PRONI & NLI have baptisms 1851- 1882, marriages 1853- 1882 , burials 1852- 1882, UHF has baptisms 1851-1900, marriages 1852-1900, graveyard attached; gravestone inscriptions UHF Vol 7 ; email me for a gravestone look-up or pay per view gravestone inscriptons on www.irishgenealogy.ie

Lists of 20th century priests:
Rev. Patrick O'Kane until 1906; Rev. William Dempsey 1906- 1916; Rev. Henry Boyle 1916- 1933; Rev. David J. McWilliams 1933- 1960; Rev. James Connolly 1960- 1967; Rev. Patrick Conway 1967- 1976; Rev. Joseph Maguire 1977- 1997; Rev. Brendan Murray 1997+

Ballykilbeg Catholic Church- St. Malachy's
Ballykilbeg, Downpatrick BT30 6HJ
Parochial House 16 Ballykilberg Rd, Downpatrick BT30 8HJ Tel; 4461 3203

The old chapel , which was built on the site of an ancient chapel ( called Chapel of Wytiketona) in 1745, was a plain, low building which had an aisle but no pews -the congregation sat on forms. A new church was built on the same site in 1775 but was described as being was in a bad state by 1836 and a replacement chapel was in progress at a cost of £600 when the parish priest was Rev. Bernard McAuley.This was raised by general subscription. The new chaple was consecrated by Dr. Denvir and the sermon preached by Primate Dr. Crolly. The interior was improved by Father O' Kane in 1878 with the assistance of Rev Bernard McAuley of Downpatrick.

Newspaper articles from Down Recorder;
centenary of foundation 18 Oct 1937*

no graveyard

Ballydugan
The photo on the left was kindly sent to me by the Breen family. It shows an original clachan or house cluster in the townland.

The photo on the right shows Ballydgan mill. It was over two centuries since the huge wheel at Ballydugan Mill began turning and what was until recently a ruin, has now had a rebirth.

Workers came from miles around to grind wheat in the dusty factory. Lecale district was a great growing area at the time. When the mill opened in 1792, flour would have been one of the most important types of produce. John Auchinleck posted an advertisement in the Northern Star newspaper dated 29 Dec 1792 stating that different kinds of flour and bran were now for sale.
But good times at the mill were short lived and in 1857 it closed it doors for the last time and has lain deserted for the last 125 years, open to the elements and falling into ruin. But it was a beautiful Georgian building and deserved a better fate.

A local contractor, Noel Killen, had a vision and the restoration began. He hopes it will be the second best venue in Northern Ireland to host tradition medieval banquets in a unique setting.

The seven floor £200,000 complex includes a restaurant, cafe, hotel, banquet hall and historical exhibition.

Struell Wells ancient site & townland

The Struel Wells site covers a few acres and has several very ancient stone buildings.

Although St. Patrick is supposed to have blessed the wells, the tradition of their curative properties is thought to predate Patrick. There are four wells, two covered by small corbelled stone houses, the other two by larger stone buildings. The water runs through underground channels from one to the next. In the two larger wells, the whole body was bathed, the smaller ones were for particular parts of the body.

In the bath houses the water was raised to the desired height by means of a sluice. There is a tradition that visitors to the wells left pieces of cloth in the vicinity as a token. You can see these coloured strips of cloth on ones of the trees near the entrance.

The wells were particularly popular in the mid 18th century. It is recorded that great crowds came on Midsummer Eve and the Friday before Lammas to do penance and to seek cures. Beside the wells stand the ruins of a Chapel dedicated to St. Patrick. It was intended to replace a Norman church but was never finished.

In June 1802, local Catholics ventured to rebuilt the walls of the ancient chapel. They were placing a roof on it when the Rev. Thomas Brereton, Protestant curate of Down, with the sanction of Mr. Southwell of Downpatrick Estate, went out to the site accompanied by a mob, which was headed by a Mr. McComb and pulled the chapel down and massacred the Catholics.

In 1836, the townland was owned by the heirs of Lord De Clifford & Mr Keown. There were 39 houses in the area with 21 families employed in agriculture & 11 in trade, 15 manufacturers, 1 professional & 6 servants. The population consisted of 98 males & 104 females. The soil is dry.

Newspaper articles from Down Recorder;
St Patrick’s well: article 29 Jun 1839: deserted 26 Jun 1841: repairs 27 Jun 1846: attendance falling 30 Jun 1849: article 24 Jun 1854;article 23 Jun 1855