Fair Sheets by J. Hill Williams, 1837

NATURAL STATE

Name and Locality

Name: Dromara, also written Dromaragh.

Locality: The parish of Dromara is situated nearly in the centre of the

county of Down; bounded to the north by the parish of Dromore and

Annahilt, to the south by the parish of Drumgooland, to the east by the

parish of Magheradrool and to the west by the parishes of Garvaghy and

Dromore. Its extreme length from east to west is 8 and a half miles and

extreme breadth from north to south 6 and a quarter miles. It is situated

partly in 3 baronies in the following proportion: Lower Iveagh 6,027

acres 33 perches, Upper Iveagh 8,141 acres 15 perches, Kinelarty 7,024

acres 1 rood 15 perches.

NATURAL FEATURES

Lakes

The principal lakes in the parish are: Begny Lough, 700 yards long from

north east to south west and 350 yards broad, elevated 480 feet above the

level of the sea; Dunbeg lough, 400 yards long from north west to south

east and 200 yards broad, 541 feet above the level of the sea.

Rivers

The River Lagan, which finally falls into Belfast Lough, takes it rise in

this parish at the height of 1,230 feet above the level of the sea, in

the townland of Dree on the north western side of Slieve Croob mountain.

It flows in a northerly direction, with numerous turns, a little to the

northward of the town of Dromara, from whence it pursues to the parish

boundary a more westerly course, also much varied by turns. It flows

through a bed of sand and gravel, the average depth being from 2 to 3

feet. It is subject to heavy floods which retire as suddenly as they

come.

Climate

From the elevation of the greater part of the parish, the climate is cold

and the air is pure; crops later than in the lower districts.

MODERN TOPOGRAPHY

Magherahamlet Glebe

The Glebe House of Magherahamlet, situated in the townland of Drumgavlin

on the road between Seaforde and Dromara, is a plain, 2-storey house in

good repair, built in the year 1830 by the Board of First Fruits. Now the

residence of the Rev. William Mortimer, cost 500 pounds, 450 pounds grant

and 50 pounds loan from Board of First Fruits.

Magherahamlet Church

The church of Magherahamlet, situated in the townland of Drumgavlin on

the road between Ballynahinch and Castlewellan, at the distance of 3 and

a half miles from the former on the south western shore of McAuley's lake

is a plain, rectangular, roughcast building in good repair, standing

north west and south east, 52 and a half feet long and 25 feet broad. It

has a square tower at the north western extremity; was built in the year

1816 at a cost of 500 pounds from the Board of First Fruits.

Incumbents: rector the Revd H. E. Boyd, Dromara; curate the Revd. William

Mortimer. It accommodates 150 persons, average attendance 100 in summer

and 80 in winter. It is a perpetual cure attached to the benefice of

Dromara.

Magherahamlet Seceding Meeting House

The seceding meeting house of Magherahamlet, situated in the townland of

Drumgavlin on the road between Seaforde and Dromara at the distance of 4

and one-quarter miles from the latter, is a plain, rectangular, slated

building in good condition, built by private subscription in 1830: length

50 feet, breadth 30 feet; minister the Revd Thomas Clarke.

Dromara Roman Catholic Chapel

The Roman Catholic chapel of Dromara is situated on the road between

Rathfriland and Dromara, at the distance of 1 mile and one-third from the

latter. It is a neat, rectangular building standing north west and south

east, built of unhewn stone, faced with cut granite and lighted by 11

neat windows. It is of the following form and dimensions: [ground plan,

main dimensions 88 feet by 41 feet, squat "T" shape]. It was built in the

year 1831 by private subscription. Incumbent the Revd. [blank] Sharkey

P.P., Ballynahinch.

Dromara Presbyterian Meeting House

The Dromara Presbyterian Meeting House (General Synod of Ulster) is

situated in the townland of Ardtannagh, on the road between Dromara and

Banbridge at the distance of 1 and two-thirds of a mile from the former.

Is a large, plain, rectangular building in good repair and of the

following form and dimensions: [ground plan, main dimensions 85 feet by

69 feet, roughly rectangular shape with projections]. It was built in

the year 1826 at a cost of 2,000 pounds by private subscription,

accommodates 1,200 persons, average attendance being in summer 900 and

700 in winter. On a stone in the northern wall is the following

inscription: "Remember the sabbath day to keep it holly. Erected by

subscription AD 1826. William Craig, pastor." The former building which

stood on the site of the present one was a small, thatched, ruinous

building; had been built in 1735. Incumbent the Revd William Craig at

Marybrook, Dromara.

Communications

The principal roads passing through the parish are: an old road between

Ballynahinch and Banbridge through the town of Dromara traverses the

parish in a direction from east to west for a distance of 5 miles, its

average breadth being 16 feet, macadamized, in good order and very

injudiciously laid out. It is kept in repair at the expense of the county

who made it.

The road from Dromore and Hillsborough through Dromara to Castlewellan

passes through the parish in a direction north west and south east for

the distance of 7 miles, averaging in breadth 15 feet, macadamized and

kept in good order by the county.

The road from Rathfriland <Rathfryland> to Dromara and Ballynahinch

enters the parish in its south western extremity and crossed to Dromara

for the distance of 4 miles in a north north easterly direction, average

breadth 15 feet; macadamized, kept in good repair.

Also the road between Ballynahinch and Dromore passes through the north

eastern extremity of the parish for the distance of 1 and a quarter miles

in a direction from east to west, average breadth 16 feet, kept in good

repair by the county.

By-Roads

The by-roads in the parish are very numerous, more so than is wanted by

the inhabitants, the number rendering it difficult to keep them in

repair.

Edendariff Corn Mill

Edendariff corn mill, situated in the townland of the same name, is a

slated house in good order held from colonel Forde by David McAman. Build

in the year 1825, works 8 months in the year on an average; nature of

water wheel overshot, diameter of water wheel 16 feet, breadth of water

wheel 2 feet, diameter of cog wheel 8 feet, single geared with modern

machinery.

ANCIENT TOPOGRAPHY

Cave

In the southern part of the parish, in the townland of Finnis, there is

an artificial cave 4 feet long, 6 feet wide and more than 5 feet high;

transept near the centre is 30 feet long. The walls are rudely arched and

roofed with large flat stones (granite). When it was first opened a few

years since, there was nothing found in it.

SOCIAL ECONOMY

Dispensary

The inhabitants of this parish resort to the Dromore dispensary in the

town of Dromore. It is open from 11 to 3 on Mondays, Wednesdays and

Fridays.

Schools

The education, which has been attended to more carefully in late years,

has visibly improved the morals of the people during the last 25 years.

The people are anxious for information and send their children willingly

to the schools. When Mr. H.E. Boyd became rector there was not a single

school in the parish, and it now contains 14 day schools and 8 Sunday

schools. The total number of children on the books at the day schools are

845, of which number 553 are males and 292 females.

Poor

There is no regular provision for the poor, who receive only occasional

relief when distressed.

Emigration and Migration

Emigration does not prevail to a very great extent. The average number of

emigrants may be estimated at 20 families annually. Young men go to

Scotland for the harvest and return.

Names

The prevailing names in the parish are in the lowlands: Corbett,

Campbell, McBride, Craig, Hanna, Patterson, Protestants; and round Slieve

Croob the following Roman Catholic names: McKinny, McKay, McCormick,

O'Hears.

Population and Religion

The following is the census for the years 1831 and 1834.

1831: Established Church 748, Roman Catholic 2,491, Presbyterian 3,667,

total 7,056.

To which is to be added that of the district of Magherahamlet, part of

this parish.

1831: Established Church 347, Roman Catholic 1,277, Presbyterian 1,599,

total 3,223.

1834: Established Church 357, Roman Catholic 1,305, Presbyterian 1,634,

total 3,293.

The total populatin of the parish is for the year:

1831: 10,129;

and for the year:

1834 10,349.

Fairs and Markets

8 fairs are held annually in the town of Dromara: on the 1st Friday in

February, May, August and November, the intermediate ones being held on

the Friday in the middle of March, July, September and December. They are

attended only for business and drinking, which always follows the

concluded bargains. A large quantity of cattle of all descriptions is

brought from the surrounding country. Also a quantity of butter, which is

bought and sent to Belfast for exportation to Liverpool. There is also in

addition to the above a small weekly market on Friday for the sale of

linen yarn.

Local Government

Petty sessions are held once a fortnight alternately in Dromore and

Dromara, or once a month in each place. Magistrates in attendance 2, viz.

Rev. Hannington Elijia Boyd, rector of Dromara and David Lindsay Esq,

Ashfield near Dromore. Of these, the former only resides in the parish,

at the Glebe.

Constabulary and Cases brought

The police force consists of 1 sargeant and 2 or 3 men.

The cases brought before the notice of the 2 magistrates are generally

trifling disputes among the inhabitants and some assaults resulting from

drunken quarrels.

Illicit Distillation

Up to the year 1834, illicit distillation was carried on in all the

mountainous districts of this parish to a very great extent, but it has

been altogether or nearly put down by the exertions of the revenue.

However, it appears to be carried on a little yet in Slieve Croob

mountain.

NATURAL STATE

Dromara Town: Name

Dromara Town: Name

Dromara, also written Dromaragh, formerly was called Annesborough or

Annesbury. It is said to take its present appellation from the name of

Dromara hill, a long hill to the north west of the town on the western

side of the River Lagan and the following derivation is given: drum "a

long-backed hill" and ragh or rath from a fort which stood on the top of

it and which was destroyed some years ago.

Locality

The town is situated in the parish of Dromara, county of Down, diocese of

Dromore, province of Ulster, north east circuit of assize; on the bank of

the River Lagan which is there only a small stream. The extreme length of

the town from north to south is 1 furlong and extreme breadth from west

to east also 1 furlong.

General History

The parish forms part of the lands granted by patent of Queen Elizabeth

to Ever MacRory Maguinness, which were forfeited in the war of 1641 and

afterwards granted by Charles II to Colonel Hill. They are included in

the manor of Kilwarlin. This village is called Annesborough or Annesbury

in a patent which granted a weekly market on Thursday and a fair for 3

days in September.

MODERN TOPOGRAPHY

Buildings in Dromara

The only public building it contains are the church and a Wesleyan

chapel.

Dromara Church

Dromara church, situated a little to the north west of the town on the

western bank of the River Lagan, is a neat, rectangular, building with a

square tower and clock, all in good repair, standing east north east and

south west, of the following dimensions: [ground plan, main dimensions 52

feet by 23 feet, rectangular shape with projection at one end]. It was

built in the year 1811 at a cost of 600 pounds, raised by assessment on

the lands of the parish. It accommodates 230 persons, the average

attendance being 150 persons. Incumbent the Rev. Hannington Elijia Boyd,

rector, Dromara Gleve.

Wesleyan Methodist Chapel

The Methodist Chapel

the Wesleyan Methodist chapel, situated at the southern extremity of the

town, is a very small, plain, rectangular, slated building in good

repair, 33 feet long from east to west and 25 feet forward from north to

south. On a stone is the following inscription: "Wesleyan Methodist

preaching house, erected in the year 1834 ." It was built in the year

1835 at a cost of 70 pounds. It is attended by circuit preachers.

Dromara Bridge

Dromara bridge over the River Lagan is a rough structure of unhewn stone,

consisting of 3 small arches. It is 60 feet long and 90 feet broad, was

built about the year 1787.

Streets

The street of Dromara is dirty and the cabins are wretched. The town

contains 2 3-storey houses, 15 of 2 storeys and 33 cabins.

Trades

Grocer and spirit dealers 13, smith 1, tailor 1

Dromara Glebe

The Glebe House of Dromara is a good 2 -storey house nearly a quarter of

a mile to the westward of the town, at the meeting of the Banbridge and

Dromore roads. It is the residence of the Rev. Hannington Elijia Boyd,

rector; was built in 1820 at a cost of 1,225 pounds, 100 of which were a

gift and the remaining 1,125 a loan from the Board of First Fruits. The

ancient glebe lands granted by patent of James I surrounding the church

are now in the possession of the Marquis of Downshire; 20 acres of those

lands held under lease by present incumbent from Lord Downshire.

Dromara Corn Mills

The Dromara corn mill, in the town of Dromara near the post office, is a

slated house in good repair; was built about 1770, property of James

Massey. Nature of water wheel breast, diameter of water wheel 16 feet,

diameter of cog wheel 12 feet, breadth of water wheel 3 feet; single

geared with wooden machinery, water supplied sufficiently from the River

Lagan.

The old corn mill of Dromara, property of Mr. Black, is a small, slated

house in good repair in the town. Nature of water wheel overshot,

diameter of water wheel 20 feet, breadth of water wheel overshot,

diameter of cog wheel 10 and a half feet, single geared with wooden

machinery.

SOCIAL ECONOMY

School

[Table contains the following heading: headings: name, situation and

description, when established, income and expenditure, physical,

intellectual and moral education, number of pupils subdivided by age, sex

and religion, name and religious persuasion of master or mistress].

Magherahamlet male and female school, a slated house in good repair,

situated in the townland of Dunmore on the road between Ballynahinch and

Castlewellan, established 1836; income: Colonel Forde, Seaforde, 8 pounds

per annum, from pupils 1d to 1d ha'penny per week each; expenditure:

income of master 14 pounds per annum, with house and 1 acre of ground

rent free, granted by Colonel Forde; intellectual education: books of the

Kildare Place Society; moral education: visited by Rev. William Mortimer,

protestant clergyman and Colonel and Lady Harriet Forde, patrons; number

of pupils: males, 40 under 10 years of age, 12 from 10 to 15, 52 total

males; females, 13 under 10 years of age, 3 from 10 to 15, 16 total

females; 68 total number of pupils, 18 Protestants, 27 Presbyterians, 13

Roman Catholics; number on the books on March 4th 1837; John Fishbourne,

Established Church (master).

[Signed] J. Hill Williams

Provided to this site by: Patrick McKenney