The earliest settlement in the Hillsborough area was Fox Fort ,home of the Magennis Clan. Later the Normans built a fort just north of the town at Cromlyn. In 1611 Sir Moyses Hill, an Englishman, bought local land from the Magennis's and his son Peter began the development of the townin 1636. He built a fort, a church and some houses. These were destroyed in the 1641 Rebellion but rebuilt by Col. Arthur Hill around 1652. Wills Hill developed Hillsborough to its present form in 1742. (ODHD p3)

This photo was taken in 1930 and shows the market square. On the left is the Courthouse, which was probably built around 1780 to replace an even older building. Court was held every Wednesday by 2 magistrates and a seneschal; they heard cases of breaches of the peace & debt. They were empowered to commit people to prison for 3 months only or to fine of £5. The Sessions were held quarterly by a barrister who was empowered to try cases liable to transportation for 7 years. Court leet money was paid at the following rates, 8 pence to every landholder & 4 pence to every cottier.

The new church was built by Arthur Hill, Peter's brother and it flourished for over 100 years until Wills Hill, first Marquis of Downshire decided to enlarge and rebuild it to the present size.

St. Malachy's was rebuilt between 1760-74 and was paid for by Wills Hill, 1st Marquis of Downshire. The original 17th century church was in very bad repair and the new church, although large, used some of the old foundations. The architects for the spire c. 1770 was James & David McBlain.

St. John's Church of Ireland, Kilwarlin
in Corcreeny townland St. John's Rd, Hillsborough, 6km SW of Hillsborough

This Chapel of Ease built 1840 by Rev. Walter B. Mant, Arch-deacon of Down. During the nineteenth century the rural population began to feel cut off from their church and wanted a place of worship nearer at hand. Kilwarlin was carved out of Hillsborough, Dromore & Moira parishes. Rev John Charles Walker was minister until his death in 1843. In 1846 the vicar was Rev. William Moore & in 1852 & 1869 it was Rev. Howard B. St. George then Rev William Robinson was rector 1876- 1892 and Rev Charles Walter Harkness was rector in 1910 & 1920.

There is a small grass plot outside the church but Hillsborough remains the parish graveyard ; graveyard attached, gravestones UHF Vol 18; email me for a gravestone look-up; burial register up to 1877 destroyed in Dublin in 1922

Newspaper article from Down Recorder;
incumbent Rev. St George who preached at Dundrum 2 Oct 1869*

This photo was kindly sent to me by Brian McCleary.

St James Church of Ireland, Kilwarlin

in Ballykeel Artifinny townland, Lony Rd, Hillsborough

On 4 May 1839 the foundation stone of a new church, St. James's Chapel of Ease, was laid. It was consecrated in 1842 and has had minor modifications since then including a modernisation in 1958, no graveyard

This photo was kindly sent to me by Brian McCleary.

Hillsborough Presbyterian
in Lisburn Street

The Meetinghouse was erected in 1833 at a cost of £700 which was raised by subscription on land given by the Marquis of Downshire. It was a plain , stone building; which seated 500 with the average attendance of 400 in 1834. Their minister was Rev. Mr. Henry Jackson Dobbin 1833- 1837, whose salary was £100 (Irish) and £60 (British). The next minister was Rev. Samuel Marcus Dill from 1837-1853 followed by Rev. Alexander Montgomery 28 Mar 1854- 27 Aug 1854 . He was succeeded by Rev. Robert Templeton from 1855- 1857 then Rev. Galbraith Hamilton Johnston from 1857 to at least 1868 . The minister by 1893 was Rev. J. Rentoul until at least 1909 & in 1910 the minister was Rev. W.C. Steele.

Newspaper article from Northern Herald;
opening of new church 21 Dec 1833; The church was completely rebuilt in 1885

baptisms from 1833 , marriages from 1845 , no graveyard

Hillsborough Fort or Old Castle

The first fort on this site was built by Peter Hill in the 1630s on th site of an early Christian rath and was remodelled and strengthened by his brother Arthur, who was appointed Heredity Constable of the Fort of Hillsborough on 20th December 1660. On 19th Jun 1690 King William stayed at the Fort and it was here that the Regium Donum was signed, which granted money to the ministers of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. The Fort was further improved by the 1st Marquis of Downshire in the mid 18th century. In 1921 there were 16 castle warders and a drill instructor, Sgt-Major James H. Crane. In the 19th century they were 'on parade' every Sunday at the Church. Their uniform hadn't change since 1688. They were clothed in blue, turned up with red and trimmed with white lace, white breeches and leggings with a large cocked hat and a red feather. Their arms consisted of a musket, bayonet & sword.

The Fort was given, by the family, to the people of Northern Ireland in 1959. Only one warder now survives.

Hillsborough new Castle

or Hillsborough House

Hillsborough Castle was planned by the 1st Marquis of Downshire, Wills Hill, but was not completed until 1797, four years after his death. It is situated in the demesne a little to the west of the Court House and is described as a pleasant if not imposing,two-storey, rather rambling, ashlar mansion-house. It is beautifully wooded and the walks tastefully laid out. The garden is extensive and in it greenhouses, hothouses and a pinery.

Kilwarlin Moravian Church
in Corcreeny townland, on a by-road 1km south of Hillsborough-Moira road

The Moravian Church originated in Bohemia & Moravia c. 1415. The movement arrived in Ireland in 1747 by John Cennick.

The first congregation of about 80 converts was on this site in 1754 with the chapel built 1755 by John Cennick. By 1834 with the removal of the minister from the church to Ballinderry , the church and manse fell into ruins but was still used as a schoolhouse and the congregation stood at 6 elderly people. It was the arrival of a Greek chieftain, Basil Patras Zula who had been converted in Dublin that the church was rebuilt 13 Oct 1835 at the expense of the minister. The new church was a neat, slated, stone, roughcast and whitewashed building with the walls 2 feet thick. It had a small vestry with a gallery over it. There weren't any pews but forms which seated 150 people in 1836 . Rev Zula died in 1844 but his wife Ann continued to live in the Manse and conducted a Boarding School for Select Young Ladies in an additional wing.

Newspaper articles from Down Recorder;
Sabbath school 31 Dec 1836

The attached graveyard was built by the Greek minister , Basil Zula in the shape of the Greek Battle of Thermopylae in 480 BC; Kilwarlin Moravian gravestone, UHF Vol 18; email me for a gravestone look-up; church registers from 1837

St. Colman's Catholic Church, Hillsborough
in Reilly's Trench townland just outside town

The original church was burned down between 1742 and 1745 and the parish priest, who lived at Blaris, and serviced other churches in Trummery and Hillsborough, was driven out of his home. From then until the opening of the present church in 1805, worshippers prayed at the Mass Tree where it still stands today. In 1805, the Marchioness of Downshire, touched at the plight of the Catholics, obtained a small portion of land from a family and gave the land with £50 towards the building of the new church. A school, which was built in 1814, was not used until 1829.
In 1836, the church was deascribed as a neat, stone building, roughcast and whitewashed. It was 64 ft long and 34ft wide with walls 2ft thick. There was a neat painting of a crucifixion over the altar. The flolor was partly boarded and partly mud. There were 36 seats which held 300 people, with an average attendance of 250 per week.

graveyard