BALLYMONEY,
a market and post-town, and a parish, partly in the north-east liberties
of COLERAINE, county of LONDONDERRY,
and partly in the barony of KILCONWAY, but chiefly in that of
UPPER DUNLUCE, county of ANTRIM,
and province of ULSTER, 35 miles (N.W.) from Belfast
city , and 119 miles (N. by W.) from Dublin; containing
11,579 inhabitants, of which number, 2222 are in the town.
This place
was anciently the head of one of those Irish districts called Tuoghs,
which were similar to the present baronies; and in agrant from the crown,
by which it was given to Alexander Mac Donnel, it was designated
Tuogh Ballymoney,that is, "the district of the town in the
bog," part of it at present being situated on a bog several feet
in depth,
The parish
is bounded on the west by the river Bann, which passes
within three miles of the town, and is intersected by the road from
Belfast city to Derry
city. The town is built upon an eminence, and from its situation
is considered healthy: a new line of mail coach road is now being constructed
to pass through it, and in every respect it is rapidly improving. A
new road has been opened across the Garry bog leading to Ballycastle
and the Giant's Causeway, and a bridge has been lately erected
over the river Bann at Agivey;
about three miles distant, opening a direct communication with the county
and city of Derry, county Tyrone, and other places.
Races were formerly held here and were in high repute; but they have
been discontinued for some years, and a steeple chase for a gold cup
has been substituted, which takes place in the middle of December.
The trade
consists principally in the sale of linens manufactured in the neighbourhood,
for which this town is, next to Ballymena, the chief depot. The
linen market has long been established, and is eminent for the superior
quality of the goods sold here. Though much less extensive than it was,
it is still very considerable: from 15,000 to 20,000 double pieces are
annually sold, and on the first Thursday in every month large quantities
of seven-eighths linen, of various qualities, are sold here, principally
for the London market, under the name of "Coleraines," being
purchased and bleached by the persons engaged in that trade. Some years
since, the finer pieces sold at very high prices, generally from 7sh
to 8sh. per yard, and some of the finest webs at 10s. 6d. per yard.
There are two markets every month for low-priced brown linens, three
quarters of a yard wide, which are sent to England and America: but
the demand for these latter goods have decreased. A very extensive trade
is carried on in grain, butter, pork, and general provisions.
The market
for grain was first established in 1820 ; but for want of encouragement
it languished for a time and was discontinued; in 1831 it was revived,
and the new market-place was appropriated to its use, and stores were
built by Messrs. McEldeny & Co., for the use of which and
for weighing they are entitled to one penny per sack; a considerable
quantity of oats is sent to Liverpool, London, and other English
markets, and some are consumed in a distillery near the town. The market
for provisions was established about the year 1790, and has since been
gradually increasing and is now largely supplied: about 4000 carcases
of pigs are generally sold during the season, which are principally
cured at home for the Liverpool and other English markets; they were
formerly all sent to Belfast, and a considerable number are still purchased
by the curers of that place.
A public
crane was established under the provisions of an act of the 52nd of
Geo. III. In the market for butter about 10,000 casks are generally
disposed of during the season, the greater part of which is shipped
off from Portrush, about 9 miles distant,
for Liverpool. There are a soap and candle and a tobacco manufactory,
a tanyard, and a large brewery in the town ; and at Moore Fort,
about 3 miles distant, is a very extensive distillery belonging to James
Moore, Esq., in which from 50,000 to 60,000 gallons of whiskey are
annually made, there is also a mill for spinning flax, and a very extensive
flour-mill. A branch of the Belfast city
banking company has been established here. The trade of the town
is susceptible of great increase, from its favourable situation in the
centre of a rich tract of country, without any markets nearer to it
than Ballymena on the one side, and Coleraine
on the other. There is, however, but little facility of water carriage,
the river Bann not being navigable above Coleraine,
nor below Portna. The general market is on Thursday; and fairs
are held annually on May 6th, July 10th, and Oct. 10th.
A chief
constabulary police station has been fixed here. The manorial court
for the barony of Dunluce is held in the town on the first Friday
in every month; petty sessions are held every alternate Thursday; and
the quarter sessions for the county are held here and at Ballymena
alternately. The court-house or town-hall, the property of Lord Mark
Kerr, is situated in the centre of the town; and the bridewell,
recently built, contains seven cells, with day rooms and airing-yards
adapted to the classification of prisoners, and apartments for the keeper.
The parish
comprises, according to the Ordnance survey, 23,108 3/4 statute acres,
of which 21,736 1/2 are in Upper Dunluce, and 753 1/4 in Kilconway;
18,367 are applotted under the tithe act; about 500 acres are woodland,
2225 bog, 59 1/2 water, and the remainder principally arable land. The
soil is fertile, and the system of agriculture greatly improving , the
principal crops, till within the last few years, were barley and oats,
of which last great quantities are still grown in the neighbourhood;
but the cultivation of wheat has been recently introduced, and is rapidly
increasing; abundant crops are now raised and begin to form a material
portion of the corn trade. Coal and iron stone are found in abundance
at O'Hara Brook; and there are medicinal springs on several parts
of the estate.
The principal
seats are O'Hara Brook, that of C. O'Hara, Esq. ; Leslie
Hill, of J. Leslie, Esq.; Ballynacree, of Sampson
Moore, Esq; Moore Fort, of J. Moore, Esq.; Greenville,
of J. R. Moore, Esq.; Stranocum, of J. Hutchinson,
Esq.; and Vine Cottage, of J. Thompson, Esq.
The parish
comprises the ancient parishes of Ballymoney, Dunlap, Kilmoil,
and Tullagore; it is a rectory in the diocese
of Connor, and is the corps of the precentorship in the cathedral
of Connor, which is in the patronage of the Bishop: the tithes amount
to £1015.7sh. 7 1/2 , and the gross income of the precentorship
is returned by the Commissioners of Ecclesiastical Inquiry
at £1073. 10sh. 8d. per annum. The church, a large plain edifice
with a tower and cupola, was built in 1782, near the site of an ancient
church of which there are still some remains. The glebe house is situated
on a glebe of 20 acres.
In the
Roman Catholic divisions the parish is the head of a union or district,
comprising also that of Dunluce, in
both of which are chapels in which the parish priest officiates.
There
are places of worship for Presbyterians in connection with the Synod
of Ulster, for those of the Remonstrant Synod, Seceders, and Covenanters;
the first is a first class congregation, and that of the Seceding Synod
a second class.
A school
was established in 1813 by the trustees of Erasmus Smith's fund. Sampson
Moore, Esq., J. Leslie, Esq and C, O'Hara, Esq., have
each built and endowed schools on their own estates, for the education
of the poor; and there are also other schools in different parts of
the parish. In these schools are about 200 boys and 100 girls; and there
are 13 private schools, in which are about 800 boys and 200 girls, and
11 Sunday schools. A mendicity association for suppressing vagrant mendicity,
by giving employment and relief to the poor at their own dwellings,
was established in 1821, and a dispensary in 1821.
On the
estate of Major Rowan is a fine moat, commanding a very extensive
view; there is also another at Moore Fort, and one in the town-land
of Cross. A double patera of gold, weighing 19 ounces and 10
drachms, of elegant form and curious workmanship, was discovered in
this parish by a peasant a few years since.
