CUSHENDALL,
or NEWTOWN-GLENNS, a post-town, in the parish of LAYDE,
barony of LOWER GLENARM, county of ANTRIM,
and province of ULSTER, 10 miles (N.W) from Glenarm, and
116 miles (N) from Dublin city; containing 481 inhabitants.
This place
is beautifully situated within a quarter of a mile from the sea, on
the Glenagan stream, which falls into Cushendall bay immediately
below the town; it is also intersected by the river Dall,
over which a handsome stone bridge has been erected. The surrounding
country is strikingly romantic; and the coast, independently of the
picturesque scenery it affords, is highly interesting to the geologist,
from the diversity of its strata and the numerous caverns with which
it abounds.
The town,
which is neatly built, contains about 90 houses, and is much frequented
by persons visiting the Giants' Causeway, to which the new military
road along the coast passes through it, and a handsome and commodious
hotel has been built for their accommodation. The parish church of Layde,
a small neat edifice at the western end of the town, was built in 1832,
by a gift of £900 from the late Board of First Fruits. Cushendall
bay affords good anchorage for vessels in from 3 to 9 fathoms of water
Fairs chiefly for Raghery ponies, cattle, sheep, and provisions are
held on Feb. 14th,March 17th, May 14th, Aug l5th, Sept. 29th, Nov. 14th,
and Dec. 22nd. The market-house is a convenient building. A constabulary
police station has been established here; also a coast guard station,
which is one of the eight constituting the district of Ballycastle.
Petty sessions are held every alternate week; and there is a house of
correction in the town. On a mount in it, is a castle, which is attributed
to the Danes.
