ARTREA

In 1868, the parish of Artrea contained the following places:

"ARTREA, (or Ardtrea), a parish partly in the barony of Loughinsholin, in the county of Londonderry, and partly in the barony of Dungannon, in the county of Tyrone, province of Ulster, Ireland, 3 miles to the S.E. of Magherafell. It is situated on the western shores of Lough Neagh and Lough Beg, near the foot of the lofty mountain of Slieve Gullion, and is intersected by the river Ballinderry. It comprises the chapelries of Moneymore and Goodschapel; the former being a town of considerable importance. The Drapers' and Salters' Companies hold large estates in the parish. Many conflicts took place here during the rebellion in the reign of Queen Elizabeth. It was also the scene of some of the transactions in the civil war in the reign of Charles I. In 1688 a battle was fought near Ardtrea Bridge, between the forces of James II., and those of William III., in which the latter, headed by Lord Blayney, obtained the victory. The country is for the most part fertile and well cultivated, with considerable tracts of bog. There is abundance of limestone and good building stone. Linen weaving and bleaching form a large part of the occupations of the people. The living is a rectory in the diocese of Armagh and Clogher, value £732, in the patronage of the Provost and Fellows of Trinity College, Dublin. The church, which stands near the site of a former one, was built in 1830. It is in the perpendicular style of architecture. The district church is Woodschapel. The Presbyterians have two chapels here, and there are several schools. The chief residences are: Spring Hill, the seat of W. Lenox Conyngham, Esq.; Ardtrea House, seat of the Rev. Dr. Bailie; Lake View, and Warwick Lodge. The parish has an area of 20,963 acres, of which about 2,400 are covered with water.

"BALLYRONAN, a village in Woods Chapel, in the parish of Artrea, and barony of Loughinsholin, in the county of Londonderry, province of Ulster, Ireland, 38 miles to the S.E. of Londonderry. It is seated on the west shore of Lough Neagh, at the junction of several roads, and belongs to the Salters' Company of London. It was founded in 1788, and is a port to Moneymore, a brisk export and import trade being carried on with Belfast and Newry."

"MONEYMORE, a small market and post town in the parishes of Artrea and Desertlyn, in the barony of Loughinsholin, county Londonderry, province of Ulster, Ireland, 32 miles S.E. of Londonderry, and 110 from Dublin. It is a station on the Belfast and North Counties railway, and is situated on the road from Armagh to Coleraine. The town, which is very old, consists of two chief streets, composed of well-built houses. It belongs, with considerable portions of the adjoining parishes, to the Drapers' Company. It contains the parish church of Desertlyn, a Norman structure; a Roman Catholic chapel; Methodist and Presbyterian meeting-houses. There are schools of the Drapers' Company and the Church Education Society. The town also contains a market-house, linen-hall, police station, and a dispensary, which is in the Magherafelt poor-law union. Petty sessions are holden at frequent intervals. The linen trade and the adjacent quarries employ many hands. Moneymore House and Spring Hill are the chief scats in the vicinity. Some remains exist of a castle which was taken in 1641 by the O'Nials, and removed in the year 1700. Monday is market day. Fairs are held on the 21st of every month."

"NEWCHURCH, a village in the parish of Artrea, in the barony of Loughinsholin, county Londonderry, province of Ulster, Ireland, 2 miles S.E. of Mountmellick. It is situated on the river Bann."

"WOOD'S CHAPEL, a village in the parish of Artrea, county Londonderry, Ireland, 2 miles E. of Magherafelt."

[Transcribed from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland 1868]
by Colin Hinson ©2018