DESERTOGHILL

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

"DESERTOGHILL, a parish in the barony of Coleraine, in the county of Londonderry, province of Ulster, Ireland, 1 mile S.E. of Garvagh, its post town. The surface is somewhat boggy, with a second-rate soil. The parish is traversed by the road from Coleraine to Armagh, and includes the village of Ballinameen. The living is a rectory* in the diocese of Derry, value £537, in the patronage of the bishop. The church stands about 1 mile S. of the old structure; it was built by the Earl of Bristol in 1784, and is a commodious building in the early English style. The old church is an interesting ruin, occupying the site of the abbey of St. Columb, near which is an old fort, and a curious artificial cave. In the churchyard stands a block of stone having indentations which are alleged by the inhabitants to be the marks of St. Columb's knees. The Roman Catholic chapel is united to those of Tamlaghtocreilly. There is a large meeting-house for Presbyterians at Moneydig. There are National and other schools, assisted by the Mercers' and Ironmongers' companies, and by the London Hibernian Society. Near Garvagh are traces of two forts called the Bonny-fort and Rough-fort, originally designed to command the pass."

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