ARDSTRAW

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

"ARDSTRAW, (or Ardsrath), a parish chiefly in the barony of Strabane, partly in that of Omagh, in the county of Tyrone, province of Ulster, Ireland. It occupies a picturesque situation at the foot of two mountains called Bessy Bell and Mary Gray, and at the confluence of the rivers Struell, Glenelly, and Derg, which form the river Mourne. It comprises the town of Newtown-Stewart and the village of Douglasbridge. It was the seat of a very ancient bishopric, and had a small stone church. The see was transferred in 597 to Maghera, and in 1158 to Derry. The living is a rectory in the diocese of Derry and Raphoe, value £1,537, in the patronage of the Provost and Fellows of Trinity College, Dublin. There are several chapels belonging to the Presbyterians, two to the Wesleyan Methodists, and one to the Primitive Methodists. A considerable part of this parish is mountain and bog. The rest of the land is arable, and the soil in the valleys is good. Limestone, clay-slate, and freestone are obtained. Here were formerly several bleach-grounds, where the process was carried on on a large scale. The parish is rich in remains of antiquity. Near the village are those of the cathedral and monastery, consisting of some foundations, parts of sculptured crosses, and some fluted columns and stones. The ruins of the Franciscan abbey of Scarvagherin, which was founded in 1456, are on a hill, three miles above Ardstraw Bridge. Nothing remains of the friary of Pubble but the cemetery, near Newtown-Stewart. Sir Robert Newcomen's castle, built in 1619, in which James II. once lodged, is in good preservation, except the roof, which was removed by order of the king. There is an ancient building at the foot of Bessy Bell mountain which is the subject of some curious local legends. There are several cairns, and above thirty forts in the parish. At Newtown-Stewart is a very old bridge of six arches, one over the Derg, at Ardstraw, of six arches, and several other bridges. The principal seats are Baron's Court, the residence of the Marquis of Abercorn, Castlemoyle, Newtown-Stewart Castle.

"ARDSTRAW BRIDGE, a village in the parish of Ardstraw, barony of Strabane, in the county of Tyrone, province of Ulster, 3 miles to the N.W. of Newtown-Stewart. It is a very ancient place, and was the site of the abbey mentioned in the preceding article. Here is an ancient bridge of six arches across the river Derg. The Presbyterians have a chapel in the village."

"DOUGLAS BRIDGE, a village in the parish of Ardstraw, barony of Strabane, in the county of Tyrone, province of Ulster, Ireland. It is situated on Douglas rivulet, 3 miles N.W. of Newtown Stewart."

"MAGHERACREGGAN, a hamlet in the parish of Ardstraw, in the barony of Strabane, county Tyrone, province of Ulster, Ireland, 3 miles S.E. of Castleberg."

"NEWTOWN-STEWART, a post and market town in the parish of Ardstraw, barony of Strabane, county Tyrone, province of Ulster, Ireland, 8 miles N. of Omagh, and 119 from Dublin. It is a station on the Irish North-Western railway. It is situated on the river Mourne, and on the road from Dublin to Londonderry. Bessy Bell and Mary Grey are two hills in the vicinity. It was formerly called Lislas, and was a place of some consequence. It was held by Sir J. Clapham by grant of James I., but was afterwards forfeited and given to Sir William Stewart, from whom the town takes its name. It was taken in 1641 by Phelim O'Nial, and was fired by James II. on his way to Londonderry, but was afterwards restored by the Stewarts. The business of the place isdeclining. It contains the parish church, a Roman Catholic and four Protestant chapels, a dispensary within the Strabane poor-law union, and a police station. Petty sessions are held at intervals. Barons Court is the seat of the Marquis of Abercorn, and Newtown-Stewart Castle that of Major Crawford. Tuesday and Saturday are market days. Fairs are held once a month."

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