General History of the City
Educational
Hotels and Inns
Armagh Coaches
Armagh Theatre
Notes from Corporation Records
Surviving Corporation Records are preserved in the Public Library of Armagh Armagh
The cont ents of thes e volumes l a belled Armachiana are simply notes for t a lks to local and visiting societies in search of material relating to it s histor ic a l b a ck ground and an cient monuments . They a re not of any great i mportance but may p rovide a gui de to studen ts seek ing d a t a on the county g enerally or on their own distri ct s i n particular . TGF Paterson
Armachiana Volume 3
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Armachiana Vol1 (Armagh County Museum ARMCM.28.2014.55)
..! -· - :..
Acco~· 'ir-f" to t' t'c.. l + to L
11 Jri-:ce, ,.0-:. "J. il 1 c· , r 0"' o~ ir> r'iar" fas:1ior. rut +J-9 er.t:.. ies ,re so tre.,1- rt ca1' be not~ce<' . •L + 01 1 - r :t ,.;·"
f'T2V ra.rc. on the cei trr 1 1il 1 c-i 1 ii >'30 t'1e city ··-rr i'L·st 1) 7 ·.}nfJ.ereri r;v -:.·-·.e orse· I:--- 4; I ~1 r- i.al~ ...--_i_:: .~ ll &. r'ro· r in~ LCC i,; c,1 t i.r ·• _ fron t,;.e city . ,•errs lF-:er o.n in"ortart rovzl cor;·'er,; "8 ··2s l•eJ' ir t ., cit.f . ·c c bu .. ied i1 t e S, Ir 1004 .,,.,rian oru, t ~e ··~ost rr-· 'J' 1 s 0f -'-u.e ..1.. .-·is.1._ k.:.1 s , <ieuori ted an 01 rerirp- of roJ d OP t' e alt8.r or· tne "'rert cn1J.rch ot Ar:ne ""'· 2n,; ten ve, rs 7 a +.er r o 1 1 o 'l r i:. e 1,e+-<·. 1 e of C lontari'
s2cre ro "() 11 - 1 ' s r' •ire- II :;o J C
i c C..iO PI , - 1 , - i· 01 I: J 8! ~,-. " 'l - l' ,l _.;,
, if e 'I
churcr.es rnd sc'1.ools il- lOBO , 1 072 Ello 1112 . I: J.1 26
2gain suffered tn 1150 an 4 ll S'
bro11 in tor 11. , ,rl t: nt
Arc 1bisho') hel,t lus c-,1 "' t°'rc=;te c1 A-:: · ,EW' ,:3· ,y, rirl 2 t · nc 1 1
· ·;_ s decreed that the Ir1Eh sho 1Jrl l"O 1 0 1 "'e
~irr es eL? selJ tne 4.~ f'S Slav e s a.4'~~ i_t ·-~s or · ~ re d u• c t c.l: such bonds ~n s~ouJC be set fre e . raided tu 0 city and 2c·ait1 in 118 5. Ir 11'7 9 .n.l rlo -. 'Jr c l _ :i :c e E In 118 .J o 1"· 1 t. so n or'
Cav2naca' nsaroy and b~ried in Ar &fh In L: 0 J. O.Lo 11. J ez::: Jor:m cte t,;ourcy ".lilJ.aged tne c1tv 2nd iil 1206 h"' 1 -2s follo·-re <' by • •ugh de k.cy In 1261 Patrick 0 ' Scanlon '7as a".l·)o.tntec Arc;1b1s110·,. 'l'nree lrter na oe~an t~e erect:i.o~ 01 the ~rarciscan 'r 10,rv 0:i. • 'hJ.C. substanti al r nr s re"!2in. In 1268 ::.1e retu1Jt t le ;reat bull( 1r,g the site 01 LHree -~ri"'l1cive r.hurchPs . ".lreser cathedral are cue she1J 01 t ,et cuilchnl-' . e ,.. , lJ s of t11e
l l
L (, r ·v r t V - rs l J r ol~ s fur t er es•-·r 1
2pryo i rte' ;._rc,._11:-i 0 o' t- ir r-?r i · •i0n fro ~·
o f ~ 1 1 t' e r.:.vil' e o: ... s e +' ,, • rio bel o 1 i;; t e fi.cst ..: ,- _·t r of Ar,· c-n is WI~.,.., t ta" rn O C ') r t ' i t.s fir :::t c· 2.~· +,er c2r ot r 1 · "'e ..,'"'C ,;t· · n i. __Jd.,., ,,,
~·c~t~d a c h.., r te r to A c'1b; s'10 o ' e ?CU rt, _ i. , ir · et,· t corr i, uion 0t Arc hb i shon 1 E l e;rc] 1."i ts "i ... :' r , 0 ..., , r ·' ,; , In 1 5 11 t·_e to TI • 0 p- i n <leetroved r, 1 j_1 lo83 ..;L· -o. n Perrott, the then Lo ..:-c1 De~ ·lt'f, 1· v · 'e
t h " city of A:-;112~ g-ve nr e ... o t c?·1rty. Ir f ::>l' o· l 1 - ear a gr a nt -2s ry 2ssed on~ e pet i t i on ft" e ~e rl 0f •:or -rov i d in the city i-ri th a Tues day mar k e t . Lleven years l a t e r t he f amous
Battle of the Yello•'l Ford 17as f oup.-ht in the imrned i a te vicinity . Armai:rh suffered reneatedl v i n t he -:ars b e t·"'e en Elizabeth and the O'Neills In 1609 fol1O·1inp t he flight of t h e Early an Inquisition was taken in the city --1lrn reby it ·a s found t h at "a
\7eelcly •na:cket hed been hel 1 ti~.e ou'" of 1 ir.d ". 'ou.c ·e· .-s later
i{i n s I ·n r.terJ. t .e city E ne, cl.· : ·,er by i lC' t½.e marn=-ge'il" 1 t of e to·"n '"::'S ~rtr ~+ ,1 to 2 Sov~r i
t:> serv e ~r t ~ri toi1 i1 1 00 'l', 1e 1':.t-:!Srl 8V :ii f s cc ~ s so. s i. issled for f- i::- s r ::rr l'" ,.. , -i l I'), to +· e I ,.1(" ,, et c- corfi· C 1 it - t "'O c.r d T' "' - ets i n 1 s ,r + t· ? e l t :> Arc. if", 'F , " - ;:-t L' '"J Ir: l 0 v -.. J."'C ... ,L: ";or lJ E'S ., .eL' 4 . In t:.e CiviJ r r o:[ J fj42 t 1e ?, its belJ s ar.0 o£' ~rn s a r d t'1p f, i.O,.nd 1 0''CC , -t~e Cc~ ... edrt:1 , ·rt -, ,J At the sr .e ti me t h e ~r ' e t ' re , edifice became r ecess"ry in 1'164 , is 2s . · e hceJ , 1742 ar i 1.; < co nlete::.y rer•~i l t i. n ~;?._5· r+· is r o · t e ,c : ic 1 ..,c .o:> l. Te 0rir-i.nal C0r 'Q or a ti 0n -c'r ··.re 10, :. i t L · uL s of 1642 anc ·rith the t' 1 ,,,r n (e c o r ds , ' ut i, 1 337 ' ..·;.1 • t: e Cor-= on ·erlth Pe: i.o d ne --,a ces ·e r r oe re 4 • ey s · .:vi ve - : t : . ro"'e vo 1 u·· es of Co,: o r·+ i.on •. ecor <" s . Kir.f Jr· es II issolve~ t'1e v o r n or· 0 ti o r. i i 1 68 "r.i 2 • , oi, tcd :::, new Soverei["n nd uri,:esses but f ol 1 o ···i! C: -!:.' c o1, cl us i.01, of his ar =i th t··1e Prince of Or-n~e -ne ' l:' rs of +·1e " 3'lo se d Co.·-,,or2tion
•·•ere reinst21ied . ')•.tring the ., e rio d of the · il i- i+e ·.a.:-s the City vras held ir. turn by the ad'1° rents of both T)-rties .
It was the be inning of the 18th c 0 rtury before the city began to recover fro~ the events of lc41 - 12 and of 1688- 1690 , but from then on•-r"rds u uro~ress may be traced . , e stal1 deal i i t h some of the ~ore interesting developments of that and the succ eedinu certury, in a sort 0f diary fashion, but :hall , of course, have to oMit Mucl of interest .
In 1708 the Royal S chool, taer occuT.>ying the site of the a ncient Church of St . Columba in Abbey Street, ·vas rebuilt and a new military barracks erected . In 1713 the County ork;.ouse and City Bridwe ll were st i ll in use in Scotch Street - the latter having been in the same nosition from at least 1 634 , and adjoinin g the Bowli n,q '}reen . In 1721 Archbishop Lindsay presented t h e Cathedral "Ii th a -peal of six bells , and th r ee years l ater reu a ire d the Market House .
In 1722 a new Pres byteri an Churc h wa.s erected in Abb_y Street, a building stil 1 in exist en c e but renovated in tl1e early 19th century . This edifice r eplace d an earlier church in Lower .rl:nglish Street marked on Rocque ' s Hap of the City . The site is novr comu letely blocked on the ma in f ront age but in those days, green lawns ran doMn from the chu rc h to the street . We have an excellent account of t1at uarticular church in Ashe 's
Surve y of the land f tl · · · ' s o 1e Archb1sho,r1c made 1n 1703 her e i n it is s ho•rn th ct the ~lot in 1ues t ion containing about one ~ere was held b y lli . ':'hornas Shelton , and ·~e are in!ormed that " on this is built n l nrge house '"ith a return ongle "'hich is c alled ye Presbyteri c n Uee ti np; House , end also a em,ll house near ye former and in ye s a'!le :;:>ark C£.lled ye Refreshinc House . These are all built of lime a nd st one . This is one of ye rreat ·eeting ..ouses
of ye North . Th er e a r e in it three Jarge g&lle r ies , nulp i tt , and seats below st a irs "'lade v e r y regular and uniform o.nd t~.e con gregation very nume ro u s".
In 1736 new military barr a c k s were ere c ted at the sou t h end of the Commons on a site now occ up i ed by the Pr i so n . The plot was leased to t h e Governm ent by Archb i shop Bou l te r and Barrack titreet came into being shortly a fter vra r d s . The se barracks replaced earlier quarters bui l t before 1716 , but t ~e re had been still earlier barracks of whose sites we k no , n oth in g now. In medieval times the castle served for t h e ~arrison and following the dissolut ion of the mona steries the ffr a ncisc a n lt'riary was used for a like uuruose. As late a s 1608, though the castle was then in very bad re'Jair, an unnamed "Constable" appears in State Pauers .
A silver token was issued in 1736 by Alexander -ortor , a cele brated Ar ~gh clocb:ia1 er . Ar!!lar-h, by t:1.e -my , vras for over two cent uries f~mo'1s t'or its clocknm.kers ar.d the e&rliest of whom we have any record is :Yles Stauylton rho ap ~ ears in 1622 in a " ~eturn of artificers ~ithin the realm or Ireland" . In passing we would ~ention that the first Ar 2gh token of hi.eh we are aware is that of Jenes Taylor in 1664, that simil~r issues were made by Robert .11'.:clJonc 1ey and John Sir'L:ler abo:.it the sane time and another by John Davison in 16?1 - all •.,ere 'rie l t:1y Armagh merc}1ants . Horton , by the · '<'Y , h<>d a servant nn.L'led
::-i:liza Ilic ~ul l en , •-:ho was " b2nished 0 11t of the C.:or;ioration in April 1742 as a " disturber of the pe2ce ""•
In 1738 the Gornoration granted ·~rs . Drelincourt , ,1idow of the late Dr . Peter Drelincourt , Dean of Armag~ , Jart of the Irish Street Cozmnons on "7hich to found e school in '!lemory of her husband . This was o-pened in 1740 and is the oldest school in continuous use in the city. In \,oruoration .l.e cords of about that date we • find entries relating to the stocks and u illory, - forms of punishment no longer in operation
The Harris ,fanuscriuts tell us that in 1740 there was no great trade concentrated in the city despite the faft that it was a Borough and a 1.farket Tom1 . On tn e other hand the Roy;:,l School
wa s then in a fl ourish in/T condition end the newly erected bar r acks occuu i ed by a t;onrpany at ,mat . Two year s later Archbishop boulter bee ueat .•ed a SU"'l of money for the erection oI four "widows' houses " on Pound ,ill , a. locat i on no,-, knovm as Viccr ' s Hill
In 1744 t h e old farket \jross was r euaire d by the 1.,orporation and made secure in it s ori gin2. l uosi t i on above the arc i ent wel l i n ,farket Street, ove r ':rhich it h2d been set uu l ong c enturie s p r evious . l!' our y e a r s l ate r a new Watch _{ouse was built by tne Corporation . In 1750 S t . 1fa l a c h y 1 s Chape l was e r ec t ed near t,1e ve r y anci e nt site oI tn e c hur c h of St . Bririd . rhi s quai nt old building with its tri u l e ro of and o uter sta.i r ways t o it s galleries gave n ame to Chauel Lane . I t has , howe v er , r e c ent l y been replaced b y a ha nd some new \jhur c ., 0I tne sane n;;;... ,e , out on a different site .
The famous John Wesley re a c h ed Ar magh 2 1st July , 175 6 , a rr iving in " a violent storm of li ghtning , thunde r a n d r a in so terr ible that the very beasts ran out of t h e fleld s and the birds flew from their coverts to shelter in the h o u ses ".
In 175? a /h t ,. c • ea rKet ras est~bllshed in the vi ty and ov erseers uppo1nted to nntfe it ap pear s in ~or,orction r~cords 'O rears l·ter an Ott · r <et
In 17 59 trie " Stone vross .fell " wus again re aired £ nd in tne same y e a r 1'hor.ia.s 2nd Orle Streets ,1ere 1 orm, J 1 open3 l t,y t ..e Soverei ~ n and Eurgesses , c1ttended by ace - errors end acco ,nied by t h e c hier' inn,bi tants . '..:his ne\7 line o! ,p ro·ch -n1 exit · 0 as one of t ne g r eate st amenities that had so far been "cc om 1 i shed in ~ity p l a nning Previously all traf!ic !or the south rent up ark-et S tr e et tnr ough vastle Street , do···n I·ish Street :nd out over Ga ll o ws hi ll . ~he tew s treets enabled such comJerce to leave and e nter t he c ity by r C0'1T'Prative'y level roc1te m,.i c new line li nK i ng Iri sh Street ui th 1.,•llan Street, t:1en t.ie road to the west was a n o t he r muc 1 an rec iated i!!l"Jrove er.t .
In 1760 ioc ue pub li sh e d his ap 01 tne vo,mtJ ntr. a plan inset 01 the city, s how i nr, a ll t he mo re i m:;:,o r tant 2nc iei.t sites , out un! ortunately pla ci ng e=le n afertagh on sit e 01 ~e Je ,urr y and st . Brii;:id' s 1.,hurch on s ite of e""" l em1.fe ~ +,~h end dir •uising tt.e 1.,uldee Priory under t 'le na"le 0 .1. vi c ctr' s . ll.11 , t ,1e J rtte r a pardor,eble misti..ke as the Vic a rs Gh or o l of S t. PPt r i c lc- • 5 1.,;athedral had inherited the Guld ee nro ne rt y . ln t h e s ame y e a r homas Mct;ann , the Sovereign ot tne 1.,;ity, t"it1 a troo p 0 .._ 1101. 88
vompri sed of inhabitants of the city , rode to the relief of :Belfast• th en t'ireatened with invasion by the French . Acco rd i ng to Stuart ' s "Jiemoir of Armagh" the 1:arket Cross was "r ai sed in 1763 from the rubbish in which it was buried and placed in the centre or i~arket Street" . 7::e sam.e csPt,1ori ty states that it had l a in in tha,t condition from the end of the 17th c entur y . I t is clear , however , frora t,1e Cor'Jorati. on Records that the Cross was re paired by the Corporation ir1 1744 and that Stuart was misinformed on tr.,at noir.t I n 1764 the first city newspaner v.ras >:Jubliehed by ·:illiau Dickie , an Armagh pr int er of considera·o1e repute, ,.,,l,o had bee .. made a :E'reernan of the Gity in 1740 . De s p it e the -:--,rogress shown it is stated by Stuart that citizens of Armagh ~ere in 1765 " going to R ichhill for groceries and clothes", a t GJ.e that ar ose from the fact that Archbishop Robinson not finding the then Palace in ::I:nglish Street to his likins secured R ic hhil l Castle
as a residence v,,hilst t he u resent Palace TTas being bui lt . During his stay a t Ricbh ill there was u ndoubtedly great " coming and go ing " bet•'leen the two places , hen ce the story , whi c h was also intended to stress the g r eat va l ue of Arc hb ishop ' Robinson ' s contribution to the growth of the city and reminds one in a mir.or sort of way of St • .bernard ' s appreciation of St . MR lachy At this date the Post Offi c e was in Mar ket Street and in the fol)O\'ling Year the
Archiepisco 1 i'· lace in .i. lis 1 Street r;as su'b - ciivided into a g r ouu of lesser house, . of 1760 Its poci tion is '"e] J s o n on t .....ap
About 1768 the Seven Houses ·"er~ r:uilt by l)e·n , verilJ. ( lPter ~ishop of Limerick) for his seven sisters ·e~:s l ater a cer sus of t he city was co"lTJi led by order 01 :,rc11 bi shop Robinson It ·ives reli,.,.ions and occu",tiol"s .' ,e o ul· tion was then 1 , 885 . In 1 664 it \"Us J , 476 . ':':,e e: ..:-liest ccns•is tor t he c i ty , however , is that co•1piled by 1,rchbishon Usher i1 1615, a document giving adiitionRl i n orrn~tion ~s to ouse - types , etc .
I n 17 70 Archbishop Robinson Ot;; an tne erection of the very d 1 gr,if i ed m'nsion tru:t l.as been t 1e resider.ce of successive a r chb i shops f r om then to the TJresent. .:e chose o.s his Ere 1 tec t t he c elebrated Thor.1as Gooley , •·rhose puryil , the fa.r,ous l!'ro.nc i s J o.n ston , added a story ~nd a uorch during the Pr1rr~cy of Lord John Geo r ge berestord . In the tollo• in F< ye~r the :'ubllc Library
wa s bu il t and endo,,,ed by the sar e p;en rous p r e l a te.
In 1 772 t he De a n e r y (n ow Dean! s •Iill wa. erected b vile
Very .ke v . :iu gh Ifr mi Jto n ( the n .Jean of ArMagh and later .bishop 01
Oe eo ry ) whose son Al exander tamilton kepi; a very int resting diary in wh ich t her e is muc h l o c pl information tor tl e clos i ng ye·rs of
the 1 8th century 211c' t'1e bef'inniri~ of tbe next . In tl,e follow ing year the ,oyel Sc'1ool '.1over1 !ron i-';::: oJ w in Abbey Street to its present very ryleasant situation , and a year later a ne•:r mi litary barr acks was buiJt, a t t s rue ure Jater rivine; nFrie to t. e street we now kno 1 •• as Barrack Hill. In the sa'"l!e ye:o.r Archbishop Robinson f ra.nted a uart of the ·~·o,·'11 \Jo'!Ir"ons Bf e Public -·1a11r and thus came into recreational use Rn area fo:c-r-ierJy the venue of tne ,.;or:porat ion race - course .
Maps of 1774 show the Poor 1.ouse still in -pod tiori et tne 1·oot of Scotch Street . In the sa':le year the County Infirmary was erected c h iefly by -public subscrintions commenced in 1766 A 11 Oha ri table Infirmary" sup-ported by the citizens ·1as merged in tne ne~ institution .
In 1776 Arthur Young reached Armagh on his survey of the agricultural fa cili ties of Ireland and towards the end of July of that year reached Arriagh "'here he was well rec ei ve d by Archoishop Robinson , whom he cre d its •-rith various good norks , so1ne of wh ich unfortuna.tely had little connection wi. th that Primate other tha n the fact that they were built du ring his tenure of the Archbisho p ric . Young 111 his efforts to reua,y his hos t ' s affab ility describes the Archbishop as having " found it a next of mud-cabins" and i:,rophesie d t11at Lis Grace would '17 eave it a well - buiJt city of stone and slate" .
In ebruary 1777 t'1e .~!"c::ri ehop s c--e· ted rot .o··ety of Arrr.a.gh t nc sLortly a.ft,~·· ·1 3 +he , 11 , vr tr e ,0 on , ect e kno n as ::::oceby l}reer , , r· e c+il1 •· +,--ired "by, fe"7 'io\. vS ,t the north ·rest ;nd ':'hev , r•ever , ·re O e,cr• .cc 1 ce its of a group of houses dati.r rPc'· to +: --t period . In tie fol J irg year the ..rirst vo .. ny of .,.,_-'-:8.f:;1 '!olunteers , as for ed . ri-';a.in was then at war ,·ith A erica and Ii·,,. n t. r .etened, it.. inv"sion by the .i, rench . In the same year the first ""b arrinc out" took place at ti1e :.oyai Scaool , 211 ,ccount of •hich su ·vives i1 t .e Blacker ,nuscrints . In t. at year (1"78) t:1e -.,or oration 1i · ted the streets I or the • irst tin:e ·ith oil 1· s .
The Ar"lagh Second Co"l-::>&ny of Volunteers is believed to .10.ve been formed in 1779 , the Ar:1agh First .t1.!"till ery Co·.< ny 1781 , the Armagh First Go• "JR nv of Jrenad i ers a"bo•lt 1784 , Ar~· r.}1 Second Ar t iJlery Company 1 781, Armagh Second Grenadiers "betore 1788 , City of Armagh (,avaJ.ry 1782 , Armagh Lipht Drar:oons 1782 , City OI Arma@'h Li -ht Horse 1783, VoluntePr Lir;:1t Infantry 1788 - the ti1ree horse troo-::is , however , see= to have been the one unit masquerading under different nares Armagh was well re nresented in the Vo l unteering activities of those days and it was indeed the ?irst Compeny of the Ariagh VoJunteers -rrho were res ponsib le for the calling of the 181:lous Ulster Convention at Dungannon in 1782 .
In 1 7 0 thw -risen -Es ~uilt on· for er larrEc·s s te , and in a "'.!: our th·ou"'n I::- l·n 11 :i;:utli .•ed ir t"t ye/cir e :;.re informe d " t .at the tom only cont.:,irs one cllurc.1 - nd tlt: ruirs of some abb e ys , but ·is "r- ce (Arch1 iimop Lord ::1okeby} ., J,ces it 2.. condition t 11a-i- , ,ey •ill build i;:ootl 1011ses ar.d sl"te t , e si --:i l ar z.cco un t oc cur s ir the Co"lnlete I rish 'I'raveller of 1 7 28 .
In 17 81 the r e "''a s a Vo l un t eer .eview on t }1e falJ - the Co•rnty was then in state of a l - r · c onsequent on ru·1ours of an imr. ed i ate French Invasion. An otter r e v iew took pl"ce in i ncl_ ent ~ethe r in 1784 on vrhic:1 occasio n Lor d ChP r )emor.t re v ie\"ed tl,e corroanies from a window of the ller d Inn, n ow the Beres1ord Ar~ Jo t el , further Volunteer review wa s ~e l d in the ci ty in 178 Gnd a fiti;. l review ir 1791.
The Palace Chapel was erecteu in 1781 to t h e desi,m of T11o mas Cooley but owing to his death it was co m-n leted b y b' r an c i s John ston who vras enti rely responsible for the interior . At this e rio d there was a Theatre in Armagh and re ~ er , nces occur in t he ~ ress of the per iod - for inst"nce the Belfrst 'ews - Letter of June 17, 17 83 , has the follov1ing ne ws item - "Ar agh 'l'heatre l'a rri e d a few days ago in the cathedral Church of Armagh, 1Jr . Leslie to the agreeable JJ ies Peterson , both -M lon c:inf to the theatre of t h e said city "
In 1785 the Secedine; Uongregction or Ar cg,1 built a church in Lo .er ngiish Street on the ,ite of t,e earli st ::?resbvterian Ghurc.1 01 which "le have any record . '1,at church, untortunrtely , is no\"' ir. use ns a byre ,..nd "tores · - - an,3 the r:raveyard is J.?1 a sadly nerJected condition. In the fol'owing year a ~et .• odist Church was erected in Abbey Street. scale on the sane site in 18 35 11is was recuilt on a larfer I n 1787 the vorioration ryrov i ded tne first <ire ~ngine possessed by the vity and two years later the Observatory wos fou nded and e1~dowed oy Arc biE 1op Lord Rokeby , his architect be i ng ,, rinci s J'ohnston, tl1en becominfr wel1 - knovm in Ire lend and a distinguished native of t:,e Uity or Ar-:agh .
There was at this time a " -noat" or " l'lound " at -c,1e south end of the vommons ~h1ch is sr id to hi::ve reen removed sometine B.I ter the erection 01 the Prisor , urorably in 1793 as there ,re references to its u ro posed re wova.l in that year . U1 .11'ortunate ly we 'h2ve no uarticulars as to the extent or oril"it. 01 this city landmark . In that year the Bene volent Society oI St . F atrick was founded in the city and a first ne eting neld in t,1e " r.ing ' s Ar ~s " in ~ngJisn Street . re- rormed . In the same year tne Ar.mgh :ilitia wa s
In 1794 ;i.rchbi sho>::l lo nnson died . In t:1e 011 o •in yeur a Pipe ater Su~ply bec·me 2v~il2ble tor the city . In 1796
La t oc ynaye , a .l!'rench trcveller , "lPid a visit to Ari agh ·nd rus l eft the loll~ ing account of it" the city has been reduced to the mi se r able state of a little country to• ·n but t.ie ,.r chtishop set hi"'"!lself to increpse and i,~rove i t so th&t ·t resent it is r eally a handsone little city" .
I n 1796 Yeom.."nry ~onis "'ere 1 or ed for loe2l de~ e1 ce ~urposes
The city r<>ised an Infantry Gor s , a troo o~ Vva lry , <-nd in 1803 • supplerentar y Infantry Uorps to •Inch , ,ccordin to vtuart' s " 1 emo1r of Armagh " some Rorr.Pn vatholics ··•ere adtlitted , an u1.usu2lly l i beral attitude for tnose dpys .
I n 1 79 7 during the Pri"'"!lacy of Arc ..bisho~ ~-ewco:-ne, tne _. 11 was en c l o sed and a wa ll built around it . L'his was c0 .I:)leted ir. 1798 as may oe v er 1tied oy the date stone at the no r th end . rhree years late r Prince ~rnest Aui::ustus , DuKe ot! C..:umuerland , 5t:1 son 01 ueorge
I I I was cr e"ted ~arl 01 Armagh That honour hed been so'.lght by Tur lough Lyna c h O ' e i ll in 1 579 but thou 1 ap roved no patent seerr.s t o ho v e e v er be e n uassed .
1798 wae 2 yenr o reat unrest n, t 1e (,oun-ty gei er· l]y out t.1e city was rot uc'. atfectec:J T.iere 'ere , .o ,ev,3r, D, ttles in Antr 1:r:i and. Do· ·n r.nd t ,e Ar1~,-.ah
Gounty too k part in t.e historic b~ttle of allin~ uc ,.erein t ey cap tured 01 th Septe oer ot t ,t year - ·re:1 en col 1ur now preserved in Arnagh ~ftbedr~l .
Tne 1 ollo· inri; year oroui::at , bout tne dlssolution OJ. t .•e old '
Irish Pa. rli mnent :1 ncl resulted in t e oro 1 ll OJ. Arri ··gl, becornng re -p resen ted uy one memuer at ·,est 1nster 11,f'cead 01 two represe ntat1 ves 2llo,1ed in JUblin under the ~l. -r,y ~narter 01 ~613 . In 1803 there was a snlit in tae Seceding Gon rebation uy which the members beca'lle divided and out of •vhich grew tne Dody kno,m as "I n d e-oenctents " who uuilt a ne"r church .1., ..,allege Street . In the follo 1"ing year Coote' s " Survey of County Armagh " ·~as published - an interes t in g ro rk but soMev,hat spoiled by topoRranhical errors that mi Rht easi J y l1ave been avoided . In the same year the " Ar!'l8-gh 'irror " , a local magazine , printed by Thoma s Stevenson , appeared. Two years later the Pound ~as closed on Cathedral Hill and a new Pound that stilJ survives was made at the back of the Prison
A new Cour t House was built on the ·,,1 1 in 1809 to replace the old l?th c entury Sess i ons !!ou se in llarket Street and in the
same vec1r t.ie first house on the ec1st side of t:1e 11 was erecte d , at Lt Dresert occu ied by r , , . ..10.nr... a. I it,•een 1810 end 1835 t 1e e r oup of 1onces that ,,e ro•v mo,·• • s e::- ..isford .toH "as built and EO"le ti e nrevio·ie to 1822 the P-Iace D~ esne :as enclosed by a wall , a work bei:-un by Archbishop Stu..,,rt 2nd costing over £20 , 0 0 0 .
In 1810 a g en e r a l v iew of the city ·1,as 2inted by J,,., es Black , an i 111port a r.t P ic ture fo r co"T"arative ~u r -:>oses . 'he artist was unfortun2tely mur de re d in t:ie city -~11iJ st attt... tir, to save a 'VOman from beinl" ill-tr <:!a t ed by her lrnsband . Sol'le of h i s portraits of loc al cel e briti e s surv i v e as we l) c S two othe r drRvrin~s of the city of later dat A, I n the :ollor.in year 3 t. Mark's <.:hurch '7as built , at t h e s a., ,_ t i me a nev• l i ne of st r ee t "BS made J inking Scotch Street -:;i th Tho~.a. s Str eet , t:10ro· ·m·are later no1ned :Jobbin Street in honour of its fou n de r L.3on2 r d :::>obb in, afterwards !!ember of Parliament for the ,oro·wll of Arir.cn- h . In 1812 the house no,v in use by the J3:: nk of Ir e l end ir. Sc otc .. Street was erected by the e a.Me " rson under t he r uid a nce of .ll' r an cis Johnston vrho is also believed to hav e been responsibl e fo r the very attractive " crescent" sha">Jed Dobbin Stre et and t h e Linen .Iall buildings and entr an ces In 1813 the furket l;ross was t h rown down and broken . Accordine; ;to Stuar t , the base re "la ined but was l ater from mo tives of
safety, destroyed by gunpowder - the fragments of the Cross in the meantime had been deposited for preservation in the Cathedral Churchyard. They are now cared for in the north aisle of the old Cathedr~l .
In 1814 the population of the city was 6,669. In this year the greater part of Barrack Hill was built . In the following year the Market House (now the Technical School) was completely rebuilt by Archbishop Stuart. In the c;ame year an Association for the relief of the sick poor of the City was formed. Two years later T. Lindley , a celebrated Armagh bookseller and publisher of prints, produced a delightful mezzotint of Archbishop Stuart , a copy from the original portrait in the Palace. A short time later 1'1organ Jellet and John McWatters published other pictures of local interest but mostly lithographs . In this year (1817) sign boards were erected throughout the city by order of the Corporation instructing people "to keep to the right side of the road or street" . The population was then 7,010 .
Stuart in 1818 appealed for subscriptions for his "Memoirs of Armagh " and in the following year that most import ant work was published . In 1818 the Mall School (now the Orange Hall) was erected by Archbishop Stuart, and the Armagh Savings Bank founded .
1 in i n l '9 n rs in the l ortl: of Irel nd :p.ib • built • is squ xe Ro eby le ,.
er bes 'the lnw r '1 rt of e t..:'1 th t 'nr er.C''1. ide of' l.he I"Ll'ro•
t-v ut t t the u., er art is "tutt j on a rou ar. un en reci ct have tr n ly o-v rlook. it or it r
neglectE d since 1 is day' • Thi writer used h' t1;i, i.hero egular rd Uy nt on
civic fairs L"'lu was certainly nc.t irfluenced y r r o ir.ions exprcs, d by other visitors to tl:e c·t • s .les et rmagh ere £527,800. ...n tL e 18 line."1
In l820 the ' /lrrno.g~ Volunteer and Irnpartio.l Nort:1E rn rter" wcs .,. r::it nublished, 0 ts career ended about four years lator. In tl e following yeo.r the population had increo.sed to &, '73 c e cloc~ rs -de for the cupola of the Linen Ha:J. - it still e s E:OCc 'lent time. ·ecuno barring-out" took place at the ,;oytl ..,c::..c. in
Se".lte > r 1&23, An ontertairling account o" thC\ ' r. uill be f und in Trench I s Reali t~es of Irish Life ' - the 1t r a rxi i: t ;.he school at the t.:... o tnat the &ffo.ir took '1lace.
On l,ith July , 1825 , tne Ar·,ar·, .Jistrict Lune tic Asylu , the f irst of its '·ind ouilt in Ir37r.nd under the Act of' 181? #as f ormally o pe n ed . .ouiJt to the r'ezi.rn of .eTcLcis Jo:mstor, , its f ounda tion s tone as l;c irl in :r2y 1 21 by tne Saver Jisn of the city , attended by the burgesses c nd 18.ce 3are_·::; .. u2 site , ori c- inal bui ld i nrrs , e1ui-orn;)rt , etc . cost .20 , 900 . ,.._not,1.,r ~v-!r.t of imp ort a nce in 1 825 was t11e foundat i on 0 1 the Ar; agh 1:ec.iarics
Institute out 01 wh ic h Jeter , re_-r the Ar af'h "t·.,1.ral ..ictory and Philoso p llic2l S o ci e t y . breen , t'le r:rst .rster JI t""e .rnsti.tute, was afterwards Assist an t-A st r onomer at Greemrich. I n the same year tne .l!·ever , 10s 9 i tal ( no= t he ,&can , syi UT'l _ or tna -'-'li 1 d) ···as erected by Archb ishop Lor d J o .m ,eor.r.e ~<Jrest'ord . ~~ro .1ec. rs later in 182? the same g ener ous "relate 1-;uilt t .e very n&ndso'tle s:1.a.'tlbles .e.rket, a buil d i rn:; believed to oe "or,,. of rancis
Johnston 'l'fl10 a few years e arlier 1ad '11e.de addi tio1 s to tr1e ?al a c e a.nd had cuilt a new co a ch- hous e , stables , etc 0r~.is Jrc ce . I n the same year Armagh was li ghted b y oil - ga s . I n 1828 or possibly sli q htly e a rli e r the Armagh nene vol e nt Society was r'our..ded .betv·een 1 8 2<J and 1 8 3 0 1.,.1a rl e'110nt .? l a c e Yl&S built - t"ie terr,. ce ·,,as intended to b e t""1ice it s n r e s en t J e n c- th
Had the ori ginal plen been uut into exe c ution it -o ul d nave been tn.e most i"'"'.losinf". isrot,.,, of its ·--e riod in Ir e 1 a n d . About tins time a circle of standing stones was demolished in the clearing
of the Gas Works site It is to be rerretted that the inhabitants
cll o··ed ·~· so 1 ·:portent a ~1on1r·<>r,t to be r<.:::1ov-.,d . {ad it teen r etc ired Ar1aa'1 ··1 oi;1 ld ' b · c• • 1ave een un1r;1:te 8"1ong Irish to"ns .
Fet·"een 1831 and 1835 Russell Street and ':e l bourne '.l'errace were built - in the former yea-,_· t'·e ·;,o-:iulatiou of t: e city · •as 9 , 470 . In 1832 Civic Affair(: passed into the henc1s of '.;:'o·rn Commis sioners 2nd in the follm--in~ yer:r the 'all 1·:as vested iu Trust ees 1Yho are thus the suc c es~o rs ir that office 01 the Sover eirn and Eurgesses of the City .
In 1834 the to,vn was li ghted by coal - ;ras , the Ch<1 rl emon t Pla.ce School (now the Coun t y :useu':l ) built and Archbishop Lord John George Be resford began his restoration of the old c<,,thedral. Inglisp in ;1is 11 ".'0·1r of Ir-eland" vrritter, in that year states " that 11 e found Arria.r-,1 a thrivinr res-pectable ar,d ap:reeably s-ituated town . The city exhibits 11.nerring signs of i1 ,Jro ve.,,,e nt . Kew and handsome ro~s of hou ses are seen in several directions and in t -ie auuearance of nrivate houses and s;_o , s there are evid ences of wealth a.nd &:enti li ty " .
In the folloi-rir iz yea.r John Davi.son pub lis,1ed ;1is novr very scarce pa.nphlet on the restoration of the old Gci.thed.ral , a source or' information for discoveries "Jade dur inr the early sta1:1e of hi:ll t h;:;.t "/Ork ; a.nd a .fedresclay ma r ket for oat1: ..,as beinr held in the C,ity for ,·,hic':1 the Commissioners on :unici.naJ Jo r po rations reported their ina.bili ty to find P ".latent or author ity In this
ye ,: lou..; ills ( li 1 t
Vo · 1 2 d r r ,. er· F' 1 ()_; ' in t e ,o•·rtv r :.o " · ,r ., is ~tre t b rs . ~ve een so e 11( arli r - a !-,,.-.1 ..,.v J co ~" + er .;JUr ir t i C '(' + t e first
O::::dr 1:> t,ce Surve" 01 Irel nd r.·· s r • ~e "nd · n exc ller t of t.,e city roduced .
Gosford Place ~s built ·bo·1t 1837 'nci n, ed ir or-:> 1r of the 2nd ,arl rif ,os1 ore' , + en Jovernor - Gener· 1 o. ~n'ada . J,e·-is in his '!'opo-re...,nic;:J .Jictionc.r" •,b is ec1 ir t et ;er.r , st~ te& t _at t ere 1 ere then t·.. o extensi.ve distilleries corsuriro- "'5,000 tons of F'rair: ennna]ly , an ·le bre· ,rv sir 3 , 800 b,rr Js of w.t , sever·l tanneries, and nu eroue corn ·nd flo~r ills, so~ orked cy ste~ • In t e s~ e yer-,r t:,e use of t 1e Pil 1 ory a1,cl. stoc s as for s of -::,un ish ,er t "'UE pro.hibited by Act of Parli,ment e nd the Ar rr.ar1-- " irstrur ents " ...,l..,_ced in tie u&, emerit of t he rket h ouse ·:r.ere t, ey •ere eventuaJ ly de stroyed - a. "Scold' s Bridle of t::e t he sare eriod fortunateJy survives . In this yeur t,-re was a spl i t ir the i::::st PreFhyte ri a n conr,regation resultin in 'the formation OJ: the Th ird P re1cbyteri an Co n g re r-at i on ::'his occurred d ur ing t .. e 'inistrv o,. t·1e '1ev . P . S . erry , later t.1e l irst Pr esident of ~ueen ' s ColJe,:rn , Belfa:c t . 't'o t,Lis year belonr:s the v ery dianii i~d old c urc, or th · ·~. 11 no m as "T,1e 'i'hirn " .
In 1838 through Archbi::Jhon Crolly ' s exertions St . Patrick ' s • emin ry was compl ted and fonnally opened in ueutc b r of · t ;1ear. The school was built by- subscrintion but the amount collcctc cing some £600 l:-:irt of the outley, tle balance 1,as contribut d rcl..bi.,hop fr Jm his ·~ Jr·vnte moans. The Ccrporatl:m -,ea.. c onclu. n of tl: e il io.mi te r..i continued in u.,c to e arlier seals were lout in the troubles of 164,J. and • "' • fo llowing year the Armagh Natural history and Ph ·:.1c~o lhic f amed, a body still in existence but no longer ctive ·n ~t two the c ety vas revision of the cultural amen ties for which it was at on time v ry n le.
In t io year the Armogh uavings i3ank WWJ completed. e r ir the previous year the architect was William furrey c,f Armagl nd blin .
In 1840 the Municipal Corporation Act was pas~ed wl:ereby certain Cor'X' rut· ons like :::Jelfast, Dublin, Cork and Limerick w-re ?Jrc erved whilst 58 otl:eI"3 including Annagh were dissolved. In the St. atrick's Dey tne foundation stone of the l,ew Cathedr year on .:n1d Archbishop Crolly chose Duff, an architect then in great re 11te, to plan the ed~fice JUt the Archbishop ruid his architect both d~ed ir. the early stages o tne work and the original design was later moc e , t e alterrt·ons bein carried out by McC.arthy, a rising your.._. Dlblir t.rct 'tect, to ,om we o, e the church in its present fonn. This the f..ret creat building of moderr. date to be erected in the city should ',e cribed in rc,m Jetail but we mus t c ontent ourselves at present by indicating thnt t ere is a well- written and finely illustrated guide to ti.o cathedral in w · c "ulJ. particulars :na;r be found rcLarding its aevelo ent from the deys of Arc hbishop Crolly down to date
guide to the c- ... hedr~J in, hie· fu 11 c:-+-irulirs .:..y 't-e LOUnd re ardin~ its ~eveJou •nt • ro · irs 01 . ,re bis o vrolly d.o•m to d:ote
In 1841 t~e Po-ulation or the orourh or city totnlled 10 , 245 , e l arger fi gure than at nresm t - populrtion 11 ures are \ easily obtainable rro'll the "lrinted Census Reports so ''le shal l omit them fro m n o,·; on·~ards . In the I ollo ·in year the L'nion ·, or khouse was o pened or. one of th_ .oe-t le, sant. sites in the city . Great indi gnat io n - as ex-oressed by tr,e i nhabitants gene rally t"h en in 1 843 the headquarters ot t e l orthern Co1ra:U:rd \"ere mov ed from Arnagh to Belfast This 7a s Much resented es ecially as Armagh had bee n its l o<.:atior. 1·or aJr.iost 'Wlr - a - century . 'i'he fo l lo 'ling year brou,qht our two survivinr lo,:;al uapers , tne " Arr..agh Guardian " and " Ulster ,azet+e " into r-einr In 1 8 45 Armag:1 Y'as der eeted oy .... elt'a st ir. t he etruggle f o r the acqu i sition of a " ~ueen ' s College " . This disanryoint ~r.t comin r. eo soon after tl1e re·:ovel of the military llea.dquarters wae a source of annoy~nce to tne citizens ·"· o t elt that tne latter town t1as beinr de veloned "'i th'.)ut any regard to the clai1r.s
or ri rts o~ tie other nrov1nc1·~1 to~~ • A f was •. s r r · s r .:'{'; concer ned t 4 at 'rs certtin•y a corr~ct esc1 -te - no ot er to·n 1n Irclon cl ! ro t .. e ,ul L•1r2l , rd. i stor1cal 'Joi1 t o v1er1 r,od
<- 1:1etter r2.c·r-ro rJ. - or ·12s etter ""i.tu·:ed Lor t.,e ~st·Llis, t of such an ins tctlt I •
h re e 'e<'rs l·t.ar or tie ti:.:st ·y ot -rch 1848 the ra i l\•ay reacl ed Ar""lagh, and t.1e grer t te, s of , orse - :'ra m tr· nc ort sho rtl y afterwa.rrls be ar to disn:ry ear fro•n our M.- ir. roicds , or at least 1rom such ro ads c>s •~ere Cf aole ')1 te1n.,. ser•red Ly r:,il.
In 1851 0 ' a£an YJubl1s1ed his 01 tne ~l~Y OI Ar --h , illustr ated ·nth drarinr;s ot U1e chief '"UbJ1c L,U di.n s ot t e tovm and s,101·1in1<; tne orii'"1nrl riesip:r1 o1 t ,e ne•7 cntaedral , the I oundation stone of ·ffn1ch was l a i d eleven ye2rs previo~s . :he ,i:ap is rn i mpo rt ant document 1 or t.1e examinatior, o~ 1; e ..-owt •• of t e city and should ue studied by those int ir sted ill ulrnt n, r ~1 cu ar subject . In October 01 this yenr the uns 01 t,ie .... acred .r1ea r1, opened a school at the Prvilion , tro~ 1h1 ch t aey Jater. oved to l- 1arle II:ont Place; and 4n ovember che " Ar:nag.1 Guard tan " oft ice was destroyed by I ire .
In 1 85 4 the c.rrand Nat ional vr>ttle Show tras held on the , .all , an event comparable in imuort2nce •nth tne YJ:-esent 1 ixture at almoral . ':'here ~•ere , ho1.7e ver, earlier Gattle Shows in Ar magh and local show meuals on exhi r:: 1tton u, Lhe l-0unty useum berin in 1835 . I11 this year (18o4) the Blind Asylum was opeued
Its Iou nd tio , \';;.s r..[de oss1ble oy · be •1 st 1n 1,1e .ill 01 JfC Ob ! acan , memuer UL r lct A 'o r·~arh La.I:lily , OL , uo·a sever2l i.Llletl tn e 011 i,,;e or Sover e 1 .. u1 che ei t.y ~A o , e .or t~1s ~rpose uecarue available 1n 1 84l:) uu" 1-11e r e as r:.·eat dlL.iculty 1 r, i.1 uQ 1 ug a site . ~ ventua1ly one 1as secur ed throup~ the generosity of Archbishop Lord John Ge or p: e Ber esfo r d "rho a. cc e ·) t ed a p r ouosa l 11ade to him for the use of the .? ever tJ:orp i t 2 l whi c h ae.d bee n h i s f'l'i ft to the town in 1 827 \7,1 en t h e cit y was r vr..,ed •-ritl. fever . I ts useful ness ~1e vi nrr decre :: sed i n t h e i nte rv enin years t.1e .::'ri ate
mad e no objection to the trarsfer of t he bu il d i nc ~nd its ~round s for the pu r po se to wh icl, it is still dev o te d .
A ]' lax :rarket -:•as established in 18 5 5 a.nd i n 1S56 t he r1.r r:iag,1 1ktun 1 .Hstory and 2i1iloro 'Ohicz.l Soci e t v t o o '{ o v e r ti.e bui l d ing no.., ir use as the Go•mty useur and -previ o usly k n o ·7n o. s t h e
Gh1>rlemont Place Sc'.'loo l. In this t:1ey had the supoo rt and fin;:,1.cial Gssi_stance of the Archbisho p Lo r d John c, e or g e Beresfo rd -~hose , .any benefactions to the city :1ave not as y et been n ro p er l y reali z:ed . In t he follo• inp: year the Col ler.:e Street Schools wer e erected and on June 4th , 1 858 , a qussian Gun , -:ires ented by Lord Panmure , was ulaced on the :alJ . In 1859 the ..::all was aga in leased to trustees by Arch'l:isho-p Lord John Geo r f"e .;:,ere sford ·vho felt t 1at by continuing the arranRe' ent of 1 833 the l i tt l e pa r k ~ i ht better be p reserved for the uleasure and use of the uubli c
How he rould fel:ll if h e sa"' it in its i,)resent condition we know
not - the ~.i,,rt little better ! ouse en· i.s discraceful at.d the so t',ern end
l'he St e Year sa:r t 1e est.:bli-l e1 t of t ,e Arr ag'. ~ric''et Club ( there is evir.c ce of ci:i.c' et teir,g 'Jlt.yed on t le · ll fror.:i :--t least 1845) , and t .e erection of t 1e 1!et 1odi 5t
School ii. Abbey Street, t· c foundi:.tior: stone of \ ,icn \'LS 1· i.d by Surgeon- ....ajor Joseph I.:. Lynr, ,,,thor of a II listory of esleyc.n llethoiiio:~ on the Ar•1a.izh Circuit" a book t~1-t should be much nore ·ri dely kno ·n locally .
In le-61 'Zodger ~ b-ou,,.ht out :l.i s "Anc i '!nt ..:: i ty" . He later published a " emoir of Armaeh Cathedral " a1,d " 7o'Jo~rapl1ical Sketc 1es of Ar ag:r. and •:;: rrone" - three ~10st i•,".J:,rtc:.1.t Forks from t1e 'Joint of vie~ of local histo~y.
An Archery Club ~as estrblis1ed in 1862 - it ~as l~ter amalgamated ·-,ith the ':'ennis Club • In J.864 the Ar agh United .?rotestant Young .'en ' s ·:ut,1al I orove~M1 t Society ,·•as e stablis'.l.ed , and in lf\6P Si1i.els Insti tuti.on , now known os To·ver Hill , ~as o~ened for t~e rece~tion of oersons of reduced i ncome
I n 1 8 7 5 a Catholic Read i nl" Roor was established - the fi r s t l oc al " ReadinR "toom" in the city t'lat -•e kno1" of was nond enonination . It ·,as that located in the " 'l'ontine Rooms " in t he clozinp, days of the l th century In the fo l1 ow i nc year
t h e bui.l inG of ar "A-rchbi.shop ' s 1ouse" was be""un on o. site no rt h of tie ne·" Cat'1edral ,nd ;.djoini1,,- t e Se·1in;-rr. -:-i· e .ui sion
·~a s c;i leted ii t .e 'ol 'o· in~ , e~r, d later r,' r , irit c.
t ll e P ri l"'.acy of IJ;;,r in· 1 c1.,ro:-,
In 1 8 77 ,i c tori2 vtreet berrn to develop . In t,1at year
t h e five }10·.is es kno m as ,inder :?lace ,;-ere built by .r . J Anderson · Lose b•.isire:::s -pre...,ises i. •• :-ket Street r re 110"/ occ11 ied by {ess .:- s . · a l ker Ltd In 1878 a ne''l ch11rcn \"'as built on t.,e ~fall for t ,1e irst Presbyterian Conp,rc,-atior. , 2n edifice ·1i t:1 one of t n e most ,·raceful s ,i r es ir Ir J1 r n • I n the s2:r:e .vee r
a b r anch of t h e Yo•mr: o~e n' s vh:::-is~iar Association •·1as
esta b lishe d in Ar r.a~· , ~n orr:rni z ation ·t nresent housed in volle e Street .
Houses "'ere b uilt o n the fa ll so'.lth of t 11e ol d school s about 1 879 a nd named ,!artfor d :'lac e i r. ·1ono•.ir of : i ss .,rrtfo rd , be t te r known to A.:-m1:c \ti 211 s a s the "'ife of Sur g e on Pal me r of the County Infir ~ r y In F \ 79 a n ew ne•"B'!'J?tie r a--o--o e ared in t he city c a l led t he " Ar'Y"E,gh :teforme r " b ut it c a r ee r ·.vas v e r y sho rt indeed , I n the fol lo ring year U chT1ond Terr ace ..,as b uilt .
I n 1 885 ~dwards 'err'ce · as bu: 1 t ·1d ir. 18 7 - 88 .d ard :::,treet c ~ e i.nt:i bei.1,. - both -ro1p1s of ouse£ -~ i,:e ~:.: 'cted by r . Geor g e A . -i.,~~r 'c . .asonic ,:a ll, 01 e of
A few years e: r"ier in 1884 , the n-'rli ties or loc::l 2rc ,i tec·ure , ·ms erected to t he desi-n of r . J .. ullertor .
In 1887 the Arnai;i;h Ph il a r·"'lo n ic Socie t y ··ras estnhJ is ,ed and for a considerab l e '"leri od it >r'Jvided t· e city •i th usica.l attracti o ns of a v ery ~ i R~ or~e r, s on~ori.n eel brit c'Jncerts , etc . an1 l'yi nr, a ver y i ~ 0 or t art ~art i n Jocrl - 3ritics . In t c sr c year ·r Ar,de r sor r e su ed '1 i s luildi.n• ,cti'lites in Victoria Street ard er e ct ed J r ant1"m ,i.llas .
I n 1 888 J:jassett ' s " Bo o ot v our ty n.r ,...., " ·as ubl i s:ied a nost useful survey of~~ co u nt y in ene r a l a n d of tae ton s a n d villa ·es in "1articuler UnforturieteJ•r i t s co ·!roi l e r r.e le ct ed to check accounts taken 1ro s ources already ') rinted - b ut on the thole it is a valu~ b le cortri but ion to loc a l h istory a n d o :.i u't to be much oetter kno,7n . In t'1e .0J 1 0 1 ing y e ar on 12 t h J u r , 1889 , Ir ,,. nd ' s mrst rai lway disaster occurred at 'ilune y outsi-e the city , c:. traaedy i r "'hi Eh eir·l1ty ')ersons lost t· • ir Jives Afte r t e accident i;~e bodies ,rere laid out or id e rti.fication i n tne ontine .oo~s , t ·1F! ~r' et ouPe and 1" il·"a'' St,tion , "nd a s gr i efstricken eo, e · de t e i.r ··•ay to t' 1oce nl· ces the beJ ls of the ol c· thedral to ll ed out · m'3ssage o sy f ".'.:y . · e in v esti a.tion
t1at fol 1 0\''ed t:e :c,cci.dert resuJted i.n the o1,ssi.1.cr o: t e lor;g overdue Act eY.1'orcirrr r1,toP1etic brakes , block - sic.r1 cllir end
t,e i.nt e rl ocdr CJ! ·11 ....,011ts a1n sirnals .
A Sacristy ard Sy!! d ,:al l ·v<Jre built at t 1e re,·• \Jat:1edr al i n 1894
h e tr i l r 1
no dout)t i n! 11 reed. ..,t • .t t·ic i1 of supreme i mo ort a n ce in n1s ":li ssion
he r eached Armagh in t he ye a r 444 A. D.
l •, • r n ays c~1ce 01 it -s tJe lEce
Ac cord.L n ~o t!le An na ls rte soon secur ed sites
f or c h u rches and i~11cediate]y b evan o r eparati o ns for the instruction of the young ueople of t h e are a , end s o a b out the y e a r 4 5 0 t h e first school of the new re g i ::,ie y,..-,s o pened . Culture I gro th wa s 1<radual in the six th and seventh c er.tur ies but by tile er:d of t:1e letter century ~he scho ol£ of Arnri:;11 ···C're .,i ely ceco nized • ri tten in 68 4 by :::'i'ir" e , l if:: i d , 1 r •,..ir r-f t,.,, "'or ,u:,--i,1£ Saxons , ··;10 is re-p·1ted to n v e l-e"?n 0 1 1 ts sc:10 7 • y t· e suc c e e" i n c r .,_ •·· r "·m v ~_..
r • i's cf t he :,·semen , •.n ~
,_ ~d i r e ·rs · the sa: • rn In se c r u ri "30 ' ·~ , 89 0 , 919 2n 9 46 . c-irviYe those ""r~c-ic d0
<::Ompiled in or.e ot t 0nPstic " O U£CS 0~ + e ci+y il t - y ar 807 , ud one rf "".he 1'6t ..... ecio•u: ').· ·r r~is 1 'll'lSCl" i ts , t: ... e
• • 1:r 0:i ·irJ ' c·n ·.t,. ce·,.'.;c.i.1t'' be da.ted . It is ou~- so.i;.·ce -J.ist ·ir::t , t .e 1cJo,.r ri1 of ..,:~os e ~ntre r::.md a bo 'e &re s~.i. 1 • reCTinder in t r ,t., C - ' 1,0 perioci "elon s t· e c~, 1:a·,+ec :?· c - · c - 1 s vl~ , Jn~ of t' o f[ :ious personal relics of the s2i.1,t 1-ir,',ed for ever ··ith Ar 'lk. ·l1 Cent·Jries later ·~he e J.· ·1a·' a s·c·ire c1/'e "''or it r'r .uorn,elJ. o • :.ochlan , :Ciur oi' I" .3 lar:.d , 1J1·i· c 1e .".:-i:1·c~· or Jone l l 1~e.cAul.;y , Archbisho p o~· Ar'cac:;1 , r:• ·l ,c'. 1,:scri_·ti~r it ctn be dated as hav i ne been r'a s· doned bet •ee1: n-,e •·ec:,rs J. 0·.11 c.r r' 1103 . 'i'he second re: ic , the vener 2. ted ..., 2.c '12.J I ss. , un:L ortuna.te l y no lonF"er exists . It ,~c:_s t:1e "1os t rerJ•·•ne1 e ccl es i as+ ic £,.l :eli c in Ireland anc' re• aired in safe '' e e') i n12: 1n A .:: !agr. ur;tiJ. 11 7 9 in · ·hich VP.a.r it ·--as C"'rried off to Du b lin ty a. fo rc e of ,.,,1 lol.orm.ans , there to be retained 1 J.nti1 the ..;'.e1o c1"12t i on ~·-:1en i t , ....as pubJ.i.cly buTned ir 1538 .
Les,rnir:g nade steady ::;,rogress in t b e tent:1 c e rt·,.r y . Ir 1020 the Library of Armagh is 1 '1entioned in t'le Ar.nels , t:.e • i. rst reterence to such an ins+itut1on in any city in Ir e l a n ° Jducat i on gai ned a fresa ir.rpeti,s i n the J...,th century ,.-rr,en tne amendwent o t the Ir i sh c hurch y•as i nspired by St . ,'13.l"'c'·.y , a fomous Ar 12 cl,icm , the -<;rrcli tional site of "'hose birth,;ilr ce ber,rs a co•nr•e 'Orc:ti v e ,ie wa s torn 1n 1 095 end aiec1 J.14R . '"wo Osher Arel- bishops of Armr:,.p 1 , St . Celsus Encl St . Con c o r d , =e r a a lso o f
locel ...... ::_+J.."'EC.1..ior;, il.1.-1 ec 1 1~c+er1 li~.., J.....) i-c i.1
schools .
t.1eir nc tioral
:p ·0v·i! ces besides l J s';er - :;or L zt'l.nce y t. c; ; i1
907 ui .:oderick: O't.:onror, ,.i.r .. • i. ! .l..1.."'...,-£L~ il 11 ~ , t ..1e
Lt ,er Lerer <'Ctio1 '" ir
to·· r s ed1c2tior in ir or cls,-er , tuiJtl ' 8 '., J•.',. 1:, • .. f': L"'" ':; Cl +-r
t e ' CC O 0 il_s t i 0. ..I. p c. l J 1 "' -r EP i '1 tut 1 11oue . ·i1
, i.1 111 1162 it rs c'ecreeci at 211 ecolesi2s .iccl Sy, o ':. · t no
IreJ.·1:d [~d. c01.1irnirir ~he ci.t::r in is clet-1 ~,o L'1iv- rcit~ s~c:..,<:,·~s . Ar ·lo- ! Or"'.Fn CO! 'J.ll.;St , uy . .., lie? the L:-is::i. · ·om cti.c sc: ool:c '':)re "t -'irst li ttl ,. r i h 31.10'1 sc1.o'.l1s rir' rot e,qffer a c tnal e·-:t.i.1~ct.inn nnt i J t,1e li ssolut 1 on of o•cst~ri.es in 1 537 .._,v t,l,e.t cJecrP.e Ir 3 7 and •·ms lef t fnr a. ti •1o i 1• 2ny educe ti.nn, J f2 c i 7.i ties a-':ever . t1tione d : 1 , ,n ·,ry a s t.o t R n~cess i tv -:' or f' mi.ve r e, i ty ann. sc o l s and i r 1 Jf33 e ??ropo F:c.1 71'1.s c- dP. to est.abli sh un i vers · ti a a.t Armar:h
Hotels and Inns.
The Goat Inn.
. According to an undated news paper cutting i n the Pillon Collection of Ne ws pape r Abstracts the old est known Inn in the City of Armagh was on e known in 164 1 as "the Goat" whose designation was changed in 1688 to the "Real Old Goat". Later it is said t o have bo rne the title of Caulfeild Arms, afterwards becoming the Charlemont Arms, presumably in honour of the Volunt eer Earl.
If the original si gn aas a goat it was probably a place of call for shoemakers, and may have occupied a pa rt of the present premises. The hotel, howeve~, was of later formation than the Volunteer pe riod and i n the closing days of the 18th century was t he residence of Dr. Atkinson, a membe r of the crow Hill family who died there in
I have n ot fou nd Pi llow's authority for the Goa t Inn of 1641 - it may be that there was a local tradi tion regardi ng it. If so, no rememb rance now remains •
Hotels and Inns.
The Head Inn.
Now the Protestant Hall, Abbey street, housed Ki ng James on his way to Derry in 1689, and later gave shelter to the Duke of Schomberg, King William's famous general .
Hotels and I nns .
Th e Hole in the W a l l.
This may wel l be the oldest li censed p r e mis es in the city. It s pos iti on c l os e to the si t e of th e old Pr ison in Ma r ket Stre e t, coupled with the name sugg ests a res pecta b le a n ti q uity . I t seem s to be t he s ame e stablis hment as that b urned i n 1683 but r ebu il t befor e 1703 .
mus 1 703 .
In As he • s Account of the Lands of the Archbishop ri c of Armagh i n 1703 , th3 fol l owing taverc1s or inns a r e mentione d .
I. T h e Thr ee No.g's Hearl iri Englis,1 Street .
II. The S i gn of the Spread Eagle in Market street
III . Si g n of t h e Swan in Ma r k e t Str e et
I V. The King's Ar ms "K e pt by Ur . 1/i ll i a m Ha milt on , a Bur g e ss of the Ci ty" .
The Sp read Ea g le was burn e d i'1 1583 and rebuilt by John King . T h e Swan Vi as situa te n ext to the Pris on an d was owned by "Thomas Rei d , Gent ."
Hot e ls and Inns.
1713 -17 22 .
Ar magh Inns.
George Stone, merchant, on e of t he be s t In n s,
Primate's Re n tal, 1 May, 172 2 .
The Stone F a mily,
( 1)
Edmond St one of Armagh , Merchant, ~ill 9 Aug , 1717.
? r oved 21 Feb . 1717 -1 8
George See (2)
) Menti on s Gran ds on ) Hu b ert s to n e, Niece ) Ka t ri n e cra mpt on, ) John Brennard a nd
) Alex . Sinclair, ) b r~thers -i n -l aw . ) Exor s . so ns J o hn and ) Geor g e stone.
John See (3) . Chr 1 stop her
(2). George Stone of Armagh, Merchant = Hannah. Wi ll 4 May, 1729 . Proved 28 June, 1729.
Mentions, brother Christopher , Sister, l\Jary Tough a l s Stone . Nephew Herbert Sten~ Niece Eliz a Tfough.
Niece Phoebe Stone als Wilson , dau . of eldest brot h er Bartley stone
Ann stone als . Elliott. Nif e's brothers Joseph and J oshua Leathly • .'li fe's sisters, Deborag h and Mehitab le Leathly, Nephews John and Robert Sp ri ng , sons of George Sp ring.
Niece Phoebe Sp ri ng .
Aunt Elizabeth stone . u nc les Ro t ert and John Benn ard. cousins, John and Thomas cram p ton, He nry Btr ennard .
- 2-
Hotels and rnns . 1713- 1722
Cousi n John• s son, Rev . ·rhomas Crampton . Katrin e Crampton , wife of ~illiam stone . un c le John Brennard • s .-1idov1 .
Exors. Wife Hannah Stone and my brother Christopher Stone .
(3) John Stone of Ar magh , merchant :: r1ife v1 i th child .
\"/i ll - Dec. 1721. Proved 17 Ma r eh , 1723.
Mentions, Ni eces Eliza Tough a nd Ann Stone . Nephew Hub ert Stone. Cousin '//1 llia m Graham. Bequest t o Meeting House at Armagh . Brothers George and Chris t opher s t on e.
Primate's Rentals of 171 Z show "Ja mes Ogle 1 s and Hal l's Inns.
Hotels and Inns.
The Mason• s Arms.
The owner Robert McConchy was born 1n 1645, died 172;:;, and was buried in st . Patrick 's Churchyard. It seems p robable that this Inn dated back to the prec edi ng century . Its site near the House of Correction and the town Bowling Green is suggestive of a tavern of earlier origin than tbe 18 th century . Old tokens issued by wcconchy about 1670 a re sti l l in e xistenc e.
The Inn was known by the above name about the time of Mceonchy •s death. Later in succession it became the King•s Arms , Friendly Brothers Inn and Brid ge Tavern
Hotels and Inns.
The Matthews Inn .
In Armagh i n the 18th century there were frequent fights on Fair dars that began with a couple of d is putants and e nd ed with most of the inhabitants and visitor s at each ot hers throats. one such fight took place on st . Patrick's day , 1717 , i n which the Sovereign hirr.self was attacked, and p r obably returned the blows Vlith c ompound interest for he was an Ogl~ and the Og le's were big men a nd well a b le to take care of themselves.
Among st the local peop l e examined following the distur b ance were ce rtai n members of the ~atthews• f a mily, then owners of a very superior Inn ir Scotch St reet, who deposed that c ertain Armagh notabilities were on the premises eating oy s ters and drinking wine peacably and givi ng offence to nobody vihen the row began, that they were attendi ng the m, but that when their customer s were leaving they were knocked down by sticks. Later, when it reached t h e stage of a fight for all the r e was "chewing of fingers and ears and s mashing of heads" .
24 March, 1738 . "
24 Sept . }.740.
28 Sept 1744 .
25 Sept . 1746 .
18 Sept . 1747.
24 Sept . 1748. "
27 Sept . 1749. II
26 Sept . 1750 .
22 Sept . 1760. " "
23 Sept . 1763
20 July , 175 5
18 October, 1766 "
29 Sept . 1766
30 Dec . 1771
Freemen Lists.
Corporation of Armagh.
I nn-holders , Ale-sellers, etc • .l738-1797.
P ier ce McGuire Ale Seller
James Mc Williarn Ale Seller
.Robert Jones Inn Keeper
George Robinson Di stiller
Robert Hayes Inn-h olde r
Thomas stringer Inn - keeper ( Obit notice) . Samuel Colvin Inn-h o l de r
James Lon g II
James Connellan II
Daniel cannavan II
Arch. Cooper
James Bir mingham Ale-draper
Walter Taylor II
Jose ph Dawson II
Ed. McGinnis I nn - k ee pe r
Patrick Chambe rs II
George Hewitt II
James Mc Crac ken "
Lee McK i ns try Distiller
Samuel McCl aver In n -kee pe r
George Park "
Robert Lindsay "
Samue l Mccune II
Thomas Reed Publican ( first ap p eara nc e of t he term ) .
Abstracts from Corporation Records.
Co r por ation constables to serve for one year:
1 4 Febru ary , 1785 . W i l li am Johnston of the "Hand and Shea r s" .
27 J u ly , 1786 . J ohn St i tt and Adam Robinson . New street . In n - Keepers .
Corporation of Armagh.
e9 January, 17 87 . Upright Post under ~illiam Michols sign post condemned as a nuisance, also the post in the street opposite ~il lia m Jones• house in t'ew Street .
20 J une, 1804. fl illiam Mc'.':illiam and Cos Brewery .
13 October, 1794 . Andrew Lyle's l!alt Kil "' opposite Li sanally Lan e .
2 1 Au g ust, 179 7 . Mr . McKew•s old Br ewery in English street .
By e-Laws of 179 8 . No Publicans or others shall suffer any horses to be fastened or left in the streets or la nes of the city by pe rsons frequenting the ir housas on Ua r ket or F air Day s.
No bull shall be baited or hunted with d ogs ~ithin the Corpora tion
persons putting up signs or build i ng projecti ons from the ir houses over or across the foot - ways , shall be fined
Person who shall d is po se of any liquor by a deficient measure.
~easures used by th ose who sell li quo rs to be brought f or compa riso n with standards . If correct the y s hall be stamped with the Corporation stam p .
Cockfi ghts shall no t b e suffered within the Cor po ratio n .
Inns 174.2 .
Last week died at Ar:nagh, ..rs . Peg Stringer, much lamented and particularly regretted by the gentle-.en of the Bar and Circuits, whom she always studied to entertain agreeably .
Her Epitaph.
Here lies Peggy Stringer who lov ' Q in her soul A toast - and a lawyer - a bout - and a bowl ; And because in the grave there's no drink to be had , For a belly- full l i ving, had drunk herself dead
(Faulkne r Dublin Journal . Saturday, 7 Feb . 1746/7 . )
Inns, Hotels and Taver~s .
The !1'.an of ··ar (near Kead") sho·.,.., on Ro q 1e 1 s J.:ap of 1760 on t h e r oad f r 01:t that town to !. ona::-han nhere r rossed by road from Castle b lay ne y There were then four houses, one on each s ide o f t h e crossing
Monaghan 'r'
Castleb l ayne y
4 7r J Keady
Across country to Armagh .
See a l s o Uaps o f 1 835 for road changes .
Inn s 1770 .
- McKinstry and wife, two sons and two dauohter Presbyterian . I nn Keeper , Market Street .
Thomas Stringer and wife, Five sons and three daughters . Church . Inn Keeper, Scotch Street .
(See Census of Armagh for the yea r 1770 i n Armagh Library) .
Hotels and Inns
Pa r ade of Armagh Volunteers.
O'l Su nday about 12 o'clock, the Lurgan Company marche d i n t o t own , in n u mbe r 80 - and General the Ea r l of Charlemont escorted by the Ne wr y Tr oop about 3 o ' c l ock.
The Ne wr y S e cond Company and the New r y Infantry came in ab out n i ne o' c lo c k at nigh t , ard afterwards the J,'.ountnorris and Col. Syn ott•s comp~n ies a r rived and were billeted, bu t i t ha v ing r ained much during the night it ma d e our Co mmo n , which wa s t o b e our review ground, very wet, a n d t he rai n co n t inuing until after nine o'clock y esterday , p reve n ted t h e cor ps who had not been in the ni g ht b e f ore fro m g etti ng in until after two o'clock , whe n t he S outhern Battal ion ma r ched to the field bu t they were scarcely there til l a heavy rain came on which p reve n ted t h e o t hers f ro m ma r ching out . The Southe r n Battali on t h en retur n ed and the two battalions ma r che d in sub - d ivisi on s past Lord Charl emont 1vh er e he sat i n .ML:. Park's ho u se an d dis missed . It i s computed tha t the re were better than 1,100 men t o be r e viewe d , wh ic h wou l d have made a v e ry handsome a ppea ra nc e if t he day had kep t fair .
Belfast Mercury , J ul y 23, 1 784 - the Review took p lace on Monday, July 19
ARUAGH .
Hote ls and Inns 1785 .
Hand an d Shea r s Inn 1785 .
Host then Willia m Johnston who ser v ed in that year as Cor p orati on Constab l e .
Hotels and Inns
Ar mag h Volun t eer Parad e Monday , 2 August , 1779 .
Lord Cha rlem ont • s Company of Vo l unteers pa r aded in their u n if or ms, and after f iri ng three volley s ir the ~ar k et Place ( in commemoration of t he First of Au gust whi ch ha ppe ned t o f al l on a Sunday) tb ey mar ched t o the Comm ons a nd we n t thro ugh their diff e rent fi ri ngs and ev o lutions wit h a d e g r e e of exac t ness har dly to be ex p ected fro m a b ody so l a t e l y embod i e s. The Company a fterw a r d s d i end at t he Ki ng' s Head I nn , where they drank numerous toa s t s • ••• • ~ nd concluded the even i ng wit h g reat c heer f u l n e ss and regu l ari t y.
B. N.L . August 10, 1779 .
