County Down

County Down Geography

This county is bounded on the east and south by St. George’s Channel, on the weft by the county of Armagh, and a small part of Louth, from which it is separated by the river of Newry, on the north by Carrickfergus bay, the county of Antrim, and a part of Lough Neagh, which it scarcely touches. Its greatest length, from Point Cranfield in the south, to Gray Point, its most northerly extremity, is nearly v forty Irish miles; but from Lisburn bridge in the weft, – to Dundrum in the east, it is not more than sixteen. The fifty-fourth degree of north latitude passes close to Point Cranfield, and the sixth degree of west longitude a little to the -weft of Hillsborough. It contains by estimation 344,658 Irish, or 558,289 English acres.

County Down Wikipedia

The civil division of the county is into the following baronies:

  • Ardesy containing about 30,000 acres, and the towns of Newtown, Bangor, Donaghadee, Portaferry.
  • Castlereagh, about 62,560 acres, and the towns of Cumber, Saintfield, and Hollywood.
  • Dusserin 9,280 acres, and the town of Killileagh.
  • Upper Iveagh 66,049 acres, and the towns of Loughbrickland, Rathfryland, Castlewellan, Rosstrevor, Banbridge, Scarva, &c.
  • Lower Iveagh 56,800 acres, contains the towns of Hillsborough, Dormered, Moira, Magheralin, Waring’s- town, and Gilford.
  • Kinalarty. 26,180 acres, contains- the towns of Ballynahinch, Clogh, and Seaford.
  • Lecale 32,100 acres, contains Downpatrick, the county town, Strangford, Killough, Arglafs, and Dundrum.
  • Mourne, 30,000 acres, and the town of Kilkeale.
  • And the Lordship of Neivry 9,500 acres, with the noted town of that name.

The sum of these makes 322,469 acres, Irish measure, which taken from 344,658, the contents of the county county at large, leaves 22,489 for the different bays, lakes, &c.

SOURCE:  Dubourdieu, John. Statistical Survey of the County of Down: With Observations on the Means of Improvement : Drawn Up for the Consideration, and by Order of the Dublin Society. Dublin: Printed by Graisberry and Campbell, 1802. Internet resource.

Genealogy and History Resources

Ulster Historical Foundation
12 College Square
East Belfast
Northern Ireland BT1 6DD
Tel: (01232) 33 22 88 Fax: (01232) 23 98 85

Down County Museum
The Mall Downpatrick
County Down BT30 6AH
Down County Museum

GENUKI – County Down

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