Durhamstown
Encyclopedia
Durhamstown, known occasionally but less frequently as Dormstown, is a townland in the civil parish
of Ardbraccan
in the Barony of Lower Navan, outside Navan
in County Meath
. In religious terms it is covered by the Roman Catholic parish of Bohermeen
. Some of the modern rules of the game of Croquet
were produced by local gentry living in two estates in Durhamstown, and a third estate within the civil parish of Ardbraccan, in 1858.
, a small hill on the otherwise flat plains of the area on which legend claims Niall of the Nine Hostages
was buried, and Durhamstown Castle
, a Norman towerhouse that has been lived in for five hundred years.
, the an early set of rules of the game were compiled by an anonymous writer who described himself as "corncrake" to The Field publication on 21 August 1858. "Corncrake" was revealed to be George Annesley Pollok of the Oatlands estate in Durhamstown. His "The Rules of the Oatlands Club" became a key set of rules for the game, with records revealing that the rules were used by the owners of Oatlands and Durhamstown Castle, and another nearby estate, for local competitions. The game Croquet later spread to Great Britain
from Ireland. Though the game spread from Ireland, the first registered set of rules were registered in Britain in 1856.
Civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and, where they are found, the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties...
of Ardbraccan
Ardbraccan
Ardbraccan is an ancient place of Christian worship in County Meath, Ireland. It is the location of the former residence of the Roman Catholic, then, after the Reformation, the Church of Ireland Bishop of Meath. It is located approximately 30 miles from Dublin.-Origins:Ardbraccan originated as a...
in the Barony of Lower Navan, outside Navan
Navan
-People:Navan was the childhood home of Pierce Brosnan, who appeared in the television series Remington Steele and was the fifth film actor to play James Bond. TV personality Hector Ó hEochagáin, and comedians Dylan Moran and Tommy Tiernan also hail from Navan....
in County Meath
County Meath
County Meath is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the ancient Kingdom of Mide . Meath County Council is the local authority for the county...
. In religious terms it is covered by the Roman Catholic parish of Bohermeen
Bohermeen
Bohermeen is a Roman Catholic parish in the Irish Diocese of Meath. Its English name is a corruption of an ancient Irish language name, An Bóthar Mín, which meant the smooth road. Originally one of the five famed ancient roadways that led from the mediæval capital of Ireland, Tara, approximately 10...
. Some of the modern rules of the game of Croquet
Croquet
Croquet is a lawn game, played both as a recreational pastime and as a competitive sport. It involves hitting plastic or wooden balls with a mallet through hoops embedded into the grass playing court.-History:...
were produced by local gentry living in two estates in Durhamstown, and a third estate within the civil parish of Ardbraccan, in 1858.
Census population
Durhamstown, sometimes referred to as Dormstown (a form of spelling which fell into disuse by the mid 20th century) is one of twenty townlands in the civil parish of Ardbraccan and had 64 houses according to the 1911 census of Ireland.Physical structures
The townland's most prominent physical structures are Faughan HillFaughan Hill
Faughan Hill is a low hill approximately five miles to the northwest of Navan, County Meath, Ireland. It is owned by the McCabes, Dunnes, and the Englishs, and the highest point by Moriarty's and is not a public park....
, a small hill on the otherwise flat plains of the area on which legend claims Niall of the Nine Hostages
Niall of the Nine Hostages
Niall Noígíallach , or in English, Niall of the Nine Hostages, son of Eochaid Mugmedón, was an Irish king, the eponymous ancestor of the Uí Néill kindred who dominated Ireland from the 6th century to the 10th century...
was buried, and Durhamstown Castle
Durhamstown Castle
Durhamstown Castle is a 500 year old towerhouse in the townland of Durhamstown of the civil parish of Ardbraccan which is in the barony of Lower Navan, in County Meath in Ireland.The precise origins of the building are unknown....
, a Norman towerhouse that has been lived in for five hundred years.
Origins of the game of croquet
According to histories of the game of CroquetCroquet
Croquet is a lawn game, played both as a recreational pastime and as a competitive sport. It involves hitting plastic or wooden balls with a mallet through hoops embedded into the grass playing court.-History:...
, the an early set of rules of the game were compiled by an anonymous writer who described himself as "corncrake" to The Field publication on 21 August 1858. "Corncrake" was revealed to be George Annesley Pollok of the Oatlands estate in Durhamstown. His "The Rules of the Oatlands Club" became a key set of rules for the game, with records revealing that the rules were used by the owners of Oatlands and Durhamstown Castle, and another nearby estate, for local competitions. The game Croquet later spread to Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
from Ireland. Though the game spread from Ireland, the first registered set of rules were registered in Britain in 1856.