Markethill
Encyclopedia
Markethill is a village
in County Armagh
, Northern Ireland
. In the 2001 Census
it had a population of 1,292 people. It sits at the southern side of Gosford Forest Park
. A livestock market is held here three times a week and each summer the largest Lambeg drumming
competition in Northern Ireland takes place in the village.
It is home to Kilcluney Volunteers Flute Band, who host the largest band parade in Europe on the first Friday of each June. This attracts thousands of onlookers and participants.
of Coolmallish or Coolmillish , on the road between Armagh
and Newry
. It began to grow during the Plantation of Ulster
as a town for British
colonists.
The village of Markethill was founded by a Scottish family, the Achesons of Gosford (or Goseford), Haddingtonshire (East Lothian
), who received a grant of 1,000 acres (4 km²) from King James I
in 1610. The Achesons built a strong castle at Cloncarney around 1617, but it was destroyed in the Irish Rebellion of 1641
. It was replaced with a manor house, visited by Jonathan Swift
, in the late 1720s, who devised the existing nature walks throughout the grounds, where he composed poems. The manor house although occupied to 1840, has practically disappeared. In 1819, Archibald Acheson, 2nd Earl of Gosford
, (a peerage bestowed on the family in 1776), commissioned the construction of Gosford Castle
.
, which includes a list of incidents in Markethill during the Troubles resulting in two or more fatalities.
is within Gosford Forest Park. Construction of Gosford castle began in 1819 and finished in the 1850s. It was commissioned by Archibald Acheson, 2nd Earl of Gosford and the architect was Thomas Hopper, one of the leading London
architects of the first half of the 19th century. The Ministry of Agriculture bought the estate in 1958, establishing Gosford Forest Park. Gosford Castle is the largest Grade A listed building in Northern Ireland, in 2006 after public consultation the Boyd Partnership was selected to restore the castle and covert it into 24 self contained luxury apartments. The first residents moved in December 2008, restoration is still in progress as of May 2010.
Markethill Couthouse, situated at the top of Main Street, at the north entrance to Markethill adjacent to Gosford Forest Park. Markethill Courhouse was built in 1842 to the designs of Thomas Duff, it is one of the few surviving large regional free standing Courthouses built in the middle century. The building is constructed of random Blackstone with Armagh limestone quoins and dressings. The building was last used as a courthouse in 1952, was purchased by Markethill District Enterprises Ltd in June 1997, after lying vacant for 25 years. The building was restored to its former glory for use as a community centre.
For more details see: NI Neighbourhood Information Service
Today the area is largely focused on agriculture and is centred on the large agricultural mart situated at the south side of the Main Street. Markethill Livestock Sales has been established for more than 45 years. A small business park has been constructed on a section of the former Spence, Bryson & Co. Ltd Linen Mill which contains a number of small business' and start-up enterprises. The business park is administered by Markethill Business Centre on Fairgreen Road.
There are several large established independent business' located in the town. These include Alexander's of Markethill and Alexanders Furnishings, established in 1946 and operating from the old Market House among other buildings. They retail a large range of furnishings, carpet, beds, fancy goods and a restaurant. Dalzell's of Markethill, established in 1956 and operating from the former Northern Bank building among others premises retail, wholesale and export electrical appliances across Ireland. They also retail a large range of furniture, beds, carpets and fancy goods. J.D. Hunter & Co. are a large independent supermarket located on the former linen mill site, they are part of the Nisa group and also operate a restaurant, the Old Barn.
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
in County Armagh
County Armagh
-History:Ancient Armagh was the territory of the Ulaid before the fourth century AD. It was ruled by the Red Branch, whose capital was Emain Macha near Armagh. The site, and subsequently the city, were named after the goddess Macha...
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
. In the 2001 Census
United Kingdom Census 2001
A nationwide census, known as Census 2001, was conducted in the United Kingdom on Sunday, 29 April 2001. This was the 20th UK Census and recorded a resident population of 58,789,194....
it had a population of 1,292 people. It sits at the southern side of Gosford Forest Park
Gosford Forest Park
Gosford Forest Park is located outside the Co. Armagh village of Markethill. Gosford Forest Park, previously Gosford Demesne, was acquired by the Department of Agriculture in 1958 and comprises some 240 hectares of diverse woodland and open parkland...
. A livestock market is held here three times a week and each summer the largest Lambeg drumming
Lambeg drum
A Lambeg drum is a large Irish drum, beaten with curved malacca canes. It is used primarily in Northern Ireland by Unionists and the Orange Order traditionally in street parades held in the summer, particularly on and around 12 July...
competition in Northern Ireland takes place in the village.
It is home to Kilcluney Volunteers Flute Band, who host the largest band parade in Europe on the first Friday of each June. This attracts thousands of onlookers and participants.
History
The village sprang up within the townlandTownland
A townland or bally is a small geographical division of land used in Ireland. The townland system is of Gaelic origin—most townlands are believed to pre-date the Norman invasion and most have names derived from the Irish language...
of Coolmallish or Coolmillish , on the road between Armagh
Armagh
Armagh is a large settlement in Northern Ireland, and the county town of County Armagh. It is a site of historical importance for both Celtic paganism and Christianity and is the seat, for both the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of Ireland, of the Archbishop of Armagh...
and Newry
Newry
Newry is a city in Northern Ireland. The River Clanrye, which runs through the city, formed the historic border between County Armagh and County Down. It is from Belfast and from Dublin. Newry had a population of 27,433 at the 2001 Census, while Newry and Mourne Council Area had a population...
. It began to grow during the Plantation of Ulster
Plantation of Ulster
The Plantation of Ulster was the organised colonisation of Ulster—a province of Ireland—by people from Great Britain. Private plantation by wealthy landowners began in 1606, while official plantation controlled by King James I of England and VI of Scotland began in 1609...
as a town for British
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...
colonists.
The village of Markethill was founded by a Scottish family, the Achesons of Gosford (or Goseford), Haddingtonshire (East Lothian
East Lothian
East Lothian is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland, and a lieutenancy Area. It borders the City of Edinburgh, Scottish Borders and Midlothian. Its administrative centre is Haddington, although its largest town is Musselburgh....
), who received a grant of 1,000 acres (4 km²) from King James I
James I of England
James VI and I was King of Scots as James VI from 24 July 1567 and King of England and Ireland as James I from the union of the English and Scottish crowns on 24 March 1603...
in 1610. The Achesons built a strong castle at Cloncarney around 1617, but it was destroyed in the Irish Rebellion of 1641
Irish Rebellion of 1641
The Irish Rebellion of 1641 began as an attempted coup d'état by Irish Catholic gentry, who tried to seize control of the English administration in Ireland to force concessions for the Catholics living under English rule...
. It was replaced with a manor house, visited by Jonathan Swift
Jonathan Swift
Jonathan Swift was an Irish satirist, essayist, political pamphleteer , poet and cleric who became Dean of St...
, in the late 1720s, who devised the existing nature walks throughout the grounds, where he composed poems. The manor house although occupied to 1840, has practically disappeared. In 1819, Archibald Acheson, 2nd Earl of Gosford
Archibald Acheson, 2nd Earl of Gosford
Archibald Acheson, 2nd Earl of Gosford GCB , styled The Honourable Archibald Acheson from 1790 to 1806 and Lord Acheson from 1806 to 1807, was a British politician who served as Lieutenant-Governor of Lower Canada and Governor General of British North America in the 19th century.-Background:Born at...
, (a peerage bestowed on the family in 1776), commissioned the construction of Gosford Castle
Gosford Castle
Gosford Castle is situated in Gosford, a townland of Markethill, County Armagh, Northern Ireland, close to the border with County Down. Construction of the castle began in 1819 and finished in the 1850s. It was commissioned by Archibald Acheson, 2nd Earl of Gosford and the architect was Thomas...
.
The Troubles
For more information see The Troubles in MarkethillThe Troubles in Markethill
The Troubles in Markethill recounts incidents during, and the effects of, The Troubles in Markethill, County Armagh, Northern Ireland.Incidents in Markethill during the Troubles resulting in two or more fatalities:1974...
, which includes a list of incidents in Markethill during the Troubles resulting in two or more fatalities.
Places of interest
Nearby Gosford CastleGosford Castle
Gosford Castle is situated in Gosford, a townland of Markethill, County Armagh, Northern Ireland, close to the border with County Down. Construction of the castle began in 1819 and finished in the 1850s. It was commissioned by Archibald Acheson, 2nd Earl of Gosford and the architect was Thomas...
is within Gosford Forest Park. Construction of Gosford castle began in 1819 and finished in the 1850s. It was commissioned by Archibald Acheson, 2nd Earl of Gosford and the architect was Thomas Hopper, one of the leading London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
architects of the first half of the 19th century. The Ministry of Agriculture bought the estate in 1958, establishing Gosford Forest Park. Gosford Castle is the largest Grade A listed building in Northern Ireland, in 2006 after public consultation the Boyd Partnership was selected to restore the castle and covert it into 24 self contained luxury apartments. The first residents moved in December 2008, restoration is still in progress as of May 2010.
Markethill Couthouse, situated at the top of Main Street, at the north entrance to Markethill adjacent to Gosford Forest Park. Markethill Courhouse was built in 1842 to the designs of Thomas Duff, it is one of the few surviving large regional free standing Courthouses built in the middle century. The building is constructed of random Blackstone with Armagh limestone quoins and dressings. The building was last used as a courthouse in 1952, was purchased by Markethill District Enterprises Ltd in June 1997, after lying vacant for 25 years. The building was restored to its former glory for use as a community centre.
Transport
- Markethill railway station opened on 25 August 1864, closed for passenger traffic on 1 February 1933 and finally closed altogether on 2 May 1955.
Demographics
Markethill is classified as a village by the NI Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) (i.e. with population between 1,000 and 2,250 people). On Census day (29 April 2001) there were 1,292 people living in Markethill. Of these:- 22.4% were aged under 16 years and 22.4% were aged 60 and over
- 47.3% of the population were male and 52.7% were female
- 82.9% were from a ProtestantProtestantismProtestantism is one of the three major groupings within Christianity. It is a movement that began in Germany in the early 16th century as a reaction against medieval Roman Catholic doctrines and practices, especially in regards to salvation, justification, and ecclesiology.The doctrines of the...
background - 3.4% of people aged 16–74
For more details see: NI Neighbourhood Information Service
Business and Industry
The first significant industrial capacity in the town was established in 1888 by DH Sinton who established a linen mill, close to the towns railway station. The mill was purchased by Spence, Bryson & Co. Ltd in 1909 and remained operational until 1991 when it was badly damaged by an IRA bomb. Production at this point moved to a sister factory in nearby Portadown.Today the area is largely focused on agriculture and is centred on the large agricultural mart situated at the south side of the Main Street. Markethill Livestock Sales has been established for more than 45 years. A small business park has been constructed on a section of the former Spence, Bryson & Co. Ltd Linen Mill which contains a number of small business' and start-up enterprises. The business park is administered by Markethill Business Centre on Fairgreen Road.
There are several large established independent business' located in the town. These include Alexander's of Markethill and Alexanders Furnishings, established in 1946 and operating from the old Market House among other buildings. They retail a large range of furnishings, carpet, beds, fancy goods and a restaurant. Dalzell's of Markethill, established in 1956 and operating from the former Northern Bank building among others premises retail, wholesale and export electrical appliances across Ireland. They also retail a large range of furniture, beds, carpets and fancy goods. J.D. Hunter & Co. are a large independent supermarket located on the former linen mill site, they are part of the Nisa group and also operate a restaurant, the Old Barn.
See also
- List of villages in Northern Ireland
- List of towns in Northern Ireland
- Market Houses in Northern IrelandMarket Houses in Northern IrelandMarket houses are a notable feature of many Northern Ireland towns with varying styles of architecture, size and ornamentation making for a most interesting feature of the streetscape. Originally there were three, four or even five bays on the ground floor which were an open arcade. An upper...
- Gosford, County Down
External links
- Old Barn Steakhouse
- Markethill District Enterprises
- First and Second Markethill Presbyterian Church
- Gosford Forest Park
- Markethill Market House
- Kilcluney Volunteers Flute Band, Markethill
- Dalzell's of Markethill
- Alexanders Furnishings
- Nisa
- Markethill Livestock Sales
- Boyd Partnership
- Markethill Business Centre
- Markethill Free Presbyterian Church