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LISBURN

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

"LISBURN, a parish, a post and market town, and parliamentary borough, in the parish of Blaris, barony of Upper Massarene, county Antrim, province of Ulster, Ireland, 7 miles S.S.W. of Belfast, and 92 from Dublin. It is a station on the Ulster railway. It is situated on the river Lagan, and on the road from Dublin to Belfast. Its history as a thriving town dates from 1627, when Viscount Conway raised it from the obscurity of a poor village called Lisnegarvey. In 1707 a castle was built here. Petty sessions are held every Tuesday. It returns two members to the Irish parliament, by charter of Charles II. It now sends one representative to the imperial parliament. It is governed by 17 petty constables. It is a well-built and neatly kept town. The streets are clean, and lighted with gas. The principal buildings are, the parish church, or cathedral of the diocese of Down, a Roman Catholic and six other chapels, a court-house, bridge, market-house, assembly rooms, linen hall, union workhouse, banks, insurance agencies, &c. Among the charitable institutions are, Williams' and Trail's almshouses, a hospital, infirmary, &c. There are several good schools, among which are White's school and Handcock's school. A considerable trade is carried on in the manufacture of damask, diaper, &c. The linen trade was introduced by a settlement of French Huguenots in 1686. In 1641 Monroe made an attack upon the town, but was repulsed by Venables. In the church is the tomb of Jeremy Taylor, who died here, and Bishop Erasmus Smith was born here in 1665. The Vaughans take the title of earl and viscount from this place. Lisburn is the head of a Poor-law Union containing 27 electoral divisions in the counties Antrim and Down. There is a race-course at the Maze. Tuesday is market day. Fairs are held on the 21st July and 6th October."

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