BANGOR

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

"BANGOR, a parish, seaport, municipal borough, and market town, in the baronies of Ards and Lower Castlereagh, in the county of Down, province of Ulster, Ireland, 12 miles to the N.E. of Belfast, and 114 miles from Dublin. It is situated in a pleasant and cultivated district, on the south coast of Belfast Lough, and contains the island of Copeland, with the villages of Groomsport, Conlig, and Crawfordsburn. Bangor was famous for its abbey of canons, founded by St. Congall, a native of County Antrim, in the year 559; in connection with which a school grew up and became widely celebrated. The abbey perished by fire in 674. It was captured by the Danes in 818, and a massacre of the monks followed. It was rebuilt in 1125, and an oratory-was added to it, built of stone, from which circumstance the place received the name Bean-choir (Bangor), or "white church." In 1469 the establishment was given by the Pope to the Franciscans. After the Dissolution, it was held by the O'Nials, and was subsequently granted by James I. to Sir James Hamilton, who settled there with a colony of Scots, accompanied by their minister, Robert Blair. The earliest record of the residence of a bishop of Bangor bears date 810; but it is highly probable that bishops had been stationed there before that period. The district contains slate, coal, copper, and lead, but the last only is worked. Some of the inhabitants are engaged in fishing. There were formerly two cotton mills in the town; but the only trade now carried on is the sewed muslin and cotton weaving. The town received a charter of incorporation from James I., and returned two members to the Irish parliament till the Union. It contains, according to the census of 1861, 578 inhabited houses, with a population of 2,525, of whom 677 are returned as belonging to the Established Church, 149 Roman Catholics, 1,566 Presbyterians, 110 Methodists, and 23 of other persuasions. Petty sessions are held once a fortnight in the town. Police and coastguard stations are also established here. The living is a perpetual curacy in the diocese of Down, Connor, and Dromore, value £100, in the gift of Viscount Bangor and R. E. Ward, Esq. The church is a handsome modern edifice in the perpendicular style, standing within the precincts of the old abbey, and capable of containing 500. It is of modern structure, excepting the tower and steeple; the former no doubt part of the building erected in 1617. There are several old monuments about the church, but the most remarkable is that erected to the memory of the first Protestant dean of Down, the inscription of which deserves quotation here-" Heir lies belowe ane learned and Reverend Father in Gode's Church, Mester John Gibson, sence Reformations from Popery the first Deane of Downe send by his Majestye into this kingdom, and received by my Lord Clandeboye to be preacher at Bangor. At his entry had xi. communicants, and at his departure this lyf, 23 Junii, 1623, left 1,200 being of age 63 years. So Chryst was his advantage, bothe in lyfe and death." There are two Presbyterian meeting-houses, a Roman Catholic chapel, and one each for Wesleyan and Primitive Methodists. There are several schools, supported by endowments and subscription, a savings-bank, and a dispensary. The principal seats in the neighbourhood, the scenery of which is very agreeable, are Clandeboye, the seat of Lord Dufferin; Bangor Castle, that of R. E. Ward, Esq., one of the proprietors of the town; Crawfordsburn, of J. Sharman Crawford, Esq., &c. In the parish are many ancient military and other remains. Bangor gives the title of viscount and baron to the Wards. Tuesday is the market day. Fairs are held on the 12th January, the 1st May, the 1st August, and the 22nd November."

"COPELAND ISLANDS, a group of islands lying to the S. of Belfast Lough, in the parish of Bangor, in the barony of Ardes, in the county of Down, province of Ulster, Ireland. The principal among them are Big Island, Cross Island, Lighthouse Island, and Mew Island. Big Island is well cultivated, and the inhabitants rear large numbers of domestic fowl, which are of uncommon size. The seaweed, which is washed on shore by every tide, is used as manure. The light on Lighthouse Island can be seen from the Mull of Galloway, in Scotland; it was erected in 1796, and is 131 feet high. It was among these islands that the Enterprise went down in 1801, with specie on board, part of which was recovered about thirty years afterwards. These islands take their name from their ancient owners in the 12th century."

"CRAWFORD'S BURN, a village in the parish of Bangor, barony of Lower Castlereagh, in the county of Down, province of Ulster, Ireland, 2 miles W. of Bangor. It stands near Belfast Lough, on whose shores is Crawford's Burn, the seat of the Crawfords, and Ballyleigh, the seat of Lord Dufferin."

"GROOMSPORT, (or Gregory's Port), a post-office village, fishing and coastguard station, in the parish of Bangor, barony of Ards, county Down, province of Ulster, Ireland, 4 miles N.W. of Donaghadee. It has a harbour and small pier, and is the spot where Schomberg landed in 1689.

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