KILDROUGHT

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

"KILDROUGHT, a parish in the barony of North Salt, county Kildare, Ireland, 11 miles W. of Dublin, and 1 mile from the Hazelhatch station of the Great Southern and Western railway. It is situated on the river Liffey, which is here spanned by a bridge, and near the Royal canal. It contains the post and market town of Celbridge [which see]. The land is highly cultivated, and many of the inhabitants are engaged in the cotton and woollen factories. The living is a rectory* in the diocese of Kildare, value with five others, £400, in the patronage of the crown. The church is a modern edifice standing in the town of Celbridge, as does also the Roman Catholic chapel. There is a free school, with an income from an endowment of £310, founded by the Conolly family. There are several seats in the neighbourhood."

"CELBRIDGE, a market town in the parishes of Donaghcumper and Kildrought, in the baronies of N. and S. Salt, in the county of Kildare, province of Leinster, Ireland, 11 miles W. of Dublin. It is situated in the midst of a highly improved country, on the river Liffey, near the Royal canal, and at the distance of 1 mile from the Hazelhatch station of the Great Southern and Western railway. Many of the inhabitants are engaged in the cotton and woollen trade, and there is a large woollen factory in the town, erected in 1805, but not recently at work. The town, which was founded at an early period by the earls of Limerick, contains the parish church of Kildrought, a modern structure, with a monument to the Conollys; a Roman Catholic chapel, savings-bank, hospital, and the Union poorhouse. There is a free school founded by the Conollys, the revenue of which is £309 per annum. Some interest is attached to this spot as having been the home of Esther Vanhomrigh, known as Vanessa in Dean Swift's poem of "Cadenus and Vanessa." A bower of laurels is still pointed out in the grounds of Celbridge Abbey was the place where the Dean and Vanessa frequently conversed. A handsome bridge here spans the Liffey, which flows for several miles through demesne lands of great beauty. There are several fine seats in the neighbourhood. The market day is Saturday. Fairs are held on the last Tuesday in April, 8th September, and 7th November."

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