NAVAN

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

"NAVAN, a parish, post, and market town, in the barony of Lower Navan, county Meath, province of Leinster, Ireland, 29 miles N.N.W. of Dublin. The parish is 3 miles long and 2 at the widest. The soil is generally poor, and the surface flat. The road from Dublin to Enniskillen traverses the interior. The river Boyne forms the entire E. boundary. The living is a vicarage in the diocese of Meath, value with another, £566, in the patronage of the crown. The church was built in 1818 by means of a gift and loan from the late Board of First Fruits. The Roman Catholic chapel is united to that of Robinstown. There are several daily schools in the parish. The town is situated at the meeting of the Boyne and Blackwater. It is a station on the Kells branch of the Dublin and Drogheda railway. It consists of three principal streets and several smaller thoroughfares. Two stone bridges span the rivers, upon whose banks are numerous mills. The principal trade of the place is in provisions, and in the supply of the surrounding country. There are manufactories of sacking, flax mills, a tannery, and a distillery. A brisk retail trade in miscellaneous goods is carried on. The principal public buildings are the market and court houses, police station, barracks, dispensary, fever hospital, bridewell, poorhouse, and Alderman Preston's schools. There are a branch bank and a savings-bank. Navan was formerly a borough, sending two members to the Irish parliament before the Union. It obtained its charter in the time of Edward IV. An abbey was founded here by the Nangle family in the 12th century, and shortly after the town was walled round by Hugh de Lacy. Among other ruins is a specimen of a round tower. Boyne Hill is the seat of Lieut. Col. Gerrard. Navan is the head of a Poor-law Union, consisting of twelve electoral divisions in the county of Meath. Wednesday is market day. Fairs are held on Easter and Trinity Mondays, the 2nd Monday in September, and the 1st Monday in December."

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