£3.50 ISSN 1743-565X (N0.13) Vol.4 No.1 December 2017 History

 The day the Sheriff of Nottingham came to town

 The Armagh Tontine Assembly Rooms

 Irish Street: fowl, flax and so much more

 Armagh City Steam Laundry

An Armagh History Group Publication History Armagh No. 13 - Vol. 4 No. 1 - December 2017

Marjorie Halligan, founder member and first Vice-chairperson: an appreciation When Marjorie passed away on 11th February 2017 we lost not just a founder member of the Armagh and District History Group and its first Vice-chairperson but also a dear friend to many of us.

I first got to know her when she came to the Irish and Local Studies Library where I worked to do research for her M.A. (Irish Studies). Right from the outset we discovered we had many interests in common including dining out so we soon became firm friends. We both enjoyed the various events and conferences held at the Queens campus in Armagh and we took part in an outreach programme which offered talks on history to women’s groups in rural areas. Thus when I told Marjorie that a few of us were thinking of starting a local history group she was really enthusiastic and immediately became actively involved in the steering group. She was undoubtedly a great asset because she already had experience in local history research and indeed published an acclaimed history of St Mark’s church in the millennium year, 2000. She was our first Vice-chair and retained the position until she had to resign from the committee for health reasons.

She was a member of the editorial board and wrote meticulously researched articles for every edition of ‘History Armagh’ as long as her health allowed. The diverse range of topics covered is an indication of Marjorie’s interest in and knowledge of so many aspects of Armagh’s past. They included the early history of , the wills of members of the Molyneaux family and the history of undertaking in the city. Much of her research was carried out at the Irish and Local Studies Library where she was held in particularly high esteem and affection by all staff, past and present, because of her unfailing courtesy, ever friendly manner and appreciation for the service she received. She was greatly missed when she was no longer able to attend the editorial board meetings especially when it came to proof reading articles for inclusion in the journal. This was when her teaching experience was to the fore. She could very discreetly correct and amend material without causing embarrassment or offence.

Marjorie was a very able public speaker and was always willing to participate on the occasions when, instead of having a visiting lecturer at the monthly meeting, several of us gave short talks. When she and I shared a platform on more than one occasion to mark International Women’s Day we used to joke about our ‘double act’. Indeed, we shared many jokes over the years. When we were speaking about her recently one of our committee members remarked that she was the ‘nearest thing to a saint’. I would agree but must add that she was a saint with an impish, irrepressible sense of humour.

Marjorie Halligan accepted with grace and dignity the terrible adversities she endured. She rose to every challenge and was truly inspirational. We will never forget her. Mary McVeigh

History Armagh No. 13 - Vol. 4 No. 1 - December 2017 2

Vol. 4 No. 1 - December 2017 History Armagh

This is a publication of Contents Armagh & District History Group

Chairperson: Mary McVeigh Marjorie Halligan: an appreciation by Mary McVeigh ...... 2 Vice Chair: Stephen Day Secretary: Helen Grimes Treasurer: Kevin Quinn Press Officer: Eric Villiers The Armagh Tontine assembly Rooms, 1794-1907 Web Master: Richard Burns by Kevin Quinn ...... 5

Editorial committee: Some Irish Surnames Mary McVeigh, Eric Villiers, by Gerry Oates ...... 10 Kevin Quinn, Stephen Day,

Roy Cummings, Richard Burns, Una Boylan, Helen Grimes, The day the Sheriff of Nottingham came to Armagh: the story Angela Boylan, Stephen Garvin of Kate North by Richard Burns ...... 14 Copyright:

No part of this publication may A short history of the Fire Service in Armagh be reproduced without the prior by Stephen Day ...... 18 consent of the publishers and the relevant author

Armagh City Steam Laundry—a glimpse at the early years by Sean Barden ...... 23 Printers: The Postcard Company Limited

51 Gortin Road Armagh writer’s forgotten role in saving Brontës’ Irish heritage Omagh BT79 7HZ by Eric Villiers ...... 27 Tel: 028 8224 9222 E: [email protected]

Front cover: Irish Street: fowl, flax and so much more Armagh from the Road, Clara Irwin by Mary McVeigh ...... 29 (c.1910), watercolour collection, (1.1953)

Back cover: Immigrants in early 20th Century Armagh Market Street Ablaze 1974 by kind permission of Vinny Loughran by Catherine Gartland ...... 37

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History Armagh No. 13 - Vol. 4 No. 1 - December 2017 4

The Armagh Tontine Assembly Rooms,1794 -1907 by Kevin Quinn

raise funds for a specific purpose. It is a special kind of annuity in which all participants contribute equally to a subscription pool. A fixed percentage of the total capital raised is distributed equally among the surviving nominees every year until there is one remaining survivor who then benefits from the whole income. The concept is named after a Neapolitan banker, Lorenzo Tonti (1630-1695), who is credited with inventing it in France in 1653 in order to raise revenue for Louis XIV of France. France,

Fig.1 The only known photograph of Armagh Tontine Assembly Rooms c 1880s (English_Street_009) Armagh County Museum Holland, and England set up state tontines in the late seventeenth- The Armagh Tontine Assembly an advertisement appeared in the century but by the end of the Rooms were located in Lower Newsletter for the letting of eighteenth-century, the tontine had English Street on the site which is a theatre in Armagh. According to fallen out of favour with now occupied by the North/South Paterson,(ibid p50) there was a governments as a revenue raising Ministerial Council and where building known as “the Assembly instrument. However, smaller scale previously stood the City Hall from Rooms” which were in use from at and less formal tontines continued 1908 to 1972 (see Fig.1). The least 1782 and that both the theatre to be arranged between subscribers Tontine Rooms served as the (mentioned in the News Letter) and as a means to raise funds for a social, cultural, and administrative the Assembly Rooms were particular project. This seems to hub for the citizens of Armagh and probably one and the same building have been the case in Armagh. District for well over a century. (see fig.2). By 1795, a new building Interestingly, a reference is made in Many nineteenth-century national had been constructed on the site of James Stuart’s History of Armagh and global celebrities performed on the theatre/ assembly rooms. Due to (1819) that Archbishop Robinson its stage, such as General Tom the method used to raise the finance was the survivor of a French Thumb, , and Percy to fund the construction .i.e. “A tontine from which he derived his French. Tontine” the new build was called considerable wealth. the “The Tontine Assembly Social and cultural venues in Rooms.” Lease granted and the Armagh before 1794 establishment of a tontine From around the 1740s, strolling The original lease of the premises players would visit the town and was granted on 4thFebruary 1790 by procure houses and other premises Thomas ‘Buck’ Whaley and was for a period of time in order to held under the Church of Fig.2 ‘Armagh Theatre let or auction’ Belfast News letter perform their list of plays August 1791. Armagh County Museum Library. Archbishop of Armagh to Rev. (Paterson, ‘Tontine’ p. 53). By the (Dean of Armagh),

1780s, the Market House was Rev. Richard Allott, John Burges, occasionally used for assemblies The concept and origin of a Thomas Macan, Thomas Taylor, which were intended to raise tontine and John Macan at a yearly rent of money for the newly established A tontine is an investment plan £5.13s.9d. There is no surviving list County Infirmary. In August 1791, arranged between individuals to of the original subscribers other

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than the Trustees named above. 1795.There are several references Prentice, and John Waugh. It is However, the treasurer was during this period that provide an difficult to say why it took another Alexander Livingstone and the insight into the type of functions seven years before the structural subscriptions were set at £0.5s.5d that were being held there and who problems facing the Tontine Rooms per quarter. By 1794, £1500 had was attending these functions. A were addressed. One possible been subscribed but an additional quarterly subscription of 5s.5d reason for this delay could have £2074 was needed. would have probably restricted been the long drawn-out legal access for the majority of Armagh’s process required to change from a March 1794; a committee citizens. Alexander Hamilton (The Tontine investment to a Cestui Que formed and construction th begins son of the Dean of Armagh) Vie Trust, as it wasn’t until 6 (Paterson, P52) wrote several September 1823 that the deed th On 9 March 1794, the Belfast references in his diary describing creating the new trust was Newsletter informed its readers that some of the social occasions he eventually sorted by an indenture. a committee had been formed to attended at the Tontine. He records Also, their revenue stream would superintend the building of the new that on September 10th 1795 he have been interrupted during this “Tontine Assembly Rooms” and attended an assembly and on April process as income from letting for that the new building “was to 10th 1797, he dined with the Grand social activities would have consist of tea, card and coffee Jury and afterwards went to a card probably ceased and revenue from rooms of elegant design”. The assembly in the new rooms which rent would have been paltry. It committee met on the site and the was held every Monday evening. appears that for most of the 1820s, foundation stone was laid by the Hamilton commented; “along with some rooms in the Tontine were town Sovereign, Thomas Macan, the cards there was dancing and being used as a store. In the new Esq. When construction was tea and cakes were served.”On committee minutes (1828) it is completed, the “Tontine Assembly August 12th 1802, he attended “a documented that a Mr Garbett was Rooms” were three stories high and very pleasant ball” in the company directed to remove the flax he was had a frontage to English Street of of the Gosfords. storing in one of the rooms and “to sixty-nine feet. The ground floor pay a fine of £5 for damaged Tontine Rooms in decline by had two rooms, two large kitchens, caused to the joists.”Similarly, a the early 1820s and a pantry. The first floor Mr Sloan was asked to remove consisted of three rooms; one large, By 1821, it appears that the Tontine goods and a Mr Armstrong was one medium, and one small. The Rooms had fallen on hard times. directed to vacate the room he was second floor consisted of This is quite surprising considering occupying. apartments. A large yard of about Stuart’s positive comments on the forty-two feet occupied the rooms only two years previously. The Tontine minute book, remainder of the frontage to Even the building itself is said to 1828-29 English Street. In Stuart’s (ibid have been in a state of dilapidation Fortunately, the minute book 1819) he describes the Tontine ‘as by this time. Indeed it appears to covering the final phase of the a spacious and handsome building, have gone through a period of rapid Tontine has survived. The new containing an extensive ballroom decline which may have been due Trustees met on 11th February 1828 with a well-planned suite of to the possibility that not enough which ushered in the second phase apartments’. He also informs that a subscriptions were raised and as a of the Armagh Tontine Assembly News Room had been established consequence the building was Rooms. In the first meeting in one of the ground floor rooms probably poorly constructed and recorded, it was decided to place and was well supported by a great maintained. In 1821, a general advertisements in the ‘the town number of very respectable meeting of subscribers and paper, ’a ‘ paper’, and the subscribers. proprietors was held to assign their Belfast Guardian for tenders to be interests to new Trustees “so that it forwarded to Mr Farrell (an Armagh’s socialites and social scene in the early years could still serve the citizens of architect who offered his services of the Tontine Assembly Armagh.”The newly appointed free of charge)“for the repairs and Rooms Trustees were A.I. Kelly improvements of the Tontine (Sovereign of Armagh), R. R. st The earliest reference to the Rooms.”On 1 March 1828, five Lodge, Leonard Dobbin (Senior), Tontine and Assembly Rooms as a sealed tenders ‘first proposals’ William McWilliams, H.L. going concern was in September were opened. Tenders were as

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follows, “Robert Willis and James The Tontine Rooms as a acrobat named Richard Sands. He McGrath £595.18s.2d, John Best community focal point rather would walk upside down on a £811.10s.1d, Joseph Boyd than a private club wooden platform suspended from £577.8s.2d, Robert Baxter The main emphasis and values of the ceiling using rubber suction £750.9s.7d., and John Ewing and the new Tontine Trustees seems to pads attached to his feet. Before John McElroy £543.3s.10.”All of have been to make the building coming to Armagh, he had the above were instructed to more accessible to the local performed his act in the Surrey provide a second set of proposals to community. Under its direction, it Theatre in Drury Lane, London. the architect. A meeting was held accommodated the Armagh Saving Unfortunately, in 1861, the stunt rd on 23 April 1828 to consider the Bank (1839), the Armagh Natural ended in disaster. Sands was second set of proposals which were History and Philosophical Society’s challenged to walk across the as follows; “Robert Willis Museum (1840s), the Newsroom ceiling in a civic building in £702.14s.9d, Robert Baxter (1818 to 1874), and in later years Melrose, Massachusetts, but when £770.12s.7d, Joseph Boyd the Town Commissioners and their a section of the plaster he was £800.16s.3d.”The lowest tender successors the Urban Council. It attached to gave way, he was killed was submitted by “Ewing & was also the home of many local by the fall. McElroy at £698.1s.2 & 1/2d” and societies such as musical, General Tom Thumb they were duly awarded the agricultural, ‘deaf and dumb’, and contract. A £500 security was bible societies. Alongside concerts, sought for “the performance of the dances, and theatricals, the Tontine work” and the work was to be rooms also held lectures, bazaars, finished on the interior of the auctions, and meetings dealing with st building on or before 1 January political questions such as an anti- st 1829 and the exterior 1 November slavery meeting organised by the th 1829. In a meeting on 9 June Rev Edgar which were held in the 1829, a John Fagan was employed 1840s. It is somewhat ironic that as caretaker with an annual salary within thirty years in the late 1870s for himself and his wife of £40 “on a choir of freed American slaves the condition that he produced two would perform at the tontine. See securities for the sum of £100 for Page 4. (Fig.3 Tontine playbill Fig.4 General Tom Thumb impersonating Napoleon. the faithful discharge of the duties Photograph of General Tom Thumb by unknown, Google Jubilee singers) ARMCM. Image, Public Domain. and the care of the place.” 310.2013 Armagh County Museum The Tontine Rooms seem to have The refurbished Tontine Speciality and novelty acts Rooms hosts its first event 1840-1890s been a prestigious venue as many famous entertainers of the period The object and design of the 1823 The Tontine Rooms did not only included the venue in their tours. In Trust Deed was that the building cater for local and regional November 1848 and May 1849, the and premises should be solely for performers, it also attracted ten year-old, two feet and five the use and benefit of the City of national and international acts inches global celebrity, ‘General Armagh by “providing suitable which included acts with unusual Tom Thumb’, one of the most accommodation for social and and bizarre names. In January famous novelty acts in the world at cultural events.” It was decided 1844, Mr Anderson, ‘the Northern that time, strutted the stage of the that the rooms were to be let at £2 Wizard’, performed for six nights. Tontine Rooms. According to the per event and that no room was to Other entertainers included Mr Tontine accounts for that year, the be let gratuitously except to the Gallagher ‘the great ventriloquist’, promoter for the November rd Poor Law Guardians. On 23 Bartley ‘the Wizard of the West’, performance was a ‘Mr January 1830, the Tontine Trustees ‘Dr Mark and the Little People’, Montgomery’ who was charged £5- received its first application from a Signora Lorenzo ‘the Mysterious 5s-0d for the let by the Tontine Mr Moorhead for the use of a room Lady’, and ‘the Midget Minstrels’. committee. ‘Mr Bateman’, the for a ball. The committee meeting In August 1853, a Tontine audience promoter for the return th on 15 February duly granted the were treated to a circus type act performance in May the following application for his ball on Thursday called ‘the Ceiling Walker’. ‘The year was charged significantly less th 28 February 1830. Ceiling Walker’ was an American for the let (£2-0s-0d)

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Oscar Wilde local press coverage for the A ‘Mill stone around neck’ occasion. Trustees attempt to break trust deed 1890s At the committee meeting held on 4th March 1890 a resolution was brought forward for the trust to be transferred into the hands of a corporate or some other public body who would also be willing to Fig.5 Photograph of Oscar Wilde by unknown, Google Image, Public Domain inherit the debt. It was thought to be the best way forward for the nd On Wednesday 2 January 1884, future sustainability of the building. Oscar Wilde, the late nineteenth- The recipients were required to century celebrity, novelist, belong to the City of Armagh and playwright, poet, and critic Fig.7 Photograph of Percy French by unknown, Google to be legally bound to act within the Image, Public Domain delivered a lecture in the Tontine stipulations of the original trust Rooms. The title of the lecture was deed i.e. that ”the building should ‘Personal Impressions of America’ Armagh Toll Committee’s financial support 1828-78 be solely for the use and benefit for and was based on Wilde’s the City of Armagh”. The Trustee’s experiences of his 1882 tour of the The Tontine Trustees’ main solicitor James C Bell was asked to USA and Canada. A ‘Mr W. benefactor during this period was work out the legalities “of going Bright’ was the promoter and was the Armagh Toll Committee. Their forth with the resolution”. charged £1-1s-0d for the letting. donations were crucial to the The lecture must have been maintenance of the building in the Legal Opinion received very well as according to period 1828-1878. In total, the James Bell informed the committee ‘The Armagh Guardian’, Mr Wilde Armagh Toll Committee donated meeting on 20th May 1890 that the expressed his opinion “that the approximately £2000 over this fifty Trustees could not put an end to the audience which he addressed in -year period, a hugely significant trust nor get rid of their Armagh was one of the most sum. At the committee meeting of responsibilities except by appreciative he ever met with.” Wednesday April 20th 1842, a Toll transferring the property to new committee proposal was passed Trustees. Furthermore, Bell was of “for the enlargement of the main the opinion that the preferred assembly room with new gas recipients of the Trustees (The lighting at their expense”. It also Town Commissioners) could not included the stipulation that the with safety accept a transfer of a Armagh Musical Society had use of building which was now not self- the room free of charge. In the supporting, needed costly repairs meeting of Tuesday January 17th and had a financial liability of 1843, it was decided to raise the let £146.13s.4d. After careful fee of the refurbished room to consideration the committee between one and two guineas meeting of September 1890 depending on length of booking. In decided that the best way forward Fig.6 Lecture Notice in Armagh Guardian. March 1887 the Trustees sought Friday December 14 1888 was to seek further legal opinion, Armagh Irish Studies Library Newspaper microfilm and required the Tontine building but this time from a QC “as to the to be held under a sub-grant in Percy French best means to relieve them of the perpetuity. However, by the 1890’s trust”. Percy French performed at the the Trustees were in debt to the th Tontine on 18 September 1894 sum of around £150 and appeared Extraordinary meeting and was duly charged £1-1s-0d by to have had no means of clearing the committee for the hire of the this debt. According to the minutes the next venue. This was early in French’s meeting of the Trustees was not held th performing career which probably until September 11 1893 in which the only business discussed was to pass the accounts for the absence of any payment of £20 to solicitor James Bell

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for his legal services in 1890. The next the discussion between the two parties building at a public auction held on th meeting was an extraordinary meeting was not that harmonious. The new Monday 17 February 1908 in the th held on August 14 1894 with the council had earlier refused to pay an Tontine building. Later that year the Lord Primate and other non- Trustees increase in rent for a room that they Tontine Assembly Rooms were in attendance. The purpose was to were using in the Tontine. This was demolished to make way for the New discuss the improvement and followed by a proposal to build a new City Hall bringing to a close over a enlargement of the building. What was technical school on the site. The century of service to the local discussed was not recorded. change of purpose was not looked community. upon favourably by the Trustees. Town Commissioners attempt However, the Trustees did not object Acknowledgements to acquire the property 1895 provided that it was incorporated into I would like to thank the staff of the The deed of 6th September 1823 the new proposed town hall. The Armagh Robinson Library, Armagh Council subsequently relented and County Museum and Armagh Irish and creating the Trust and the Perpetuity Local Studies Library for their Grant of 10th March 1887 was dropped the proposal. invaluable assistance, time, insight and submitted to the Town Commissioners hospitality. All of which contributed to making my task a lot easier. and the case was presented to Mr Problem of Debt QC but no date is recorded Before the property could be References for the meeting. The Trustees had put transferred to the Urban Council who forward three different schemes to Armagh Tontine Assembly Rooms, was now to become the new Trustee ‘Minute Book 1828-1907’. Armagh dissolve themselves from the trust. the problem of the Tontine’s debt had Robinson Library, P001206997. The first of these was to allow to be addressed. At a Trustee meeting themselves to be evicted by arranging Paterson,TGF. ‘Tontine’. Vol 5 in February 1907, it was decided to Armachiana, Armagh County Museum with the landlord not to pay rent. The publish a notice in the local papers Library. second scheme two was to relinquish asking for subscribers to come forward Barden, Sean. ‘Armagh Tontine control of the trust and to seek the to pay off the debt which now stood at Assembly Rooms File’. Armagh County protection of the court while the third £95. The sum of £93.15s.0d was Museum Library. scheme was to seek charitable status. pledged but it took a few months and Barton, Hon Mr Justice . Justice in the In Mr Monaghan’s legal opinion all many urgent reminders before the debt High Court of Justice in Ireland three schemes were a breach of their was cleared. The last entry in the Chancery Division. ‘In the matter of the responsibilities under the deeds of the th trusts of the Tontine Assembly Rooms, minutes on 15 May 1907 instructed in the City of Armagh, created by an trust. Also in the case of the Town solicitors Monroe and Anderson to take indenture dated the 6th day of Commissioners acquiring the property the best possible method to enable the September, 1823’. Armagh County Museum Library. they could not use public money i.e. Trustees to break the trust. The last rates to pay off the Trustees’ debt. function held in the Tontine was the Belfast News Letter, ‘Theatre, Armagh, th The only way to resolve the impasse High Sheriff Luncheon held on 6th Armagh 4 August 1791’. Armagh County Museum Library. was through an act of Parliament (to August 1906. Following the event were dissolve the trust) which would costs were sought for damage to Armagh Guardian, ‘Mr Oscar Wilde probably be too costly. According to Lecture Friday 14th December 1883’ staircase rail at £0.2s.4d and four Armagh Irish Studies Library. the minutes this was the last time that broken chairs at £0-11s.0d. the Trustees met until new Trustees Armagh Guardian, ‘Mr Oscar Wilde’s were appointed six years later in 1901. Opinions of Things in General Friday th However, the accounts continued to be 4 January 1884. Armagh Irish Studies Library. audited and signed off annually. Stuart, James. ‘Historical Memoirs of The eventual transfer of the the City of Armagh’. Newry 1819. www.historyarmagh.org . Links Tontine to the Urban Council Historical Sources. 1901-08 Rogers, Edward. ‘A record of the City of A town meeting was convened to Armagh from the earliest period to the appoint a new committee for a scheme present time’. Armagh 1861. for Tontine building to be the new city www.historyarmagh.org . Links Fig. 8 Contractor completes demolition. Armagh County Historical Sources. hall. A new city hall on a different site Museum Library. would come in to competition with the Yikang,Li. Adverse selection in the Irish Tontines of 1773, 1775 and 1777. Tontine rendering it a losing concern The Tontine demolished 1908 Wellesley College Digital Scholarship and would probably put the trust into and Archive, Honours Thesis insolvency. The Town Commissioners By February 1908 the transfer of the Collection. 2014 successor; the Urban Council, made Tontine Rooms to the Urban Council enquires for the acquisition of the had been completed. The Urban Tontine for the new town hall. Initially Council purchased the Trusts and

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Some Irish Surnames by Gerry Oates

Dougans Mac Lysaght is unable to say In 1688 James II appointed James The following essays are a continuance whether these represent a distinct sept Dowgan, a local merchant, Burgess of of the on-going series on local names or a branch of one of those referred to Armagh in the short-lived Jacobite published in this magazine in recent above. However, in a place-name administration of the city. years. study of the barony of Iveagh, Muhr The early 18th century rent roll of the suggests that ‘in the name is Manor of Armagh recorded three Dougan most likely an offshoot of the family Dougan tenants in Umgola and who were hereditary historians to the According to Woulfe, with adjustments Drumarg in Armagh parish, one in O’Kellys of Uí Maine’ and notes that from Mac Lysaght, there were four Kennedies and another in Ballaghy in ‘some of the sept of Duganes were distinct septs named Ó Dubhagáin, one the parishes of and Eglish in established tenants on some of the in Munster and three in . The 1714. Wm. Lodge’s survey of archbishop’s lands near Armagh city in name is based on a diminutive form of Armagh city of 1770 identified nine 1609’. the word dubh ‘black’ and means Dug(g)ans in Irish Street and a further ‘young black-haired one’. Anglicised Dougan is currently the dominant two elsewhere in the city. Six forms of the surname include Dougan, English form of Ó Dubhagáin in east Dougans /Dugans appeared as Doogan, Dugan and Duggan. Ulster: Armagh, Down and Antrim. litigants between 1760 and 1797 at the Some of these may have Scottish roots, county assizes, and in 1796 during a In Munster the Ó Dubhagáin sept was but Black informs us that the name in period of bitter sectarian strife seated near the modern town of Scotland is of Irish origin. Dougan is between the Catholic ‘Defenders’ and Fermoy in Co. Cork where they were also the most common version of the the Protestant ‘Peep o’ Day Boys’ lords of the northern part of the ancient name in Co. Armagh at present and in Cormic Dugan of Tirnascobe and territory of Feara Maighe before the all probability has been established in three others lost their lives. coming of the Anglo-Normans. In the county since the late Middle Ages. Cork the spelling Duggan is almost The variant forms Dougan, Doogan, The 1609 inquisition stated ‘that … universal. Duggan and Dugan all appear in some of the sept of the Duganes and Griffith’s Valuation (1848-64) and in their ancestors, time out of mind, have There are two Ó Dubhagáin septs in the Co. Armagh Tithe Applotment been seized of [their] lands’, which are Co. Galway: the Ó Dubhagáin of Uí Books (1825-40). Griffith noted that now part of the Primate’s Demesne. Maine were a literary family and Dougan with 34 holdings accounted Further proof of the Dougan’s hereditary historians to the O Kellys, for more than the other versions settlement in Armagh is reflected in the rulers of Uí Maine. They too adopted combined and figures relating to the name Cavandoogan the English form Duggan. In south- tithes reflect the same trend. Doogan (Cabháin Uí Dhubhagáin ‘O Dougan’s west Galway there was another but is recorded with 11 holdings and all, hollow’) in the parish of . distinct family known as Ó Dubhagáin with one exception, were in the of Aidhne, an ancient territory which is Documents from the 17th century northern parishes of Drumcree, co-extensive with the diocese of including The Manor Court Rolls , The Montiaghs and Kilmacduagh. They too became (1625-27), Hearth Money Rolls (1664- Shankill. In the census of 1911 Duggans. 65) and rent rolls of the See of Armagh Dougan was much more common than all other versions in the county. Apart The third Connacht sept, Ó Dubhagáin (1618, 1661 and 1676) record the name from the Belfast urban area, there were of Tirawley, were located in Co. Mayo, in a variety of versions - O Dow(a) more Dougans in Co. Armagh than north-west of Ballina, and Duggan was gan /O Doogan /O Dogan and elsewhere in Ulster. again the most common English form. Dougan. Records of the rentals of the See of Armagh note a tenant in the city However, Doogan was also numerous Nationwide, the census of 1911 named Ann Dougan, a widow, whose and a small number named Dugan. In recorded Duggan (4,711) as the most surname also occurs as Dowagan, Donegal Doogan is the most common numerous version of the surname, Duganon and Dougan on five form with only moderate numbers of followed by Doogan (1,134), Dougan occasions in the period 1661-76. A Duggans and Dugans. The version (630) and Dugan (527). Dougan appeared only rarely in all the contemporary document, the above areas. Franciscan petition of 1670-71, Also worthy of note is that a local 17th recorded a William O Dugan of century poet named Maurice O Dúgáin Regarding the Ulster Doogans / Killevy parish among the signatories. from Benburb composed a lament for

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Owen Roe O Neill (c.1660), and is Armagh, mentioned in the Calendar of Killyman parish, as well as Patrick also accredited by some as the Papal Letters of 1451. Shortly Coonegan of Knockavannon and Owen composer of ‘An Chúileann’ (‘The afterwards a note in Archbishop Bole’s Conegan of Cavanakill in . Fair-haired Maid’), one of Ireland’s register of 1458 makes reference to the Among the graveyard inscriptions in most celebrated airs. threatened excommunication of Patrick churchyard are four O Kynnagan and Isaac O Culane, headstones variously inscribed rector and vicar of Clonfeacle, for Connigan, Conagan and Connegan Cunningham usurping lands belonging to the Abbey interred between 1753 and 1791. From Cunningham(e) names a district in of SS. Peter & Paul in Armagh. Much the same era, the Armagh assizes Ayrshire, Scotland, and was eventually later, certain 17th and 18th century indictments include litigants named adopted by inhabitants of the area as a records show evidence of the existence Roger Connegan (1760) and Thomas surname. The word itself is a of the Ó Connagain and /or Mac Cunningham (1765). Tithe records for compound of Scots Gaelic cuinneag Donnagáin septs in the county. parish (1785-87) mention a ‘milk pail’ and English hām ‘village’. Fearon, in his history of Kilmore, Phelim Conigan in Camagh and a Pat Although Cunningham is basically a refers to O Cennigan as a ‘church Conagan in Mullyard . Scottish surname it has been adopted family’ in the pre-Plantation parish of th as a synonym for several Irish Gaelic Ballymore and mentions an obsolete By the 19 century the variant forms surnames. place-name in the parish, O /Mac Conegan etc. had apparently Farrencounegan, possibly from an disappeared from records, yet Griffith’s The Old Irish personal name original Fearann Uí Chonagáin ‘O Valuation (1848-64) registered a Coinneacan, which appears in the Connegan’s land’. holding in the name of a John Kinnegan Annals of Ulster under the year 914, is of Camagh, Derrynoose, which Mac a diminutive form of the name Conn Variants of the name occur in a range Lysaght claims is a variant of and subsequently produced a series of of 17th century documents involving Cunningham in Cos. Armagh, cognate surnames: Ó /Mac Armagh matters. The Co. Armagh Monaghan and Louth. Cuinnegáin, Ó /Mac Connagáin, Mac depositions relating to the 1641 rising Coinneagáin, Ó Coinneacháin, Ó of the native Irish against the The present distribution of the original Cuinneacháin and Ó Connacháin in plantation settlers cited three persons Gaelic name is difficult to judge with places stretching from Donegal to named (O) Conigan and Mc Connikin the advent of Scottish settlers from the th Kerry. Most of these native surnames as insurgents in the neighbourhood of 17 century onward, but in areas less were eventually absorbed by the . The name appears again in affected by the Plantation, as in south Scottish name Cunningham, the Hearth Money Rolls of 1664-65 as Armagh, where the name Cunningham particularly in the province of Ulster Mc Cunigan in The Fews barony and appeared in Creggan family lists as where many genuine Cunninghams as Mc Cunigham in the baronies of early as 1766, it is most likely to be of from Ayrshire settled during the Armagh and Tiranny. Further Irish origin. Cunningham is still Plantation years. All of which makes evidence of an original Ó Conagáin or relatively common in the same area it very difficult to distinguish an Mac Donagáin occurs when Henry Mc today. original Ó Coinneacháin from a Mac Cunigan of parish Outside of Ulster Ó Coinneacháin /Ó Cuinneagáin without evidence of the signed the Franciscan petition list of Cuinneacháin have also suffered provenance of the ancestor. 1670-71, which appears to represent an absorption by Cunningham, but in intermediary stage in the transition to Westmeath and Offaly have been Mac Giolla Domhnaigh, however, Cunningham. The same petition also anglicised Kinahan. In Donegal Ó claims that the sept Ó Connagáin had listed a further nine signatories Connachain usually becomes its roots in Co. Armagh which variously spelled Conegan, Connogan, Connaghan in English, but it too been suggests that native Irish (Mac) Cunagan in Killevy and rendered Cunningham on occasions. Cunninghams in that county might be parishes including their descendants. He also informs us Archdeacon Phelim Conegan, Vicar The census of 1911 recorded 8.942 that the Co. Down surname Mac General of Armagh, whom Viscount entries for Cunningham and none for Donnagáin, usually anglicised Massereene refers to as ‘a person of the early variants Kin(n)agan, Con(n) Donegan, was also mistranslated as great repute among them’ in a letter to egan, Con(n)igan which suggests that Cunningham in cases where the final c the priest-hunter Sir Edward Massey in absorption by Cunningham was more of Mac eclipsed the following D. 1669. or less total. Only Kinahan, from Ó Coinneachain, was recorded with 245 Quite possibly the earliest occurrence Various spellings of the name occur entries. Apart from the Dublin of the name locally may be a reference again in the 18th century; the metropolitan area this surname was in Archbishop Mey’s register of 1446 archbishop’s rent rolls of 1714 include largely confined to an area to a Patrick Okelly, alias Okynnegan, two under-tenants named Ro(d)ger encompassing Offaly, Tipperary and rector of Ballymore parish who might Coonegan, one in Lisdown, in Eglish in 1911. be the Patrick O’Kynagan, canon of parish, the other in Clonmore,

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the Fiants of Elizabeth of 1602 Gormley to Grimley had become Grimley / Grimes / granted pardons to Arte O established by the end of the 18th Gormley Gormley and Henry O Gormly century and since that period described as ‘gentlemen, Co. Grimley has been regarded as an The principal authorities on Irish Armagh’. Further examples of O Armagh surname. The Tithe surnames of the last century, Gorm(e)ley in the county appear in Applotment Books (1825-40), Woulfe, Mac Lysaght and de the Patent Rolls of James I (1603- Griffith’s Valuation (1848-64) and Bhulbh, are agreed that the 25) and also in the Armagh Manor the census of 1911 confirm that surnames Grimley and Grimes are Court rolls of in 1626. Petty’s Grimley was much more common variant forms of Gormley. ‘census’ of c.1659 includes 12 Ó in Armagh than Gormley; slightly Gormley, historically, has been Gorm(e)ly entries and describes it more than 60% of all Grimleys associated principally with Tyrone, as ‘a principall Irish name’ in the were recorded in the county. Grimley, on the other hand, is barony of Tiranny. The Hearth Grimley is currently common in regarded as an Armagh surname. Money Rolls of 1664-65 recorded Armagh city, Tynan and O Gorml(e)y /O Gormlie in all Derrynoose parishes, while Ó Goirmshleadhaigh ‘descendant baronies of the county, and a rent Gormley has survived in numbers of the dark spearman’, now written roll of the See of Armagh of 1676 only in the Middletown area of Ó Garmaile and anglicised recorded Donnell and Cahall O Tynan parish. Gormley, names a sept of the Gormelye in Irish Street. Church Cineál Moen, a sub-clan of the records show that during the The other variant of O Gormley Cineál Eoghain. They were primacy of Oliver Plunkett (1669- mentioned by Mac Lysaght, formerly rulers of a territory in the 81) a Niall O Gormley served as Grimes, also appears in a number th vicinity of Raphoe in east Donegal, parish priest of Kilmore. of 18 century records. The but were driven from those lands earliest record of the name relating th by the O Donnells in the 13 Evidence of the transformation to Co. Armagh appears to be a century. They re-settled east of the from (Ó) Gormley to Grimley proclamation of 8th February, 1714 River Foyle between Derry and begins to appear in local records in publicly proclaiming Francis Strabane with their chief seat at the first half of the 18th century. Grimes of Killevy as a ‘tory, robber Ardstraw where they came under and rapparee’. A survey of the the overlordship of the O Neills. Proceedings of the Armagh assizes families in Creggan parish in 1766 The late medieval document ‘Ceart include more than 30 instances of included four households named Uí Néill’ (‘O Neill’s Rights’) Griml(e)y between 1735 and 1797 Grimes in the townlands of describes O Gormley as O Neill’s and several entries reflect the Creggan Duff, Liscalgat and steward of horses and chandler. An change in sound of the initial Cloghoge, but the main English intelligence report on the syllable from Gor- and Gir- to Gri- concentration appears to have been military strength of O Neill’s forces . In 1745-6 Gormolly appears in Derrynoose parish where twelve before the Battle of Clontibret in alongside Girmolly and Girmly, Grimes’ householders were 1595 estimated the fighting but in 1757 a Neal Grimley recorded in the tithe returns of 1785 strength of the Gormleys: ‘O appeared at the summer assizes. -87. Grimes occurs again in the Germele and his sonne 40 shott and As the century progressed Armagh assizes indictments in pike men’. references to Griml(e)y become 1777, 1787 and 1790. Six more evident. In 1776 Owen households named Grimes in The Plantation of Ulster in the early Grimly appeared at the Lent th Armagh, Tynan and Derrynoose 17 century saw the end of their assizes, followed by Cormick parishes were included among chieftainship and role as vassals of Grimly in 1778. At the Lent those awarded spinning wheels by the O Neills. The Gormleys were session of 1787 Edward, Catherine the Irish Linen Board in 1796 in a subsequently dispersed throughout and Margaret Grimley, and a promotion to encourage cottage Tyrone and south Derry. Henry Gormley were charged with industry. assault, and at the same court When the descendants of the session James Gormley, Roger Grimes was also prominent in 19th Gormley sept first settled in Co. Grimley and Arthur Grimly were century records, particularly in the Armagh is not recorded, but a also accused of a similar but tithes’ records for Derrynoose Patrick Ogarmelegy (O Gormley), separate offence. (1825) and Tynan (1827). Grimes chaplain of the Third Order of St. does not appear in Griffith’s Francis, is named in a mandate Apart from court appearances the Valuations (1848-64), but the name from Archbishop Bole (1457-71) rent roll for the manor of Balteagh, was more widespread, although less and ordered to investigate attacks Tynan parish, recorded leases numerous, than either Grimley or on the church of Clonfeacle in granted to Matthew and Bryan Gormley, occurring in 16 parishes 1464. The O Gormley sept was Grimly of Brootally in 1766. and in all baronies. Figures for apparently established in the county Grimes in 1911 were more th In Armagh the transfer from by the end of the 16 century, for numerous in the adjacent counties

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of Tyrone and Louth. G. F. Paterson (ed.): ‘Co. Armagh P. Ó Conluain: ‘Who Wrote An Depositions, 1641’ (ex. TCD, Chúileann? Was it a Bebnburb The census of 1911 produced Armagh Co. Museum Library) Man, Muiris Ó Dúgáin?’ (Dúiche the following figures for Co. Néill, Vol. 1, No. 3, 1988) T. G. F. Paterson: ‘Tithe Account Armagh: Grimley (147), Grimes 1785-87 Manuscript Collection, No. J. M. Batchelor: ‘Rent Roll for the (84), Gormley (21). 57, Vol. 5’ (Armagh County Manor of Balteagh, 1770’ (Dúiche Museum Library) Néill 6, 1991) In Connacht, where Grimes is an anglicisation of Ó Gréacháin, it M. Glancy: ‘The Primates & Church J. Donnelly & C. Dillon:Graveyard is most numerous in Co. Mayo. Lands’ (Seanchas Ard Mhacha, Inscriptions, St. Jarlath’s, Vol. 5, No. 2, 1957) Clonfeacle’ (Dúiche Néill 4, 1989) Finally, Woulfe claims that the M. Glancy: ‘The Church-lands of Griffith’s Valuation (1848-64) anglicised form Gormley has Co. Armagh’ (Seanchas Ard occasionally been changed to Mhacha, Vol. 1, No. 1, 1954) P. J. Campbell: ‘The Franciscan Bloomer, possibly as a result of Petition Lists, Diocese of Armagh, confusing the initial element of M. Glancy ‘The Church Lands of 1670-71’ (Seanchas Ard Mhacha, Gormley with Gaelic gorm Co. Armagh, No. 2 – the Precincts Vol. 15, No. 1, 1992) of Cosway, Coscallen and Toaghy ‘blue’. (Seanchas Ard Mhacha, Vol. 3, No. Charlemont Leases, Co. Armagh, 2, 1959) 1750-1829 (Armagh County Sources Museum Library) M. Glancy: ‘The Incidence of the S. de Bhulbh: ‘Sloinnte Uile Plantation on the City of Armagh Manor Court Rent Roll, Éireann’, Foynes, 2002 Armagh’ (Seanchas Ard Mhacha, 1714 (Armagh County Museum Vol. 1, No. 2, 1955) Library) P. Woulfe: ‘Sloinnte Gaedheal is Gall’, Dublin, 1923 D. C. Rushe: ‘History of Monaghan Co. Armagh Tithe Records (PRONI) for Two Hundred Years, 1660- E. Mac Lysaght: ‘The Surnames 1860’, Dublin, 1921 J. Carney (ed.): ‘Topographical of Ireland’, Dublin, 1973 Poems’, Dublin, 1943 P. Livingstone: ‘The Monaghan E. Mac Lysaght: ‘More Irish Story’, Enniskillen, 1980 A. Lynch: ‘A Calendar of the Families’, Dublin, 1996 Reassembled Register of John F. Mc Donnell: ‘Emigrants from Bole, Archbishop of Armagh, 1457- R. Bell: ‘The Book of Ulster Ireland to America 1735-43’, 71’ (Seanchas Ard Mhacha, Vol. 15, Surnames’. Belfast, 1988 Baltimore, 1992 No. 1, 1992)

D. Ó Corrain & F. Maguire: ‘Irish J. Stuart: ‘Historical Memoirs of the A. Lynch: ‘Meeting of Priests in Co. Names’, Dublin, 1990 City of Armagh’, Dublin, 1900 Derry, 1669’ (Collectanea Hibernica 33, 1991) P. Mac Giolla Domhnaigh: J. Dean (ed.): ‘Rent Rolls of the ‘Some Ulster Surnames’, Dublin, See of Armagh 1615-1746’, Vols. I J. B. Leslie: ‘Supplement to Armagh 1923 &II (Armagh Public Library) Clergy & Parishes’, , 1948

B. Cottle: 'The Penguin B. Mac Evoy: ‘The Peep o’ Day M. J. Haren (ed.): ‘Calendar of Dictionary of Surnames', Boys & Defenders in the Co. Papal Letters relating to Gt. Britain London, 1978 Armagh, (Seanchas Ard Mhacha, & Ireland, No. 1922, Vol. XIX, 1503 Vol. 12, No. 2, 1987) –15’, MSS Commission, Dublin, G. F. Black: ‘The Surnames of 1998 Scotland’, Edinburgh, 1999 B. Fearon: ‘A History of the Parish of Kilmore’, Monaghan, 2004 L. Ó Mearáin: ‘The Ulster Forces in L. P. Murray: ‘Parish of Creggan th th 1595’ (Seanchas Ard Mhacha, Vol. in 17 & 18 Centuries’, T. Hughes: ‘The History of Tynan 2, No. 1, 1955) Dundalk, 1940 Parish’, Dublin, 1910 T. Ó Fiaich: ‘The Parish of L. P. Murray: ‘Co. Armagh S. Mallon: ‘Ancient Families of Kilmore’ (Seanchas Ard Mhacha, Hearth Money Rolls, Tynan’ (Historical Sketches of the Vol. 23, No.1, 2010) 1664’ (Archivum Hibernicum, Parish of Tynan & Middletown, Vol. 8, Dublin, 1941) Monaghan, 1995) M. Dillon: ‘Ceart Uí Néill’ (Celtica, Vol. I, Dublin, 1966) E. de Búrca (ed.) ‘The Irish C. F. Mc Gleenon: ‘The Medieval Fiants of the Tudor Sovereigns', Parishes of Ballymore & nationalarchives.ie Dublin, 1994 Mullabrack’ (Seanchas Ard Mhacha, Vol. 12, No. 2 1987) placenamesni.org Assizes Indictments, Vols. I & II, 1735-97 (Armagh Public Library) C. F. Mac Gleenon: ‘Views from the Speckled Summit’, Armagh, 2013 T. G. F. Paterson: ‘The Armagh Manor Court Rolls’ & ‘Patent É. Ó Muirgheasa: ‘Céad de Rolls pf James I’ (Seanchas Ard Cheoltaibh Uladh’, Newry, 1983 Mhacha, Vol. 2, No. 2, 1957 T.

History Armagh No. 13 - Vol. 4 No. 1 - December 2017 13

The day the Sheriff of Nottingham came to

Armagh: the story of Kate North by Richard Burns

In 1835 Thomas was in partnership who held the post of Mayor of with Thomas Wakefield. Wakefield Nottingham on a number of was the son of a Francis Wakefield occasions between 1567 and 1592. a prosperous cotton spinner and His son, John and grandson, hosier. In 1837 Thomas Webb William were between them granted Edge owned mines at Strelley 2500 acres of land in Upper 1 which Wakefield and North wished O’Neilland, . to reopen. Edge later bought Different branches of the family Basford Hall and the adjoining were still living in the and premises about 1840, and these Basford areas in the 1910s. were leased first to Francis The sheriff at the time was Richard Wakefield. and then in 1851, to Banks Bond, who was sworn in on Thomas North. December 18652. At this time the In 1837 Thomas was elected to post of Sheriff was filled by Nottingham town council as a election by and from Nottingham Liberal in the Exchange ward. Town councillors. The post was Wakefield was the leader of the usually held for one year and duties Kate North circa 1873 Liberals in the council. Although included supervising elections and not known for his political activity, The day was Tuesday, 11th overseeing the Sheriff’s court. North was elected Mayor in 1844 September 1866 and the occasion Ironically, given his future role as and later an Alderman in 1859. was the marriage of Catherine Sarah sheriff, Mr Bond served as Ensign Stanley and Thomas North. th with the 4 company of the Robin In 1839, North and Wakefield were Catherine was a spinster aged 29, 3 Hood Rifles in 1860 , the Rifles joined by James Morley of known as Kate to distinguish her were a volunteer corps formed the Sneinton, Morley’s additional from her mother, and the eldest previous year. He was a mining finances being required to help in child of the eleven children of John engineer by profession. and served the opening of the new Cinderhill and Catherine Sarah Stanley (nee on the Grand Jury for Nottingham Colliery at Basford. While their Bell). At the time of her marriage, from 1865 to 1875, He died current income meant North and his two of her younger sisters were 4 suddenly in 1875 at the age of 37 . partners were in a reasonable married and there may have been a position financially, the expense of feeling of being “stuck on the Thomas North was born in 1811, opening the new colliery and shelf”. Thomas North was a the son of Thomas North, a toll-gate updating their existing mines began widower, aged 55 and a coal mining keeper on the Flood Road, to bite into their profits. Cinderhill entrepreneur from Basford in Nottingham. In an 1832 directory ran into serious geological Nottinghamshire, which goes some Thomas North is listed as a colliery difficulties shortly after opening, way to explaining the presence of owner living in Babbington this was followed by a miners' the Sheriff at the wedding. Cottage. His father is listed as strike in 1844; and trading living on the London Road with a conditions generally in the 1840s The other puzzle about the wedding coal merchant’s business and a were unfavourable. This led to is how did the couple meet? The brickworks. At some stage in the another partner, Samuel Parsons answer lies in a signature in the 1830s Thomas married Hannah junior, of Nottingham, joining the marriage register, witnessing the Laycock, the daughter of Samuel firm on 15th July 1845. However, wedding, that of Charles Brownlow, and Hannah Laycock of Portobello this was not enough to prevent Lord Lurgan. He is a descendant of House, Sheffield. It would appear Thomas Wakefield being declared a John Brownlow, a miller in Basford that the marriage was childless.

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Thomas’s first wife Hannah died on Friday, 27th January 1865 at Basford Hall5. His marriage to Kate Stanley took place some nineteen months later on Tuesday, 11th September 18666. The marriage was a short one, their son Thomas born on 29th August 18677, and Thomas North senior dying some six months later on 28th February 18688. At the time of his death, he owed £190,574, equivalent to just over £15 million today. On the day before he died Thomas updated his will so that Kate would receive the annuity which was equivalent to £31,350 today.

While many in the business community may have had problems with his business bankrupt in 1847, Wakefield had In 1861, he had many debts and methods, the families who apparently been in financial had made a will which specified benefitted from the houses he built difficulties for some time having that, on his death, all his colliery and the various enterprises he interests in a number of companies, property and his brickyards were to brought to the area clearly but his financial problems related to go to Ichabod Charles Wright of appreciated his work. This was companies other than the collieries. Wright’s Bank in lieu of payments evident in the crowds who lined of principal and interest, subject to the streets as his funeral The bankruptcy caused Morley to the discharge of the colliery procession went by and in the stop attending meetings, he and undertaking's debts to others and to erection of an obelisk at North's North were not on speaking terms, the payment of an annuity of £400 grave, which was inscribed as which is not surprising if he felt to North's then wife, Hannah. The follows: that he had been duped into parting residue of the estate was left to with his money on a false Ichabod Charles Wright and “By his great enterprise he was the prospectus. Samuel Parsons, on the Howard S. Wright, as executors, in means of finding employment for a other hand, continued to work for trust for Mrs. North. large number of people who have North for some time after the subscribed to erect this monument collapse of the partnership. This to his memory.” was formally wound up in March 1849, and it was at this point that In August 1868 Wright and Wright the close financial involvement of placed adverts in the local papers Wright's bank in the firm began. inviting tenders to purchase the collieries and brickworks of The period 1853 to 1860 provided Thomas North9. These were some respite; trading conditions eventually bought by Sir Charles were better, and the collieries were Seely and Charles Seely junior of increasingly productive. Birchwood in 1872. It has been estimated that if Thomas North had North also built houses for his work managed to live for another five force, a brickyard and gasworks. years and the collieries kept up He built a general Baptist chapel at their rate of production he would Babbington, a Baptist mission have cleared his debt. room, and was the driving force behind a new parish church at By 1871 Kate and her son had Thomas North circa 1866 Cinderhill in 1856.

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Thomas and Marie’s first child Muriel was born on 18th October 1895 in Stapleton, Cumberland.12 Thomas obtained his M.D. from Trinity in 1896. Their second child Thomas Stanley North was born on 10th January 1897 at Kate North’s house in Abbey Street, and was baptised in St Marks, Armagh. Around this time Thomas North may have moved to Friern Barnet Road, New Southgate, London. Kate finally left Armagh and her home in Abbey Street in 1898 and in the 1901 census was boarding in 8 Friern Barnet Road. Thomas and Marie were living in number 16, with the latest addition to the family, Douglas Cecil born 11th May 1899. By the time of the 1911 census Kate had her own house at 24 Woodland Road, New Southgate, and Thomas and Marie

Map showing Basford Hall and Wilford Green were still at 16 Friern Barnet Road, with their daughter Eileen born in moved out of Basford Hall to a Abbey Street, and Thomas was 1903. The two boys were boarding house in Wilford Green closer to mentioned in a letter published in at Epsom College and their older Nottingham town centre. the Ulster Gazette as having sister Muriel may have been Following her father’s death in confirmed a diagnosis of Typhus in boarding at St Mary’s, Newington, 1873, Kate and Thomas may well the Ewart family of Abbey Lane Southwark London. Thomas have moved back to Armagh to be during an outbreak of the disease in became a Fellow of the Royal close to her mother who was living Armagh in January of that year11. College of Surgeons, Ireland in in Abbey Street. She is listed By September of that year he had 1909. In this period, he contributed among the members of the Armagh been appointed Senior House medical texts to the British Medical Archery Club in September 187610. Surgeon at the Royal Infirmary Journal and the Lancet including one in 1913 that appeared in the In the Evaluation Revision Lists Hull a post he held until the Kate is recorded as living in following year. Transactions of the Medical Richmond Terrace, Victoria Street Society of London entitled “The In November 1893, Thomas Rise and Possibilities of the from 1883. Thomas attended the 13 Royal School from 1884-1885 and married Marie Lorraine Bell in General Practitioner Surgeon” . Carlisle, at that time he was living in October 1885 he was a student at Both Thomas and his sons served . He studied in Stapleton and working as a Doctor in Mallsburn in during the first World War, medicine there, obtaining the Thomas as senior surgeon a in the following qualifications B.A., M.B. Cumberland, close to the Scottish border. Marie’s father Robert Bell English Military Hospital at (first place); B.Ch., B.A.O. in Limoges from 1914-15 and 7 was a cotton merchant and Marie 1889 . This was the year in which afterwards as visiting operating Kate’s mother died and by 1891 was born in Bombay in 1870, her mother dying shortly afterwards. surgeon in the County Middlesex Thomas having obtained a job in War Hospital Napsbury and London, possibly at St Mary’s Robert divided his time between India and Scotland, and Marie and Southgate Auxiliary War Hospital, Paddington, was boarding 13 her siblings were raised by Robert’s Hospital . Thomas Stanley enlisted along with his mother in a house at th widowed sister Joanne Miller in in the 14 Battalion of the London 64 Kensington Gardens Square. By Regiment on 10th November 1915 1892 Kate had returned home to Annan, Dumfriesshire.

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at the age of 16. He served on the training at St Mary's Hospital, 3 Officers and Non-Commissioned western front from March to July where he was Junior Clinical Officers of the Robin Hood Rifles. Nottingham Journal, Monday 23 1916 when he was wounded during Assistant in the Ophthalmic July 1860, P3, c2. the battle of the Somme, the Department, House Surgeon to In- 4 Deaths. Nottingham Journal, wounds were serious enough to and Out-patients, and Resident Saturday 05 June 1875, p5, c1. Anaesthetist14. He served as a lead to his discharge in January 5 Deaths. Manchester Courier and 1917, as no longer physically fit to ship’s surgeon on the SS Lancashire General Advertiser, serve. Douglas joined the Royal Leicestershire, a Bibby line Tuesday 31 January 1865, p12, c6. Flying Corps in 1917 and passenger ship which sailed 6 Married Friday, 14 September transferred as a private to the RAF between Liverpool and Rangoon. 1866, Armagh Guardian p1, c1. when it was formed on 1st April He died on board from his war 7 Register of the Royal School wounds on 31st October 1924, at Armagh. Compiled by M.L. Ferrar 1918. W&G Baird, 1933, p138. the age of 27. He was buried at sea After the war Thomas had medical 8 Death of Mr. Alderman North. in the Mediterranean. Almost five Nottinghamshire Guardian, Friday practices in London firstly at months later his coffin washed up 06 March 1868, p2, c8. Welbeck Street, and his home at on a beach in Sicily near Piraino, 9 WRIGHT v. WRIGHT, Friern Barnet Road. By 1925 he he was then buried in a local ADVERTISEMENT FOR th was at 120 Harley Street, and by graveyard.15 TENDERS. Derby Mercury 18 1928 he was in Chiltern Court off August 1868, p1, c4. Baker Street where he remained up REFERENCES 10. ADDRESS TO MAJOR CRAIG, until the second World War. The bulk of information concerning J.P., LL.D. Ulster Gazette, Thomas North and his colliery Saturday, 09 September 1876, p2, c5. Kate died on 7th August 1920 at business is taken from the article - Griffin, A. R., 'Thomas North: 11 Typhus Fever in Armagh. her home in New Southgate Mining Entrepreneur Extraordinary', Belfast News-Letter, Monday, 01 Transactions of the Thoroton February 1892, p7, c5. One sad footnote to Kate’s story is Society, 76, 1972, p53-73. With 12 Births. Ulster Gazette, Saturday, the fate that befell her grandson, the exception of the references below. 26 October 1895, p2, c7. Thomas Stanley North. On his 1 Clendinning, K, The Brownlow 13. British Medical Directory 1923 return from the war he followed his Family and the Rise of Lurgan, father’s career, his professional and 14 Plarr's Lives of the Fellows Review: The Journal of the Online. The Royal College of medical qualifications were as Craigavon Historical Society. 1969, Surgeons of England http:// Vol.1 No. 1 and http:// livesonline.rcseng.ac.uk/biogs/ follows: MRCS 28th July 1921; www.craigavonhistoricalsociety.org. th E002820b.htm FRCS 13 December 1923; LRCP uk/rev/ London 1921; M.B., B.S. London clendinningbrownlowfamily.html 15 Body of Finchley Doctor’s Son Washed up at Sicily. Hendon & (Hons distinguished in midwifery) 2 The Shrievalty. Nottinghamshire Finchley Times, Friday, 20 March 1922. He received his professional Guardian, Friday, 08 December 1925 p5, c4. 1865, p5, c4

HISTORY GROUP WEBSITE IS AN IMPORTANT LOCAL HISTORY RESOURCE

Armagh & District History Group’s website contains a wealth of information for the local historian. The website has undergone a transition to a new format and is being updated. The Group publishes the successful magazine History Armagh and as back issues can be difficult or impossible to obtain, a decision was taken to make the magazine content available on-line. Currently over 50% of our articles are available on-line with more being added regularly. The website has links to other mainly local websites that may prove useful to people with an interest in the history of the locality The website also has a news section to keep members informed of events and talks and is proving a useful way of keeping in touch with our programme throughout the year and other events of note. So if you are interested in the activities of the group why not visit www.historyarmagh.org

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A short history of the Fire Service in Armagh by Stephen Day

Armagh has had many spectacular However, for most of the 18th Interesting entries which can be fires in its long history and some of century firefighting methods and found in the books include the the most spectacular of all were on equipment had not advanced much. following: - the historic ‘Hill of Armagh’ where A small band of ‘Watchmen’ th the Cathedral patrolled the streets at night to help 29 January 1787: ‘We present the now stands. The religious buildings deter and detect crime and to sum of £4.9.4 to be paid… to on this impressive and strategic discover fires. If a fire was Messer’s William Graham, John elevated site were destroyed by fire discovered they would raise the Mason and James Waugh, to have many times (sometimes by alarm by ringing bells and shouting the Fire Engine put into complete accident, occasionally by defenders warnings. There was a self-reliant order.’ and mostly by attackers) the most community procedure in place for th 27 February 1788: ‘We present recent following the rising of 1641. dealing with such fires and these James Waugh as a fit and proper On each occasion the conflagration were usually effective. Public person to be Fire Engine Keeper of could be seen from many miles spirited citizens would congregate this City. William Williamson (to be away. hastily and have access to basic paid) rent (for) the standing of the firefighting equipment – water, Fire Engine for one year.’ Up until this time the main method buckets and some basic pumping of dealing with such fires was by th equipment. It was only in the 28 July 1791: ‘Whereas complaint organising a chain of people to pass Armagh of the 1780s that the first has been made to us that other uses buckets (pails) of water from a steps were taken towards providing are made or intended to be made of water source to the building. There a more efficient and mobile fire the back house of William were more open rivers and wells in service. Williamson in Market Street for the Armagh in those days. This Fire Engine and keeping of lamps sometimes worked to quench fires Early Records therein, which are the only uses in smaller buildings and cabins in In Great Britain and Ireland the and purposes that the said back the City but the bigger the fire the first fire engines and crews were house is or ought to be put…. if any more difficult it was. Sometimes it provided by voluntary bodies, person or persons put cattle into was necessary to create a ‘fire- parish authorities or insurance said back house, or make any use break’ by demolishing buildings in companies. In Armagh the local of it except for the purposes the immediate vicinity as happened authority was the Armagh aforesaid, that said back house was in the Great Fire of London in Corporation, a jury of twenty-three by us taken for, shall be punished 1666. persons headed by a sovereign – as law directs.’ After the wars of the 1600s Ireland not the King or Queen but what we 11th March 1795: ‘We present the and Armagh experienced a long would today consider to be a Lord sum of £5.7.3 to be levied and paid period of relative peace and the Mayor. They served in office for a to George Barnes to provide City began to recover and expand. period of 12 months and at the end leather hose pipe, 38 feet long, for Rapid advances in the arts, science of this time another jury was the use of the Fire Engine of this and technology contributed to summoned by the new sovereign town.’ improved building techniques. appointed by the burgesses. The From the 1760s onwards, the Corporation Books show that in the Innovations (1790s-1815) establishment of the elegant early early 1780s Armagh had a very In 1815 the Corporation Books Georgian buildings and parklands basic fire engine which was show that a new Fire Engine had did much to form the basis of the probably towed to the scene of a been purchased at a cost of Armagh we see today. fire by the fire fighters themselves.

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£142.13.2. A total of 101 persons struck in cast iron and other metals. their own local services, with are listed as having subscribed to In the beginning of the system, varying degrees of success. The fire the project and the engine was firemen belonging to individual service in Armagh remained small recorded as having been purchased companies could only assist in in number and equipment but they from the firm of ‘Hadley & quenching such fires as were continued to develop and carry out Simpson, London.’ This appears to covered by their company’s mark their duties with courage and refer to the firm of Hedley & and this could mean turning away increasing professionalism. This Simpkin. Simpkin patented several and leaving a building to burn. was all the more impressive as they improvements to the manual engine Fortunately this does not appear to were mostly part-time firemen. By design which were to become have happened often, if at all. Sadly the mid 1800s the Fire Station was standard practice including valves the two Fire Marks on the located at the junction of Linenhall made of metal rather than leather, Courthouse, which were positioned Street/Abbey Lane (OS 1864) and the provision of a steerable fire high up on the wall at either side of in 1881 a new fire engine had carriage and road springs so that the main entrance in 1810, appear arrived which provided the local engines could be towed to the fire to have been destroyed in bomb men with an opportunity to show by horses. It would appear that attacks outside the building in ‘the off their new equipment and Armagh had acquired one of these Troubles’ 1969 – 1999. uniforms. A large number of people ‘state of the art’ Fire Engines and assembled in the street to see the its journey from London to the Victorian period Fire Brigade turn out for the first Cathedral City excited much Elsewhere in the time The local paper commented: comment. The Fire Engine Station slow, but steady, progress was ‘We are glad to find that this useful was located somewhere in the being made towards the formation body (of men) will soon be working vicinity of what is now known as of a more professional and in order. Already the 25 suits of Lonsdale Road (E) but the exact integrated fire service. James uniform are completed in the site is unknown. Braidwood founded the world’s establishment of Messrs Gray first municipal fire service in Brothers, English Street, and are Meanwhile other innovations had Edinburgh in 1824 and the London attracting much attention. The taken place in Armagh. In the late Metropolitan Fire Brigade was coats are scarlet, that of the 1790s and early 1800s the created by statute in 1866 – the first captain being gold laced, that of Corporation had overseen great ‘Fire Brigade.’ In the decades that the lieutenant having two silver progress in implementing a scheme followed the new local government stripes around the collar. The to provide piped water to almost bodies created by 19th century helmets which are of brass are also every street and many houses in the legislation were increasingly ready as are the hatchets which are City. Central to the plan was the responsible for the development of attached to leather belts and fitted building of a large basin (Armagh Basin Reservoirs) on the rising ground to the east of Armagh adjacent to the Newry road roughly where the Orchard Centre Swimming Pool is located today. This easier access to water was of great assistance to fire fighters and to the developments in the service they provided. Fire Offices which employed firemen belonging to individual companies placed ‘Fire Marks’ on certain houses and public buildings such as the Courthouse at the end of the Mall. These were small wall plaques or badges with individual (company) designs. The earliest ones were said to have been made of lead and then, OS Map Armagh 1864—Linenhall St. Fire Station later, of copper. Further issues were

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nicely in leather cases so as to officers in small towns in the more The Dobbin Street Fire Station prevent them injuring the wearer. remote rural areas were trained in The 20th century and the advent of Two horses were yoked under the the use of basic firefighting motorised transport led to rapid engine and the brigade in full equipment and were expected to change in fire service capabilities uniform mounted it and drove down assist in local ‘self-help’ and by the early 1920s, as in Great Scotch Street and around the Mall arrangements.) Bassett also Britain, there were now numerous followed by the crowd who cheered records that the Fire Brigade local authority fire brigades in vociferously.’ (UG: 1881) The Station was now located at a site . The local one personnel included a bugler who next to the old City Hall at Lower was called Armagh City Fire sounded the alarm when there was English Street, Armagh with Fighting Team which was now a call-out. (Apparently the bugle ‘C.H. McCallum, Beresford Arms based in Dobbin Street at the was used right up until the early Hotel, Captain.’ Other members junction with Dobbin Street Lane 1920s). are also listed. (Weatherup: where the old Egg & Poultry Photograph 1888) This late Victorian period marked Market used to be. (OS: 1864). the high water mark for sartorial The Great Fire of 1903 (Weatherup: Photograph 1928). splendour as regards uniform The Armagh Fire Brigade faced its In 1998 the sole surviving member although the impressive helmets biggest test on the morning of of this Team, Dan McKeever, continued well into the 20th Sunday 25th January 1903 when recalled that its origins dated back century. Bassett’s Directory of nearly the whole of Market Street to 1927 when a works shop at the Armagh 1888: records that ‘A and a portion of Scotch Street was Ulster Gazette building burnt to the Volunteer Fire Brigade is completely destroyed by an ground and in another fire at maintained under the supervision accidental fire which was fanned by Barrack Street, one woman resident of the Town Commissioners at a the wind. ‘The Armagh Fire burned to death This convinced the cost of £16 a year, of which £10 Brigade under Captain Maxwell Council to update an old handcart comes from the Town and the Military Fire Brigade and pumps housed in the City Hall. Commissioners and £6 from the under Captain Swettenham were ‘This entirely basic system Toll Committee. With three present at a very early period of the employed a Town Cryer who, by exceptions, all the members of the conflagration and both brigades ringing a handbell, alerted the brigade are volunteers. One of the worked heroically in the task of (part-time) fire team. three is paid £8 a year and the stopping the flames from spreading Modernisation manifested itself in other two £4 each. The pressure across the city…. The Armagh the arrival of a gleaming new from the water plugs is sufficient to Brigade took the English Street side Thornycroft Fire Engine with solid send a stream to the top of the and the Military the Scotch Street rubber tyres.’ (U.G. 1998) highest house in the city. A manual side.’ (AG: 1903) engine is kept for country work, It had a warning bell and an within a radius of 10 miles.’ (Police extension ladder. Manned by a

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place in the form of the Northern Ireland Fire Authority. In 1963 the Fire Station was moved from Dobbin Street to new modern premises in a large building located at 70 Upper English Street, and the junction with Dawson Street, beside the Shambles roundabout. This was a vast improvement for the personnel at the time and conditions and facilities were greatly enhanced. It was able to accommodate two large modern (F8 Dennis) fire engines. The sight of these fire engines emerging from Armagh Fire Fighting Team returning from a blaze at Clones in 1930. Back row (l/r) James Stinson, Jack Murphy and Dan the large double doors into this McKeever. Front row. John Cartmill, Frank Kelly, Vincent Hughes (Captain). The driver is Dominic McCreesh and bellman is Tom McSorley. By kind permission of Armagh Community Fire Service. busy junction in response to a call was always spectacular. driver and 10 firemen, including 4 until 1996 when firemen were to each side, it caused quite a issued with personal ‘bleepers’ to The accidental fire in the then sensation every time it attended a call them out. Covent School, known today as St. call. This continued until the Catherine’s College was one of the Post War Modernisation Second World War (1939-1945) first of many major fires fought On 1st January 1948 the Fire during the life of the Shambles World War II Services Act (NI) 1947 came into Station. It broke out on the night of th th It was during the Second World effect and this formally established 13 /14 February 1964 and War that an air raid warning siren four Brigades – Belfast Fire although there was extensive was introduced to the town. It was Brigade, Northern Fire Authority, damage the fire was prevented from situated on the roof of the Market Southern Fire Authority and spreading to the new extension. House and was to warn of German Western Fire Authority. The Many lives were saved. No one was planes which might come over to Southern Fire Authority included killed but several firemen were attack strategic targets. Armagh Armagh but its Headquarters was injured. was never attacked but German air based in . This The ‘Troubles’ raids on UK cities, including two arrangement was short lived. On 1st major raids on Belfast in 1941, January 1950 amalgamation took The advent of civil unrest at the end underlined the need for a more efficient and co-ordinated organisation. Nationalisation was introduced and in Northern Ireland this took the form of the Fire Services (Emergency Provisions) (Northern Ireland) Act 1942 which established the National Fire Service (NI). The volunteers of the Armagh Fire Brigade became a unit of that Service but fortunately there were to be no more German air raids on Belfast. The siren, however, remained and continued to be used as a call-out for firemen to attend fires. Its wail is well remembered by the older Aftermath of Fire taken from Market House steps,1974 generation. This practice continued See also Market Street Ablaze 1974 on back cover. Both by kind permission of Vinny Loughran

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of the 1960s soon led to an increase of a colleague killed on duty. On 26 2005 when Armagh City & District in demand for the fire service and August 1976, while fighting an Council awarded them the Freedom the new Station at the Shambles accidental fire in a three story of the City. was shown to be an invaluable building in English Street, Armagh, asset. firefighter John Nicholl lost his life Acknowledgements at the age of 19 years. (His I would like to thank the staff at In 1973 Belfast Brigade and the photograph is prominently (Armagh County Museum), three Fire Authorities were displayed in the new fire station at (Armagh Robinson Library) and amalgamated under the new title – (Armagh Irish and Local Studies Road.) Library) for their assistance in my Fire Authority for Northern Ireland. research. Also a number of retired It was under this new structure that A 21st Century Fire Service and serving members of the local the local fire services in Armagh Fire Service for sharing their On 1st July 2006 the organisation memories and memorabilia. These City and District, as well as was again restructured under the include Joe McKee, Joe Connolly, elsewhere, performed outstanding Turlough Toner, Hugh Knipe, new title of the Northern Ireland service during some of the worst Paddy McArdle, Alfred Stinson, and Fire and Rescue Service. The fire Gerard McKenna. (Fascinating years of the recent ‘Troubles’ – service personnel in Armagh soon items such as Daniel McKeever’s 1969-1998. Local firefighters have brass helmet decorated with a fire saw significant benefits emerge named a few of the many call-outs breathing dragon can be viewed at from this initiative. The old fire Armagh County Museum) which stand out in their memory. station at Lower English Street had References Late in the evening of 9th April become inadequate for the needs of Armagh Robinson Library 1974 the first of several IRA fire- a modern day fire and rescue Reference Books: service and it was becoming bombs exploded in Walkers shop in Armagh Corporation Books 1776 – Market Street, Armagh. Soon a increasingly difficult to access and 1814 and 1815 – 1839: Ireland’s large area of Market Street was exit due to traffic congestion at the First 24/7 Emergency Fire Service: History Ireland, Vol. 19, No. 1 ablaze but, as in 1902, the firemen adjacent Shambles roundabout. did exceptionally well to ensure Work began on a new station on the Bassett, G.H. (1888) – ‘County Armagh One Hundred Years Ago – that the inferno did not spread Loughgall Road, Armagh and it A Guide & Directory 1888 became operational on 5th January beyond the city centre to other Armagh Community Fire Station streets. (UG: 1994) Local 2009. It was the first of a number of Official Opening Booklet: 26 firefighter, Hugh Knipe, recalls that new builds over the next ten years September 2009 their response was made even more with the intention being to develop Ulster Gazette: 2 April 1881 difficult and dangerous because of twenty-six new Fire Stations across Armagh Guardian: 30 January difficult access and Calor Gas Northern Ireland. The Part Time 1903 cylinders being blown out onto the firemen, who had played the major Ulster Gazette: 4 July 1996 street from one premises. role in dealing with the effects of (Ewart’s Armagh.) bombs and incendiaries as well as Ulster Gazette: 2 April 1998 Other incidents included a bomb routine fires up until the ceasefires (Memoirs of Fireman Dan and gun attack at McGleenan’s Bar, of the 1990s, continued in their role McKeever.) close to the Fire Station, in which of Part Time (Retained) alongside Ulster Gazette: 23 June 2011 three people lost their lives (22nd (Greer Ramsey – Armagh County Full Time colleagues. Museum) August1975) and the attack on st Many individual officers have Loughran, Vincent (1974) – (21 January1981) Freelance Photographer (1974 which saw two fatalities and the received awards for their Armagh Fire) dedication, heroism and long building burnt to the ground. Apart McKinstry, Oram, Weatherup & from numerous incidents like these service over the past 250 years. Wilson (1992) ‘The Buildings of the firemen still had to deal with Many are second generation fire Armagh’ – Ulster Architectural Heritage Society routine challenges such as fighters and some, such as Alfred Stinson, Paddy McArdle and Gary Ordinance Survey (OS) Map of accidental fires and serious, often Armagh (1864) – Irish & Local fatal, road traffic collisions. Hamilton are third generation. This Studies Library, Armagh history and the efforts of the Weatherup, Roger: ‘Armagh City – It was during these years that the personnel and the support of their Historic Photographs of the personnel were faced with the most families over the previous 30 years Primatial City’ Friar’s Bush Press, difficult situation, that of the death was especially recognised in April Belfast

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Armagh City Steam Laundry - a glimpse at the early years by Sean Barden

required by a modern industrial laundry. There was also an ample supply of fresh water from the river for washing and a powerful water turbine and boiler had also been installed. The site was ready to enter a new chapter in its life. The Rise of Laundries Although there were some innovations in domestic laundries during the nineteenth century, it was still very labour intensive work. Even in the laundries of local institutions like the infirmary, workhouse, and asylum, mechanisation was not extensively used especially in the latter two where there was a ready supply of labour. Commercial laundries may not have manufactured a product but Tullyelmer as depicted on the 1947 1/2500 OS plan of Armagh (sheet 12-6) they had many of the attributes of the factory, with division of labour power available onsite but the Introduction and advances in technology attraction of a reliable free water Armagh’s City Steam Laundry mapping their evolution. The supply for power and washing was employed both men and women but emergence of the commercial a bonus. The Callan river bounds its importance as a source of work laundry in the north of Ireland the northwest portion of the for women during the first half of might be compared to the way townland making a C shaped the twentieth century will be spinning mills and weaving meander and in the eighteenth emphasised in the part two of this factories replaced home spinning century a millrace had been cut article. It began operating during and hand loom weaving. across the fields linking the ends of the first decade of the century and the C. Since the 1750s Tullyelmer However there had to be a clear closed its doors for the last time in had been the location of a demand as well as technological June 1951. Part one of this article succession of water-powered rural reasons for the spread of steam concentrates on the early years of industries that had including a laundries. This need was driven by the laundry before the First World bleach mill, corm mill and most social and cultural changes in the War. recently a weaving factory. nineteenth century, most The Laundry was located in importantly the developing culture When the weaving factory closed Tullyelmer townland one and a half of cleanliness that was guided by about 1903 useful parts of the miles north of the city centre advances in medical science. The infrastructure that had driven the between the Moy and Loughgall relationship between dirt, germs power looms remained in place. roads and the spot was chosen with and disease was scientific This could easily be adapted and good reason. Not only was steam vindication of the maxim that applied to drive the machinery

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cleanliness is next to Godliness. Another social factor was the emergence of an affluent urban middle class. More families were now financially capable of using the laundry as a way of distancing themselves from ‘the great unwashed’. Local reactions of these changes can be seen in the Turkish and ‘Medicated Baths’ offered by Armagh’s Charlemont Arms Hotel as early as 1888. Later in 1913 Quaker linen magnate James N. Richardson of published a pamphlet for his mill workers extoling the virtues of his newly built bath house. In it he told them ‘that dirt is as injurious to the body as sin is to the soul...’ Rival laundries used the local press to compete for custom. This extract is from the Armagh Guardian 8 March 1907 The Birth of the Laundry A short announcement and advert in the Armagh Guardian on 15 works ran under the headline, ‘New February 1907 heralded the underhand tactics by its new Armagh Industry’. opening of the City Steam competition. The Guardian printed the White Star’s rejection of a Laundry. It read, ‘Tullyelmer Mill, At this stage in its development the rumour that it was closing and which has lain idle for such a long laundry was providing employment made it clear that, ‘Mr Kearney has time has now been opened as a for between twenty and thirty nothing whatever to do with us laundry by the City Steam Laundry people. How this compared with now, as he left our employment on Co.’ The accompanying advert the White Star laundry is not Saturday 16th February’. It is not explained that the range of services known but the premises at surprising to learn that Kearney offered included ‘family linens Tullyelmer were larger and the was the entrepreneur and a partner finished in the highest possible location although inconvenient for behind the new Tullyelmer manner’ and ladies, gents and calling customers lent itself to laundry. children’s clothing ‘cleaned and expansion. The 1911 census casts dyed in all the leading shades.’ By Change and Consolidation some light on the employees. The the beginning of March the laundry van driver was Samuel Gamble Throughout the spring and summer had established a receiving office who lived beside the laundry in of 1907, the two laundries at 3 Edith Terrace, Railway Street. Tullyelmer and Annie Quinn, an competed for local business by ironer lived on the outskirts of town Although a commercial laundry running rival adverts in the local probably near the Loughgall Road. was a newsworthy innovation in papers. The White Star’s strategy Although Kathleen Little from Armagh, the City Steam Laundry was to cast its net wide and it Little Patrick Street on Banbrook was not the first. The White Star boasted in the Dungannon papers Hill could read but not write, she Laundry based at 4 Ogle Street that their vans could collect and was Forewoman at the laundry. The Armagh was a branch of a Belfast deliver across . The Crawford sisters Annie (18) and company owned by Mr T. W. City Steam Laundry responded by Hester (14) walked the two miles Marshall. The Armagh branch had taking out much larger advert in daily from their home at Drumadd opened only a matter of months August that bragged the patronage to work at Tullyelmer. before the Tullyelmer enterprise of two Earls. They also grabbed a but had been operating at Guardian correspondent and took By November 1907 the White Star Devonshire Street, Belfast since him on a grand tour of the site. The Laundry had stopped advertising in 1903. In March 1907 it used the resulting detailed report of the the newspapers and during the next local papers to counter apparent

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It is interesting that the May ‘explanation’ emphasised how a rush of work could now be rapidly dealt with because of alterations to the building. It seems that before then the workforce had been pushed to their limits to meet the demand. On 20 May 1908, Belfast West MP, Joe Devlin raised concern in parliament about work practices at the laundry. The sheer amount of work generated by the new military contracts had resulted in the firm being prosecuted for breaches of the Factories Act. Management had worked six girls from ten o’clock on Sunday night to seven o’clock on Monday night, a shift of 21 hours. Although found The Smoothing Room, Armagh City Steam Laundry c1915. Note the large gas heated calendar on the right which smoothed large items such as sheets and the table of shirt collars (centre) being smoothed and sorted. guilty the fines only totalled two few months the City Steam was once again announcing it was pounds and eight shillings. In reply Laundry went from strength to under ‘entirely new management’. to Mr Devlin’s question, the Home strength. In January they secured a This time in a remarkable turn Secretary Mr Herbert Gladstone new contract that gave them around Thomas Williamson commented on the toothless nature laundry work from the garrisons at Marshall was the new proprietor. of the legislation. “I cannot help Londonderry, Omagh and From the White Star Laundry’s saying that it becomes almost Enniskillen as well as Dundalk and Belfast headquarters, T. W. impossible to secure the Newry. Marshall had purchased the enforcement of the Factory Act if a Armagh City Steam Laundry and it serious offence, committed Hard Labour and Questions in was ‘now under the charge of an deliberately and after full warning, Parliament expert manager’. is so inadequately punished.” It was not all plain sailing because in May 1908 the Tullyelmer management were obliged to publish ‘An Explanation’ in the Armagh Guardian. The statement insisted that it, ‘has no connection with any other laundry and customers will please keep parcels for our van and not give to any other [...] It is the only steam laundry in Armagh situate on the banks of the Callan’. It went on to reveal that it was now under new management and ‘alterations have been made to the building which enables a rush of work to be more rapidly dealt with’. Although it is not apparent what prompted the ‘explanation’ it was clearly a time of consolidation with two new local businesses vying for custom and The Washing Room, Armagh City Steam Laundry c1915. Two of the cylinder type washing machines are being loaded by men but the majority of workers were women. The drive shafts and belts that operate the machinery were inherited from the personnel. By October the laundry weaving factory that occupied the site before 1903.

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Next Time… This introduction to Armagh City Steam Laundry has deliberately set out to only explain how the business began. It was well on its way to becoming one of Armagh’s more established employers over the next few decades. In part two we will look at the people who worked at the laundry and concentrate more on their stories.

Further reading Mohun, Arwen P. Steam Laundries – Gender, Technology and Work in the United States and Great Britain, 1880-1940, (Baltimore & London; The John Hopkins University Press, 1999) Belfast & Ulster Directory 1913 Tweedy, Robert. The Story of the A Thriving Business Company where he was secretary. Court Laundry, (Dublin; Ham’s son later took over the Wolfhound Press, 1999) During 1909 the laundry continued hemstitching company and reading References to grow. February saw the opening between the lines it seems Marshall of a receiving office at 38a Upper made a wise move by concentrating Bassett, George Henry, The Book English Street at the Seven Houses, his business interests in Armagh. of County Armagh, 1888, p80; where ‘parcels could be left and Richardson, James N. Concerning information given’. By September By March 1911 the laundry the New Bath House, (W. & S. the County Infirmary decided that operated over quite an extensive Magowan, Newry, 1913) Armagh County Museum collection they preferred using the City Steam geographical area. There were (ARMCM.T041.13) Laundry rather than re-appointing a laundry agents based in Clones, laundress. Whilst customers may Cavan and Aughnacloy and the Armagh Guardian 15/2/1907 have been spending more money, horse-drawn laundry vans collected Armagh Guardian 8/3/1907 Marshall was nevertheless washes from Monaghan, Belfast Telegraph 16/12/1903 experiencing ‘a difficulty in Castleblaney, , Belfast Telegraph – 8/9/1904, Irish obtaining workers’. Adverts in the Dungannon Portadown, Richhill News and Belfast Morning News – local papers around this time and Caledon. Regular adverts 31/12/1904 appealed for; ‘girls over 14 years of recruiting staff point to a fast Armagh Guardian 2/8/1907, age including Smoothers, and a growing business in a flourishing Armagh Guardian 8/3/1907 Lady Bookkeeper’. He was also state. By May 1912 a half-page Tyrone Courier 11/7/1907 advertising in the Belfast Telegraph advert in the Armagh Guardian Armagh Guardian 2/8/1907 asking applicants from the city to now included a photograph of the apply via the White Star Laundry, premises. Photos were expensive to Armagh Guardian 2/8/1907 Devonshire Road. reproduce in newsprint and rarely 1911 Census of Ireland, Armagh appeared in the local papers at this County, District Electoral Division The Belfast based White Star time so this is another indication of (DED) Armagh, National Archives Laundry, which was attached to the the level of investment being made of Ireland, Census of Ireland 1911 (http:// Devonshire Hemstitching Company in marketing the business. It is also ceased trading in 1909 under www.census.nationalarchives.ie : prescient of a bright future for this accessed 01-0901017); original unusual circumstances. It had fledging business despite its rocky manuscript not cited. benefitted from loans amounting to beginnings. £3000 from one Thomas Ham who Armagh Guardian 21/1/1908 was later convicted of embezzling The Armagh Guardian 29/5/1908 £27,000 from The Ulster Spinning Mid-Ulster Mail 21/11/1908

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Armagh writer’s forgotten role in saving Brontës’ Irish heritage by Eric Villiers

In 2001 in a foreword to The Brontës: Magee when the teenager appeared in, the attention of the press. Indeed, it A Family History, the late Professor and directed, amateur stage shows in was that other actor, Pat McAlanney – John Cannon, one of England’s most Armagh for St Joseph’s Musical who appeared in the same play – eminent historians, credited an Armagh Society. Magee, twenty years Loudan’s Loudan singled out for special born writer as the inspiration for what junior, grew up in Lower English mention. After telling “Quidnunc” in was one of his last books. “The Street, not far from Loudan’s home. , about both of them he original idea for this book”, wrote added, “McAlinney’s [sic] an Armagh Cannon, “came to me from Colin In June, 2015, I interviewed the late man… and he’s good”. Loudan, following the death of his Mrs Bridie Barden about her memories father Jack Loudan, who once gave a of being a member of St Joseph’s While Magee, went on to become a talk on the subject of the Irish society, circa 1950. She recalled that star of stage and screen, and a director, background of the Brontë family on Pat Magee appeared with them and his friend McAlanney or McAlinney, BBC Radio”. quickly became their director, even seems to have disappeared without though he was still a student doing his trace. Cannon’s first book on the Brontës’ teacher training: “He just stepped in Irish origins was published in 1981, so and took over… he was different, he William Jackson Loudan was born in it was prior to that he had the was better… you just knew he was 1900 at the Seven Houses, English conversation with Colin Loudan, a film different… he would shout at you”. Street, where his family ran the actor, who enjoyed a successful career Imperial Hotel, an undertakers, a taxi- in London after the Second World Other names she recalled from those hire company, and a coachbuilders. War. Colin’s father Jack died in 1976 exciting days of the young amateur The family businesses were inherited at Hampton Wick, Middlesex, and is opera company, were: Father Malachy by his older brother Robert Monroe buried at the Presbyterian graveyard, Coyle, the founder of the society; Sean Loudan. just off the Rock Road, Armagh. He O’Boyle, who was the musical Their father, Robert R. Loudan, was was survived by his wife, son Colin director; Pat Loudan, one of Jack’s clearly an enterprising businessman. and two grandchildren. female relatives, who did the opera make up; Mrs Hughes, piano; Rose His cousins in Dundalk ran the Jack Loudan, best known as a Cloughley; Ben McArdle, and Paschal Imperial Hotel there, but there seems to playwright, was from a line of talented Allen, from Ogle Street, who became a have been no formal connection young people who came out of professional singer. between the eponymous hotels. By the Armagh in the early years of the 20th 1890s “Robert R.” was also owner of a century to make their mark in As a proud Armagh man Jack Loudan posting car business, and was the first literature, on the stage and on screen. would have enjoyed the recent undertaker in Ireland to introduce Among them were two young men unveiling of the Ulster History Circle embalming, and only the ninth in Loudan helped get started in their blue plaques honouring Patrick Magee Europe. Another claim to fame was chosen careers: the novelist and short at Edward Street, John O’Connor at that his funeral business in Ireland was story writer John O’Connor from Mill Banbrook Hill, and – a couple of years the first to use motorised hearses. Row, and the actor Patrick Magee, earlier – T. G. F. Paterson at the There is evidence that Jack’s born in Edward Street and raised on County Museum. upbringing was unconventional, which English Street. Loudan knew the three of them very may well have helped shape him as a “Paudge” Magee – best known for his well: he promoted Magee’s early writer. He was 10 years of age when parts in hit films like Zulu and acting career, mentored O’Connor as a his father, filling in the family’s 1911 Clockwork Orange – was Samuel young writer, and worked with census return, made a statement that Beckett’s favourite actor; the dramatist Paterson, the museum’s curator, on was unusually bold for Edwardian was so taken with Magee’s acting and history projects and exhibitions. times: taking considerable trouble he his voice that he wrote Krapp’s Last squeezed into the tiny space left for In 1951 when Magee starred in The Tape with Magee in mind. ‘Religion’ – ‘Not connected with any’. Sham Prince at the Opera House, It is probable that Loudan first noticed Belfast, along with another young At 19 years of age Jack left Armagh Armagh actor, Loudan brought them to

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and migrated to Canada, but Armagh famous Brontë sisters in South Down detested them as much as the critics did not leave him. After spells as a and South Armagh. Through the 1950s who had to effrontery to poke fun at bread-cart driver in Montreal and a car and 1960s Loudan and Paterson woke her novels. salesman in Quebec, he returned home people up to this literary heritage, and and for a spell ran the family hotel. All the nick of time saved what was left of She told Loudan, when he interviewed the time he was away he had worked the church where the sisters’ father Rev her before her death in 1939, that her where he could as a freelance Patrick Prunty preached, the school he books were read, “… by all the journalist, and, he eventually took a job taught at, and his cottage birthplace, a crowned heads of Europe, except the as a reporter for the Belfast Newsletter. site now home to an interpretative Emperor of Austria and the Czar of From there he gravitated towards a centre, and a ‘Brontë Country Drive’. Russia”. group of writers who became known as In her lifetime McKittrick attracted cult the Belfast Regional Literary Both men gave lectures about the followings, and both London and Movement – it included the poets W. importance of protecting that heritage, Cambridge had ‘Amanda Ros’ clubs R. Rodgers and , and the and it was one of these talks on the where her work was read and novelists Sam Hanna Bell and John BBC that his son Colin was referring to discussed. O’Connor. when he spoke to Professor Cannon. Her genius for gloriously overwrought During the second World War Jack In the 1970s Ralph Bossence, a Belfast prose, and unsurpassed breathless used his Canadian experience to run Newsletter journalist who knew alliteration, won her important the American desk at the Ministry of Loudan well, drew attention to his admirers. The cover flap of Loudan’s Information, and later became the other talents as a novelist and biography of McKittrick has this: Northern Ireland producer for ENSA biographer: “Jack Loudan was a novelist of merit. He also wrote a gem (Entertainments National Services There have been many freaks in the of a book O Rare Amanda, The Life of Association). history of literature but none more Amanda Ros McKittrick… the only astonishing than Amanda Ros, who A Belfast Newsletter obituary on biography of that Ulster original was described by Aldous Huxley as ‘an October 10, 1976, described Loudan [which is] much sought after by Elizabethan born out of her time’. She as: “a playwright, radio journalist and American universities”. won the admiration of many engaging raconteur”. This only scrapes distinguished people: Lord Beveridge the surface: he wrote radio plays and and Sir Desmond McCarthy went to musical comedies, as well as over 100 visit her at her home in Larne in scripts for the BBC. His first stage Northern Ireland; Mark Twain, James play, The Ball Turns Once “achieved Agate and Lord Oxford wrote about great success” at the Grand Opera her and so have many contemporary House, Belfast, at the Abbey Theatre in writers, among them Kenneth Tynan. Dublin, and in New York, as well as “many parts of the Commonwealth”. In the 1970s Loudan’s biography of McKittrick brought her posthumous His most successful play Henry Joy fame from new generations. It is said McCracken was staged in 1944 at the that on the New York subway people Group Theatre, Belfast and at the could tell from the suppressed laughter Abbey in 1945. of a fellow passenger that they were In The Irish Times in 1976, Robert reading one of Amanda’s romantic Greacen, a Belfast man – observing the novels. emergence of talents like the poets Apart from his considerable Seamus Heaney and Paul Muldoon – contribution to literature, theatre and wrote: ‘the last time creativity culture – by keeping the Irish Brontës flourished in Belfast… was during the and Amanda Ros in history’s window last War… when Jack Loudan and Joe – Armagh’s Jack Loudan deserves to Tomelty were both writing plays and be celebrated: a blue plaque perhaps on running CEMA (Council for the his birthplace in the middle house of Encouragement of Music and the Arts, In her youth Amanda was a striking English Street’s Seven Houses? now the Arts Council of Northern beauty, and later rode around Larne, Ireland) and the Group Theatre where her husband was the station respectively’. master, in a phaeton driven by a young man in livery. In the centre of town she In the 1950s Loudan and T. G. F. would sometimes hoist a banner on Paterson began working to draw which were written uncomplimentary attention to the forgotten origins of the remarks about local lawyers – she

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Irish Street: fowl, flax and so much more by Mary McVeigh

meaningful as any rural location so I have now made it my mission to try to give some insights into the past of streets in Armagh in ‘my end of town,’ as they say. I am beginning with Irish Street where I have been living for the past twenty-two or so years.

When it was Dundalk Street Although most of the buildings in it now are less than a hundred years old Irish Street is undoubtedly one of the oldest streets in the town. It would seem that the first written record where streets are actually named was a survey carried out in 1618, just five years after Armagh was officially deemed a city and at a time when people from Britain were being encouraged to come here to settle. This survey was essentially a listing of the tenants of the Church of Ireland Archbishopric which held ownership of most of the land in Armagh and its environs. At that time streets were known by their locations or the destinations to where their thoroughfares led. Thus what is now known as Irish Street was then Dundalk Street because it pointed southwards towards the county Louth town. Twenty of the 96 properties recorded were located in it, eleven on the west side of the hill and nine on the east, not side by side as in more recent times but scattered throughout the hill in a OS Map 1906 showing Irish Street (Courtesy of Armagh Irish and Local Studies Library) more random fashion. There was just one large stone house complete When I worked in the Irish and Local on that one. The streets where we with garden, barn and stables and it Studies Library some years back one of spend our formative years or live in for our regular visitors declared that she large chunks of our lives can have was leased to a mill owner, Mathew was sorry for me because I came from lasting effects on us: friendships and Ussher, one of the burgesses who a town. The reason for her misplaced indeed enmities forged, shared governed the city and was a relative sympathy was that we urban dwellers experiences both joyful and sad and the of the previous Primate, Henry do not have the same sense of buildings themselves impact upon us Ussher. The other properties were belonging or allegiance to a place as and play some part in making us who less substantial: either copple we are. Indeed, in my view the history those who grow up in a townland in houses or ‘creetes’. Some had walls of a street is as interesting and the countryside. I had to put her right constructed from interwoven sallow

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or willow wattles plastered over Dundalk Street had become Irish Adam Anderson was formerly with mud or clay and thatched with Street in the See rentals but to date tenant and the present tenant is straw or rushes. Others consisted of no explanation seems to have been David Russell. It is bounded with copple stones cemented together by recorded for the name change. Irish Street east, John Lemon’s a thin coarse mortar which was Throughout the 17th century and tenement south and one of poured into the internal joints of the particularly in the middle decades Chambers’s tenements north and a walls. Most of the ‘creetes’ were of there was considerable religious and small park belonging to the Lord beehive shape but some were of a political strife and Armagh certainly Primate and joining to the Common more ambitious, rectangular design did not escape it. For instance, west. There are in the garden some with gables at each end from which many buildings were destroyed few cherry trees he also enjoys.’ the roof was supported by the use of when it was set on fire in 1642. These properties were certainly forked props. Like the majority of Newcomers from Scotland and much more extensive than current tenants in the city they were largely England were on the increase in the urban households. One property of native Irish origin because, in latter half of the century. Could it leased to a merchant, James spite of the enticements offered, have been that by 1676 the majority Dougan, and resided in by Owen British settlers were slow to see the of the occupants but not necessarily Callaghan included a ‘small park attractions of Armagh. However, the leaseholders of the street’s and garden’ which were ‘both under the situation was that an Irish tenant properties were of native Irish corn and flax’. Another, ‘in the was only granted a lease on a yearly origin? Also, could the fact that the street or lane betwixt Irish Street basis on the understanding that if a main route taken by the Irish rebels and Callan Street’ was divided into planter wanted the property it had to fleeing from the authorities was two dwellings built with stone and be vacated. Interestingly, some of southwards towards the clay. Their tenants were Widow the names of tenants 1can still be mountainous area of south Armagh Anderson and Robert Kennedy. found around Armagh, albeit with have had some bearing on it? This property included ‘a large different spelling, for instance: garden, cow house, stable, barn, a th McEnally (McNally), McElroy, By early 18 century it could be large malt house and kiln which O’Nele (O’Neill), O’Raverty seen from another survey of See will make in the year four or five (Rafferty), O’Hegan. property that Armagh was already hundred barrels of malt’. The on the road to recovery and gardens and grounds covered about A later rental of the Archbishopic expansion. Thomas Ashe, who was an acre of land. Interestingly Ashe property from 1660 and assigned to collect the rents for the generally gave the names of unfortunately incomplete listed new Church of Ireland Archbishop, previous as well as present tenants. sixteen tenants in Gallows Street. in 1703 would For instance, a property held by There is no doubt from its name seem to have been determined that Cath. Crawlee (Crawley?) was where the destination of this street all the monies due should be taken over by John McGloghlin lay. It would appear to have have forthcoming because he made (possibly McLaughlin) and another, been the latter end of Dundalk meticulous notes on the relevant formerly tenanted by John Riche Street, roughly corresponding to properties in Armagh and beyond. (possibly Rice) was rented to James what is now Lower Irish Street. His ‘View or account of the McDonnell. Two names from the 1618 survey Archbishopric of Armagh’ is an appear on it though with slightly important insight into the built Lodge’s survey of 1770 different spelling: Donnell O environment of the city at the time. Ashe’s survey at the outset of the Crogan and Pat Grome MacMoyre. century was concerned with Just two of the sixteen were likely Ashe on Irish Street property but another carried out in planters: Willliam Hodson and This is one of his reports relating to the latter half dealt with the actual Rowland Gill. Again there were Irish Street: ‘…the house is but people who lived in the town. In names which are still familiar today ordinary but the garden is good and 1770 Dr William Lodge, at the such as O Donnellee (Donnelly), well planted with kitchen stuff. The behest of Archbishop Richard Fiegan (Fegan), Monaghan, O house and garden together contain Robinson who had been appointed Dowgan (Dougan) and Morgan. in front to the said street 24 yards to Armagh five years earlier, listed thereabouts and about 60 yards Why did the name change? all the householders in the city, their deep. The garden is broader at the occupations, religion, the number of Within the next sixteen years lower end than towards the street. children they had and the live-in

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servants in their households. This majority were Catholics, there Who were the Whittingtons? undertaking has proved to be a were six Presbyterian households Most interesting of all was the significant boon to researchers and ten belonging to the Church of appearance of the name looking at eighteenth century Ireland. Three of the six families Whittington in both the 1770 and Armagh as it provides insights into who were ‘poor’ or ‘very poor’ 1819 listings. In 1770 Edward social, economic and religious life were Church of Ireland. Only one Whittington had a public house in of the city. of these was headed by a man, Irish Street and a Widow Nicholas Wilton, who was Whittington had one in Abbey So what was Irish Street like in described as being ‘formerly a Street. Both were Catholics and 1770? For a start it consisted of 68 butcher now very poor’. He had six indeed the Widow was the only households out of a total of 499 for children which was the second Catholic listed in the survey who the whole of Armagh which made largest family in the street. The had a servant in her household. it the second largest street largest household, with seven There were two Whittingtons in the numerically after Scotch street children, was that of the Widow 1819 directory, Charles, a which had over 90 houses. Mathers, also a member of the ‘gentleman’, who lived in English Essentially, whilst it had the Church of Ireland. highest proportion of labourers, Street and Richard, a ‘grocer, spirit Irish Street had fewer households Just under a half century later it merchant and tallow chandler’ deemed ‘poor’ or ‘very poor’ than would seem that a good proportion whose establishment was in Irish Callan Street and it had as many of the houses were still occupied Street. It seems that the house at the headed up by tradesmen as other by people who were skilled head of the east side of Irish Street parts of the town. Nobody had a workers in the various trades as which became the police barracks live-in servant. Many of the before. However, looking at in the last century and has since occupations were of the sort you Bradshaw’s directory for 1819, been demolished was once the might expect to find in a market there were some additions who Whittington home. A date stone town where people from the were what we now would regard as from it still survives in Armagh surrounding countryside came to ‘white-collar or professional: John County Museum. It was apparently buy, sell and have machinery and Strawbridge, a ‘gentleman’, an built by a Richard Whittington in equipment repaired or serviced. attorney called John Haddock and 1689 and remodelled in 1789. There were two pump-makers, a two school masters, William Smith However, there was no mention in smith, a wheelwright and a hackle and James Brawley. A government Ashe of a lease held by a Richard maker. There were eight men who report in 1826 recorded that James Whittington anywhere but a John made brogues or shoes, a hat Brawley had a school in a ‘low Whittington with Adam Burrell maker and a woman who made upper room’ which was attended held five small parks, ‘mantuas’ (a type of gown). There by eighteen paying pupils, approximately ten acres at Flaggy were six butchers, three of whom seventeen Catholics and one Park which was in the Ogle street were named Rice, and a couple of member of the Church of Ireland. area. A John Widdington had ‘meal men’. There were no bakers This was before the introduction of property in Abbey Street. Could but there was a gingerbread maker state funded national schools in this have been the same man and called Pat Murphy. This was a time 1831 when education was provided could he have been an ancestor of when considerable building work in what were often known as these later Whittingtons? Was he an was being carried out in Armagh ‘hedge schools’ and where English planter who happened to which presumably provided conditions varied according to have been a Catholic? employment for the twelve what was available and affordable. There is no doubt that the labourers as well as the two stone Few of the names from the 1770 Whittingtons were active in setters and a carpenter. survey were still in evidence in Catholic affairs in 18th and early Irish Street by 1819. There were 19th century Armagh, at a time Public houses were plentiful in Rices, but these were flax dressers when there were still impediments Irish Street in 1770; there were no not butchers, and a nailer called to Catholic participation in public less than eight. Two were owned George Wilton by Presbyterians, the Widow life. In 1811 Charles Whittington Graham and Cobby Graham, chaired a meeting of prominent possibly related. Although the County Armagh Catholics when it was agreed to seek a ‘total repeal of

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the Penal Laws’. It was stated: “… who may have married and thus who lived in them were not deeply impressed with a sense of gave up their family name. Richard recorded. Some of them were at the our degraded situation, and be had a son of the same name born in rear of houses facing the street. holding ourselves excluded from a 1796 and a daughter Jane, born two There were twenty houses on full participation of the benefits of years later. It would seem that he Gallows Hill and another ten in that constitution which we so had a grandson because a John Savages Court which was off Irish eminently support and defend, we Whittington, son of presumably the Street on the east side, up the hill deem it advisable to petition younger Richard was baptised in from the intersection with Ogle Parliament, Session after Session, 1820. Interestingly three years Street and all of these were also in until our grievances shall be later, an illegitimate daughter, Jane, the very low valuation bracket and completely redressed”. Charles and was born.Could this have caused a again their householders were not Richard Whittington were the two scandal which resulted in the named. It was mainly publicans Armagh city signatories of this family leaving, perhaps emigrating such as Robert McCann, John petition. When what is now known to another continent as this was not McAnesby and Henry Devlin as ‘old’ St Malachy’s Church was an unusual course of action in such whose properties had the highest built in Chapel Lane in 1752 two of circumstances? Certainly by the value in Irish Street. According to the original trustees were Edward end of the next decade there was no a directory published in the Whittington, presumably of Irish trace of the Whittington name in following year there were six street as recorded by Lodge, and Armagh. publicans, one of whom, James Henry Whittington who may well Monaghan, was also a sack and bag have been the husband of the Early nineteenth century Irish manufacturer. There was a grocer, Street Widow Whittington who lived in Bernard Branigan, a blacksmith, Abbey Street. When a second set of Besides Richard Whittington two Edward Nelis and a gunsmith, John trustees was appointed in 1806 in more residents of Irish Street were Hart. There were two painters and accordance with a new lease there among the five lay signatories on glaziers who may have been were again two Whittingtons. This the St Malachy’s lease of 1806. related, Hugh and Terence Mullin. time they were Charles and Richard They were Charles Cavanagh, a There was no longer a James who may have been brothers or grocer and James Gribbon, a Gribben in Irish Street but there cousins and the descendants of publican. An indication surely that was a John Gribben, a ‘marble’ Henry and Edward. They would the Irish Street populace had its mason who appeared to have also appear to have been involved share of Catholics who were owned a number of houses in civic affairs as far as they were obviously of some standing in the including one which was permitted due to their religion. community at that time? The unfinished at the time of the They acted as Grand Jurors and valuations put on Irish Street valuation. were subscribers to the Association properties would seem to suggest for the occasional relief of the Sick that there were variations in the This valuation was conducted less Poor. In addition, Richard acted as status and prosperity of the than a decade before the Great a Special Constable in 1796 and residents. Famine when disaster struck the 1812. whole island of Ireland and whilst A valuations listing published in Armagh did not suffer to the same However, by 1829 when the lease 1839 showed that in this street like extent as other places like the pertaining to St Malachy’s church others in the town the housing western seaboard a whole section was updated both had died. The last ranged from some of low value to of its society at the lower social and of the family buried in Armagh was more substantial properties. Whilst economic scale was wiped out. By Richard who was interred in the none of the buildings were as 1851 most of the poorest housing, burial grounds of the Church of highly valued as those for instance little cramped cabins and the like Ireland Cathedral on 21st October in Charlemont Place, on the Mall or had all but disappeared. It may well 1818. At that time there was no some in Upper English Street there have been that some of the Catholic graveyard in Armagh. was a sizeable number in the dwellings in the Irish Street area, Although they had children it middle range and even more at the those of low valuation and at the would seem that the next lower end. There were 120 houses rear of more substantial buildings generation played no part in public in total but seventy of these were were among them. Twenty-five affairs in Armagh.Charles had two exempt from rates because of their years later, in 1864, there was daughters, Letitia and Henrietta low valuations. The names of those another valuation of property, this

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time for the purpose of setting rates to pay for workhouses throughout Ireland. It gives some additional information – the names of all householders plus, if applicable, those from whom the properties were rented. There were a few less houses and possibly some had been replaced. Savages Court still had ten houses but only four were occupied, all lowly valued and the others were either in ruins or dilapidated. Gallows Hill now had two orchards and 15 houses, five unoccupied and again valuations were not high. For the most part the houses in Irish Street were in the middle to low valuations with Armagh Flax Market (Scan_Nov_2017001-Edit ) Courtesy Armagh County Museum the exception of two properties on century. On one occasion some 130 1881 had it at Lower Irish Street the east side of the street, one each flax filled carts were counted there. with the main R.I.C. Depot in on either side of the junction with Interestingly Slater’s directory of Scotch Street. This is at odds with Ogle Street and several on west 1846 listed nine flax merchants in Bassett’s directory published just side just beyond the junction with Armagh, two of whom were from seven years later. It recorded it as Charter School Lane (Navan Irish Street, Bernard Marmion and being in Upper Irish Street which Street), in what would now be John Morgan. However, it was a was actually confirmed by a map of Lower Irish Street. different story, according to the 1890 which showed it on the east 1881 directory when seven out of side of the street, up the hill from Important additions to the ten flax merchants were based in the junction with Ogle Street. Did it street the street. Five were from Upper move to different premises or was Two significant additions were Irish Street: Edward Hamill, John the location wrongly recorded by made to Irish Street within the Quinn, George Rice, Bernard the directory compiler? period between the valuations. One Johnson and William Rice and the was the establishment of the first other two: James McMahon and Fowl and flax school of the Christian Brothers Benjamin Timpson had their A new business noted in the who had come to Armagh in 1851 businesses in Lower Irish Street. It directories of the 1880s was poultry on the invitation of Cardinal would seem that at some stage dealing. This is not surprising since Cullen. Their first residence was a between the carrying out of the the rearing of poultry had increased house in Irish Street loaned to them 1864 valuation and 1881 Irish threefold in Ireland between 1850 by ‘Mr Gribbins’ who was Street was divided into Upper and and 1900. Indeed, the co-operative described as an ‘influential Lower. However, whilst Bassett’s movement in 1899 estimated that Catholic’ by Ambrose Coleman in directory of 1888 also referred to forty and then later twenty hens his revised edition of Stuart’s Upper and Lower Irish Street there were as much value as one cow. “Historical memoirs of the city of were instances where people were Two men from Lower Irish Street, Armagh.”. Could this have been just listed as being from Irish Francis Corrigan and Thomas John Gribben, the ‘marble mason’? Street. One example was Edward Gregory were described as The Brothers remained there until Hamill mentioned above. Another ‘poulterers and feather merchants’ they moved to Greenpark after a was Patrick Grimes, painter and by Slater in 1881. However, by public collection raised the money decorator. 1901 when the census was taken for its purchase a year later. The there were considerably more It was after the 1864 valuation that second was the establishment of the involved in this line of work. It a police barracks was sited at Irish Flax market in 1853 which brought should be said that the census is a Street although there was buyers and sellers to Irish Street much more informative source than th apparently a temporary barracks every Tuesday until early 20 directories which were essentially there in 1845. Slater’s directory of

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the Yellow Pages of their day. It Pubs, shops and diverse Armagh Directory of 1894 listed would seem that often those who occupations police barracks in Upper Irish appeared in it had to pay for the There were three public houses in Street there was no mention of it in privilege. Thus it is likely that there Lower Irish Street, all substantial the House and Buildings return of were those who could not afford to properties. One owned by John the 1901 census. Was there a short have their names included, others Gillen, who was also a grocer and period when there was no police may have not seen the necessity for dealer had fifteen rooms. He had barracks before it was relocated to it and the rest did not have skills or two live-in servants Minnie the other side of Upper Irish Street? trades worthy of mention as viewed Loughlin and Robert Hagan. There was however, a member of by the compilers. The census is a Bridget Hamill, a widow with six the R.I.C., Michael Russell, living more useful and reliable source in children had ten rooms and two with his wife and five children in that people were compelled to note ‘domestic’ servants. The third Lower Irish Street according to the not just the occupations of publican was Patrick Corr, a census householders but had to include the bachelor who was also a ‘lime General labourers were not ages, religion and occupations, merchant’. His sixteen room uncommon in both parts of Irish marital status etc of all members establishment was shared with his Street in 1901. They included present in the house on the allotted brother, two boarders and Bella Robert Copelton, his two sons, census day. As well, it provided O’Neill, a ‘domestic servant’. The John and Alexander and two information on housing size and pub in Upper Irish Street, a less lodgers, David McKeown and John standard of building plus the commodious building with eight Heanan. Hugh Largey was a numbers and types of outbuildings rooms was run by Bridget labourer but his sons were attached to properties. There were Monaghan who was the wife of tradesmen; John was a carpenter now four fowl dealers in Upper Patrick, a master carpenter. She and Patrick was an apprentice Irish Street: Peter Mackey, Thomas had three children and her eighty- painter. Both John Boylan and his McKenna plus John Maguire and year-old mother-in-law living with son Thomas were labourers but son son but in Lower Irish Street there her but had no live-in paid help. were many more: Eugene Farley, Hugh was a blacksmith. The three Thomas Gregory and his son Neither Upper nor Lower could be males in the Brawley household Robert, John McParland, John J. said to be a major shopping were more specific about the Kearney, John Donaghy, James thoroughfare but perhaps labouring in which they were Donaghy and three sons, Francis surprisingly there were two toy engaged. George and James were Corrigan and son Patrick, a second shops located in Lower Irish Street. slater’s labourers and William Francis Corrigan, John Corrigan One was owned by William laboured in the grocery business. and Thomas McArdle. By this time, Conlan and the other by Rose Women’s work it would certainly appear that Irish Shannon. Mary Jane Diffin had a Street was the heart of the poultry grocer’s shop in Upper and the Many of the women who lived in industry in Armagh and would Loughran sisters, Mary and the street were in paid employment. surely merit a study on its own at Maggie, had one in Lower Irish Some were seamstresses and some stage. Street where there were also three dressmakers like Mary Maguire vacant shops. who boarded with the Russell There were still a number engaged family and Catherine McCann who in the flax business but the majority A variety of skills and trades were was a young apprentice. Mills, on were in Upper Irish Street: Samuel represented within the Irish Street the outskirts of the city, where the Webb, flax buyer, John Hanna also community. For instance, Francis spinning and weaving of linen was a flax buyer, his brother James a Donaghy was a bricklayer, carried out, provided most of the flax dresser, John Quinn, flax Johnston Watson, a butcher, Daniel work for female labour in the dealer and his son Charles, flax Daly, a shoemaker and William Armagh area. A considerable dresser, Bernard O’Neill and Lee Reilly a chimney sweep. There number of the Irish Street women Rice who described themselves as were horse dealers and cattle worked in them in various flax merchants. As well, there was dealers and there were a few with capacities. These included a flax store in Upper Irish Street. more unusual occupations such as ‘damask’ weavers Catherine Arthur McBride was the sole flax John Kearney who was a ‘horse Boylan and Mary Ann McMahon, dealer in Lower Irish Street. jockey’ and William Conway, a ‘linen’ weavers Maggie McCann ‘billiard marker’. Although the

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and the three Largey sisters, house belonging to James Lennon were born either there or in Bridget, Mary-Anne and Catherine. in Lower Irish Street. He, three Glasgow. Patrick Dougan’s year The two Watson sisters, Maria and boarders and a housekeeper, Annie old son was born in Scotland and Sarah were spinners and Catherine McArdle, resided in this Winifred, wife of Peter Fields was Kearney was a ‘yarn doffer’. commodious property. Both he and also born in Glasgow. In Lower Thirteen-year-old Catherine Daly one of the lodgers, P.J.McGarvey, Irish Street two daughters of was the only person described as a described as law clerks on the William Reilly were born in ‘half-timer’. Her two sisters Mary census form were active in local Scotland as was four-year-old and Sarah were linen weavers. Catholic affairs. He was a member Fanny McGinn. of the first Catholic controlled Extended families and Urban District (City) Council Irish speakers or not? lodgers which came into being in 1899 and The 1901 census sought Households in Irish Street as indeed later went on to be Town Clerk. information on who could speak in other places at the outset of the P.J. McGarvey who was the Hon. Irish. However, a perusal of returns twentieth century were often bigger Secretary of the Catholic Reading would seem to indicate that there than they are nowadays. It was far Rooms in Ogle Street later became were probably people who from unusual to have different a journalist and also a member of misunderstood or misinterpreted generations of families in one the Council. what was required. If a person house, not just parents but also spoke only Irish, then he or she was Whilst both parts of Irish Street nieces and nephews. For instance, expected to write ‘IRISH’ in the were predominantly Catholic there Lee Rice who was unmarried had allotted column. If he/she spoke were a few families which his sister Martha Campbell plus both languages the words ‘IRISH belonged to Protestant niece and nephew, Kathleen and and ENGLISH’ were to be written denominations. The Copletons, Lee Rice living with him. Another otherwise the column was to be left Diffins, Mary Marks and the bachelor, Bernard Johnston, a horse blank. There were no less than four household of Lee Rice resided in dealer, had sister-in-law Cecilia and households in Upper Irish Street Upper Irish street but in Lower nephew Bernard in his household where, if their responses were to be Irish Street there was just one as well as a domestic servant, taken at face value, all within them family, the Watsons who declared Brigid Loye. Even more common spoke only Irish. They included themselves to be ‘Protestant’ and a were the households with boarders. widow Annie Donnelly, her two single Englishman, James A surprising aspect of this was that sons, James, fourteen, a butcher Warrilow, a musician, who was the majority were not people who who could read but not write, five- Church of Ireland. had come from other places to year-old schoolboy, Bernard and work in Armagh but instead were By 1901 there was just one house her lodger, John King, a Protestant mostly from Armagh and its left on Gallows Hill where Hugh mechanic from Belfast. Another environs. The two boarders in the Smyth, a shoemaker and his family apparently Irish only household Collins family home in Upper Irish lived but Savages Court was no was that of M.Jane Diffin, her Street were exceptional in that they more. daughter Annie who had a grocer’s came from Antrim and Down and shop and shop assistant, Maggie were both ‘mineral water bottlers’. Scottish connections Stoops who lived with them on the Some households were definitely Browsing the census returns for premises. It would not be crowded by today’s standards. For both Lower and Upper Irish Street unreasonable to conclude that these instance, there were nine people one surprising feature came to and the other two households had including three boarders in the light. A significant number of somehow misinterpreted what they McCreesh, two-up / two-down, households had Scottish were asked. Indeed, it is doubtful family home in Lower Irish Street. connections which would seem to that they had any Irish at all. There In a similar size house in Upper suggest that Scotland was the main was just one household in Upper Irish Street widow Bridget Brawley emigration destination for either Irish Street, that of John Collins had seven in her household short or long term periods for some and his wife Rose where Irish and including a boarder, three sons, a residents. Examples include Grace, English were spoken. No families daughter and a grandson. There the wife of Hugh Cullen, Upper in Lower Irish Street claimed to be was certainly no overcrowding Irish Street who came from wholly Irish speaking. Indeed, there however in the twelve roomed Ardrossan. All of their six children were few adults who declared that

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they were Irish speakers. The only male was James Lennon and there were just two adult females, seventy-year-old Mary A. Kilpatrick, a widow and sixteen- year-old Catherine McCartan described as a ‘housekeeper’. Interestingly there were a number of schoolgirls but no boys who were speaking Irish. The Donnelly sisters, Minnie aged thirteen and Maggie, eight, had Irish but not their fifteen-year-old brother, Patrick. The two McCreesh girls, Annie, twelve and Maggie, four, but not eleven-year-old James had also Irish and English. John

Corrigan’s three daughters, all Irish Street looking south (Anderson collection) ARMCM.2.1997.30 Courtesy of Armagh County Museum under eight and ten-year-old Mary Donnelly who was born in However, it is my intention to O MUIRI, R.(ed.) ‘St. Malachy’s continue research into at least the Church, Armagh 1938-88’, Edinburgh were deemed to speak Monaghan, 1988 both languages. Why was it that 1960s and 70s as this is for me some, not all, girls of school age in when Irish Street’s history is more exciting: the growth of Irish LENNOX, W. ‘The new commercial Irish Street had knowledge of Irish directory of Armagh…’Derry, 1840 but boys appeared to have none. nationalism and culture, political LIGAR, CW. ‘City of Armagh: the Did they attend classes outside conflict and the coming of social government valuation of Armagh school hours given possibly by the housing. which enumerates the name and Gaelic League, founded in 1893 annual value of every holding in the References city’, Armagh, 1839 ‘with the object of reviving and re- ‘General valuation of rateable establishing the Irish language in HUNTER, R.J., ‘The Ulster property in Ireland, Union of Plantation in the counties of general use’? This is questionable Armagh (part of) …’, Dublin 1864 Armagh and Cavan 1608-41’, because it would have been unusual Belfast,2012 STUART, J., ‘Historical memoirs of to offer extra-curricular classes for the city of Armagh,’ new edition GLANCY, M. ‘The incidence of the revised by Ambrose Coleman, girls and forget about boys at that plantation on the city of Armagh, in Dublin, 1900WEATHERUP, R., SEANCHAS ARDMHACHA, vol.1, time given the status of women ‘Armagh: historical photographs of No2, 1955 then and when interest in the the primatial city’, Belfast 1993 ‘Abstracts from the rentals of the language generally was growing ‘Slater’s commercial directory of Archbishops of Armagh 1615-1746 Ireland’, Dublin, 1846 due to the Gaelic Revival from the originals in the movement. It seems more likely Archbishops Registry…compiled by ‘Slater’s Royal National that the young females were T.G.F. Paterson Commercial Directory of Ireland’, Dublin, 1881 introduced to Irish in the girls’ ASHE, T. ‘Of the Archbishopric of national school in Chapel Lane by a Armagh, a view or an account BASSETT, G., ‘The book of County taken’, 1703, Armagh County Armagh’, Dublin, 1888 teacher who was a language Museum copy enthusiast. ‘The Armagh almanacs and street LODGE, W. ‘A list of the inhabitants directory for 1894’, Armagh, 1894 of the town of Armagh for the use More to come of his Grace, the Lord Primate’, BELL, J and WATSON, M., ‘A 1770, Armagh Public Library history of Irish farming 1750-1950’, This is just an overview of Irish Dublin, 2009 Second Report of the Street until the outset of the Commissioners of Irish Education I am very grateful to David twentieth century; it is by no means Inquiry, 1826 Mansbridge, St Mark’s Parish Church for information on the the whole story. There are ‘Bradshaw’s General directory of Whittington burials and to Joe undoubtedly gaps to fill or Newry, Armagh’, Newry, 1819 Canning of the O Fiaich Library and Archive for information on their questions to answer which others in The Belfast Monthly, vol.7, 1811

births. the future could hopefully address.

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Immigrants in early 20th Century Armagh by Catherine Gartland

Many would regard immigration as descendants of local emigrants, soon as he was eligible to get a a fairly recent phenomenon in some of whom had returned to certificate of naturalisation. The Armagh but a look at the census for Ireland with their foreign born family, who were members of the the Armagh area around the turn of children. This can usually be Church of Ireland, mixed with the 20th Century would suggest verified by looking at the age and others in the upper echelons of otherwise. There were a relatively place of birth of family members. Armagh society: both sons attended small number of people born For instance, the Loughrans of the Royal School and had abroad recorded in the census in Ballycrummy were originally from distinguished careers in the British 1901 and 1911, but local residents Counties Armagh and Tyrone but Army and Navy; daughter Alice at the time still included: a few had emigrated to New York, where married local Justice of the Peace Russian Jews, about a dozen their three oldest children were and son of the Dean of Armagh W. people born in Germany, France, born but the two youngest had been J. Shaw-Hamilton. A renowned Denmark, Italy, and Norway as born in County Armagh. scientist and erudite historian with well as 15 persons born in India, 9 a good command of languages in America, 3 in Canada and 9 in If we turn now to ‘foreign’ issued from a fairly wealthy Australia. In 1911, countries listed immigrants, that is, those who were background, Dreyer seems to have also included China, Prussia and neither returned emigrants, nor experienced no difficulty in settling Switzerland. The amount of from or connected to the ‘home in his new country. advertising for passage to Northern nations’, it is clear that some America in the local newspapers groups found it easier to settle than French teacher Sylvain Deschamps confirms that emigration was still a others. was another professional who popular option for the Irish, but the seems to have been well accepted Professional men late 19th Century had also seen a into local society. Born around significant increase in the number Some immigrants were professional 1827 in the Saumur area in Western of new arrivals into Ireland, and men brought to Armagh by their France, he had taught French in the Armagh had its own small share of work. 1850s and 60s at the exclusive Oak this incoming population. House School in Axminster, The most notable one was John Devon, where he had met and The Empire and returned Louis Emil Dreyer, director of married his wife. He had been in emigrants . Born in Armagh since at least 1874, when Census forms did not record Copenhagen in 1852, he was the he is recorded as a new member to people’s nationality but rather their son of a Colonel, who later became the Armagh Natural, Historical and place of birth, which may give the Danish Minister of War and the Philosophical Society. He was at impression that the population was Navy. Dreyer had studied the time employed by the Royal more diverse that it was in reality. astronomy in Denmark and had School, where he was still an For instance, those born in India all first come to Ireland in 1874 to ‘assistant master’ by 1882. A had local or Anglophone names and work at Lord Rosse’s Observatory member of the Axminster most had local connections. Many at Parsonstown (Birr). His next Harmonic Society in the 1850s, he would have been the children of position was at Dunsink must have been a proficient soldiers once posted to India, a part Observatory near Dublin, where he musician, for he is also listed as a of the British Empire, as is met and married his Irish born wife. teacher of music in Armagh in confirmed in many cases by the He took up post at Armagh 1894. In 1901, aged 73, he was fact that they resided on Barrack Observatory in 1882, making living at Killuney with his much Hill. history by becoming the first younger wife Elizabeth. Both director who was not born in were members of the Church of Those born in America, Canada Ireland. He acquired British Ireland. He was still teaching, and Australia were in majority citizenship soon after, in 1885, as more than just one language it

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seems, since he described his would have had little contact Armstrong family.2 Margareta occupation as ‘teacher of outside their own community, Lennon, nee Stablein, had been languages’. By 1911, he had except with the young girls they married to James Lennon, Town retired from education and had taught. Clerk and solicitor’s assistant, since become curator at the Museum. 1903. In 1911, the Lennons lived The Philosophical Society had Another respectable option for in the Drumarg area and had four appointed him to the post in single educated females who children. Both ladies were issued October 1906, on the death of needed to support themselves was from a comfortable background: previous curator Miss Reid, just to care for the offspring of wealthy Frida Hamilton was the daughter of after he had been naturalised.1 He families. Young French females an engineer, while Margareta must have been well thought of, were a popular choice, as they Lennon’s father was a clerk. The since he was chosen from eight could teach their young charges a latter may have been a former candidates on a unanimous vote. fashionable and useful language. governess too. He lived in Abbey Street at the Juliette Gerzin (22), a young time, but lodgings at the Museum widow from Paris, was employed An invasion of German came with the post, as well as a as a ‘nurse domestic’- a nanny - in waiters, hairdressers and so forth… salary of £15 per annum and coal the household of W.J. Shaw- Hamilton. She would have looked and gas as needed. In return, his There were a few more Germans in after the family’s youngest duties consisted in taking the area. Unlike the governesses, children. Henrietta Winner, from subscriptions from members and they would have been economic Hörde in Western Germany, a looking after the library and migrants. collections of the Society. He governess in the same household, th stayed at the Museum until his would have taught the older girls. In Germany, the late 19 Century death at the age of 87 in November This was a common occupation for was a period of continuous emigration. An enormous 1914, which is recorded in the young middle-class German ladies expansion of population could not minutes of the Society. Like the at the time. Governesses would be totally absorbed by local Dreyers, the Deschamps must have have been expected to teach girls of industries. Political repression mixed with other local families of a school age the three Rs as well as other accomplishments expected of compounded the pressure to leave. similar social standing to These economic migrants were themselves, for daughter Florence wealthier young ladies, such as music and arts. The position of mainly leaving for America but married Nicholas Williams, the son many stopped in Britain on the these employees was a bit of a former Armagh post master, in way, to earn money to pay for their ambiguous, in that they were Dublin in 1889. She later returned passage and learn the language. considered to be servants, but of a to work in the local area, as a post Some settled there, attracted by a better class. mistress in Caledon. combination of work opportunities Another compatriot who was listed and legislation which allowed to Opportunities for single enter the country relatively easily. as a governess in the previous educated females Ireland, a part of the Empire census was Eva Braining (23), who submitted to the same laws as Sylvain Deschamps was not the lived in Abbey Street in 1901. She Britain, also got a share of these only French teacher in the area. In was employed by mill owner James migrants. Their employment 1911, the Convent of the Sacred Wilson as a governess to the somehow mirrored that of their Heart, a French religious order, was Wilsons’ three daughters. compatriots in Britain, with waiting home to five French nuns of and hotel work, as well as There were a further two German various ages who taught there: hairdressing, being favoured ladies living in the area at the time, Marie Anne De Jourdan (31), occupations. Leonie Hovelt (61), Marie Deeg both long term residents and (42), Letitia Lodina (38) and Marie married to local men. Frida In 1901 Armagh, there were two Scoeyee (?) (29). The census form Hamilton, nee Batrzner, lived in German waiters: Carol Nevling does not specify what subject they Upper English Street in 1911. She (24) who resided in Jenny’s Row taught. Their lives could not have had married florist and former and Karl Neibling (23), who lived been more different from that of gardener John Hamilton in 1900. at the Beresford Arms Hotel, then Deschamps, as the nuns still lived a She was a former governess, ran by Eleanor Gore from County cloistered existence at the time and probably in the employment of the Meath. Neither of them can be

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traced in the Irish census a decade later.

By 1911, the hotel had been taken over by German hotel proprietor Charles Herrmann (33). He had come to Ireland to work as a waiter himself and had been employed in a Belfast hotel on Royal Avenue in 1901. The establishment was run by another German, Herman Henssler, who employed several other compatriots. Herrmann had given his name as ‘Karl Herrmann’ then, and his denomination as ‘Lutheran’. Ten years later, he was well settled: he had become a respectable hotel proprietor, who had anglicised his first name, married a British woman – his in laws were from Scotland and Belfast- and had joined the Church Armagh Guardian, 30 July 1904 of Ireland. He was also a member of the local Lodge of Freemasons. in Belfast for Hoffman, another a ‘hairdresser master’ and he had Maybe this had also assisted in his German hairdresser, and married taken on a young assistant, another integration. When war broke out in Minnie Smyth there in 1899. The German: Wilhelm Sinclair Muller, August 1914, he had clearly made following year, at the age of 25, he who lived with the family. Services his choice, as the Armagh Guardian had opened the City Toilet Club in at Zwecker’s were impressive and commented: ‘A waiter at the Upper English Street; it was a ‘high always improving: in 1904, Beresford has to go to the class’ establishment catering for gentlemen were offered a Fatherland, but the manager is both ladies and gentlemen which staggering choice of twenty natural being naturalised a British citizen promised a totally hygienic shades to colour their hair and 3 and stays.’ environment, where all equipment beard; a few years later, the business was advertising German hairdresser Theodor was sterilised. Clients could also electrolysis.6 Zwecker was also a member of the be catered for at home if they preferred.5 By 1911, the business Lodge - since 1906, the same year German hairdressers were in vogue 4 was well established: Theodor he had been naturalised. Before at the turn of the Century, as they Zwecker was describing himself as coming to Armagh, he had worked had a reputation for being particularly industrious, cleanly and sober, so it is no surprise that Armagh was home to a second German hairdresser in Thomas Street in 1901: Catholic Gerhard Thielen (27), ‘hairdresser tobacconist’ had also previously worked in Belfast and was married to Belfast born wife Maggie.

It seems that the Germans were well liked in the area early on. At a time when the British press was scaremongering and warning of a ‘German invasion being supported by the army of German waiters, Ulster Gazette, Armagh, 14 December 1900

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hairdressers and so forth’, the Russian laws had confined them. Guardians should strongly dissuade Armagh Guardian reassured its In 1881, Tsar Alexander II had their applicants from proceeding to readers that ‘these industrious been assassinated by any of these towns.’ Germans’ were of a ‘most revolutionaries and, in a country peaceable disposition’. 7 with a long history of anti- In Armagh, there were only two semitism, it had been easy to Russian Jews recorded in the This was not to last, however. deflect responsibility onto the Jews. 1901census, and none 10 years Once war was declared, there was a Pogroms in Russia and Eastern later, but this does not provide an backlash against German residents Europe had ensued, resulting in the accurate picture of Russian Jewish in Britain, with riots in Liverpool, emigration of over 2 million immigration in the area around that London, but also in Dublin, where people. A sizeable number of time, as this group of migrants German shops had their windows refugees had fled to Great Britain, tended to move around quite a bit. some travelling on to Ireland, smashed. Armagh was not totally In the mid 1890s, there had already which already had a small Jewish immune to the change of mood. been a small Jewish community in community. In twenty years, the The local papers were full of stories the Armagh area, a large enough Jewish population in Ireland had of German barbarism and called for group to organise a regular Jewish made a huge leap from 472 to a boycott of German and Austrian service in the town. The Jewish 3,769 in 1901. These immigrants goods. New legislation was Chronicle records the setting up of had first made their homes in areas introduced which made it a Minyan - a religious committee 9- with existing Jewish settlements compulsory for ‘enemy aliens’ to in 1895: (Dublin, Belfast and Cork) but register and severely restricted their some moved further afield in search ‘A Minyan for regular Jewish movements. The Armagh Guardian of new opportunities. This new service was started at Armagh, commented: group of uneducated immigrants, Ireland on March 26 1895. A who had lived in poverty and were ‘Under this law come a Keady general meeting was held on prepared to work for very little, was th watchmaker, a German who has Sunday April 7 1895 for the not always viewed favourably by been in the country fifty years, an purpose of electing officers and local workers. Even the existing Austrian at Ternascobe, the wife of making other arrangements. Mr English speaking Jewish Samuel J Parks was elected the Town Clerk at Armagh, and communities, who regarded them president, Mr Abraham Glickman other married women, governesses, as ‘foreign’, objected to some of treasurer, Mr Bernard Glick and children’s maids, who will the new settlements. On 2 August secretary and Mrs Bernard White, certainly find the law troublesome 1895, the Jewish Chronicle Moses Parks, Isaac Glick and as long as they are not naturalised commented: Henry Glick members of the British citizens. It is, however, Committee Special. Special thanks ‘A considerable activity is at absolutely necessary, as it has been were accorded to Mr A. Glickman present being displayed in several discovered that in England for his valuable services.’ 10 seemingly harmless foreigners – parts of the British Empire with regard to the establishment of new waiters, trusted clerks, and Samuel Parks and his family had congregations. (...) What is governesses are simply spies, who lived in Dublin before coming to especially surprising is that such sent all possible information to Armagh. In the mid-90s, they large numbers of immigrants are Germany.’8 resided in Edward Street. The settling in the sister isle, and in Whites and Glickmans lived in the ‘Undesirable immigrants’ addition to joining the same street. Parks worked as a congregations long established: ‘dealer’; Glick was a hawker. Both Russian Jewish immigrants, who Dublin, Belfast and Cork, are are mentioned in reports of a court formed the largest group of forming small colonies in the towns case to settle a dispute between newcomers to Ireland around that of Limerick, Armagh, several Jewish residents in 1895; period, did not always find it easy Londonderry, Dundalk and also named are an Abraham Baker to settle either. Waterford. We must confess that and a man called we cannot view without some ‘Levingston’ (Levinson?), who They had arrived at the end of the misgiving the settlement of the both lived in Armagh.11 None of previous century, as refugees from foreign immigrants in towns such the commercial directories of the territories in the Pale of Settlement as these, which, unfortunately, time list Parks, which would (an area of Russia now part of cannot be described as prosperous. suggest that he did not have any Poland and Lithuania) where We think that our Board of commercial premises. He must

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have been a small dealer or a in a town which was in economic 10s wages and the 10 percent, they travelling salesman. Jewish Russian decline, as the Jewish Chronicle had also to pay such a price as also immigrants often started working in had forecast or did they not feel admitted of a profit to Mr Glick, small sales, as pedlars or hawkers, welcome? There are two recorded the employer’. Further comments sometimes in the employment of co incidences of assault on Bernard made assumptions about the -religionists. As business Glick in Armagh. The first took complainant’s greed: ‘It is a matter progressed, drapery or other soft place in August 1896 and the of money with him, and it is a goods would be bought to be re- second in 1899, around the time he question of morality with the sold to their customers as hire moved to Dublin. The report of the court.’14 purchase. Small credit payments latter affair is entitled ‘Threatening were then collected weekly. the Jews’, although it is not very The following year, the census clear from the article whether it listed only two Jewish inhabitants Samuel Parks moved back to was an incidence of anti-semitism in Armagh: Haisa Parks (23) and Dublin around 1898. In 1901, he is or a personal dispute.12 In nearby Luie Orken (28) were both boarders listed there as a ‘furniture dealer’. Lurgan, Jewish immigrants seem to in the house of Patrick Feehan, a The census form records his and his have well integrated into the local horse dealer, in Lower English wife’s place of birth as ‘Germany’ community. Joseph Herbert, a Street. Parks, who gave his but, ten years later, both declared Lithuanian Jew arrived in the late occupation as ‘draper’ was being born in Wechsneh, Russia. th 19 Century who worked as a probably a credit draper, selling The confusion between Germans credit draper, served as a Poor Law soft goods on account for a fee. He and East European Jews is not that Guardian for many years and was may have been a relation of Samuel unusual, as the latter spoke the preferred candidate in the 1913 Parks, who was by then in Dublin. Yiddish, a language related to municipal elections. German dialects. Luie Orken described himself as a There were relatively few ‘traveller’; he was probably a Most members of the Armagh incidences of anti-semitism in Minyan and their families had Ireland, compared with other commercial traveller. His own moved away from the town just European countries. although there father had worked as a pedlar. Like before the 1901 census. was a sinister episode in 1904, the other Armagh Jews, he moved when father Creagh, a priest from around quite a bit. He had been in Bernard Glick had moved to Dublin Limerick started a campaign Ireland since 1888. In 1901, he with his family in the late 1890s. against the local Jews, accusing was in Armagh. The following The 1901 census records him as a them of taking advantage of local year, he married Rose Levitt, the 30 year old ‘traveller in soft goods’ families by charging credit on their Russian born daughter of a rabbi in with Armagh born children aged purchases. A boycott of Jewish Dublin, where they started a family. between 2 and 6. By 1911, the shops and salesmen soon ensued, They had then spent a few years in family still resided in Dublin but accompanied by serious violence Armagh – ‘Lewis’ Orken is Glick had become a ‘commercial aimed at Jews, whether they were merchant’ and employed a recorded as a newly naturalized involved in credit sales or not. The domestic servant, which would citizen living at 17 Railway Street Armagh local papers disapproved 15 suggest that his business had in 1906- before moving on to of the whole affair,13 but that is not prospered. Belfast, where the family lived in to say that all in the area were of 1911; his occupation is then listed the same opinion. In 1900, the Bernard White had settled in as ‘draper’. He can be traced again Guardian reported that Bernard Dundalk by 1901, where he worked in Edward Street, Armagh as World Glick was suing one of his as a draper. War I broke out in August 1914. (Christian) employees for Persuaded that he was a German, Abraham Glickman, another draper embezzlement. The pedlar he aged 30 in 1901, had also moved to employed was heavily fined, but local people were making life so Dundalk between 1897 and 1901. still the magistrate made it clear he difficult for the family that he had By 1903, he had moved again, this disapproved of the way the written a letter to the local papers to time to Dublin and by 1911 had business operated: he was pleased explain that he was a Jewish become a Rabbi there. about the wages the defendant was naturalised citizen and that he paid, he said, ‘as it showed the high supported the British side in the All these families moved out of prices which must be paid by poor conflict, as did most of his co- Armagh around the same time, at country people for articles “made in religionists in Britain.16 Like Glick, the end of the 1890s. Did they find Germany”, as, in addition to the he faced hostility on occasions. In it difficult to make a decent living History Armagh No. 13 - Vol. 4 No. 1 - December 2017 41

1905, he had been sued for unpaid than it would have been for people Ulster Gazette (UG) rent by a local landlord. The case, from a wealthier and educated Western Times, Exeter and reported under the heading ‘a background. This explains why the Plymouth Gazette, 1856-1862, Jewish case’, was rather dubious Jews moved on while others settled www.findmypast.co.uk and the comments speak for so well that it has now been 1901 and 1911 Census for Ireland, themselves: ‘They were Jews and forgotten that they were ever http:// they kept the house in a dirty filthy immigrants. www.census.nationalarchives.ie state’.17 References Irish civil records, https:// civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie It is no coincidence that new Armagh Almanac, 1894 legislation on immigration was Notes Armagh Guardian (AG) passed at a time when immigration JC 7 September 1906. Belfast and Ulster Directory, 1900 2 from Russia was soaring. There The witness at her wedding was was popular resentment against the Hyman, Louis: The Jews of Ireland, Margaret Armstrong, wife of H. B. Jewish newcomers, who were from earliest times to the year 1910, Armstrong, barrister at Law in Armagh. competing for economic Shannon, 1972 3 AG 7 August 1914. opportunities but racism was also a Jewish Chronicle (JC) 4 factor. The Aliens Act of 1905 JC 7 September 1906. McCorry, F.X.: Lurgan, an Irish 5 instituted new controls on provincial town, 1993 AG 14 December 1900 immigration: ‘Undesirable (advertisement). Minutes of the Proceedings of the 6 AG 30 July 1904. immigrants’, that is those who were Armagh Natural Historical and 7 criminals, ‘lunatics’ or ‘idiots’, as Philosophical Society General AG 15 January 1904. well as those who were too poor to Meetings, 1874 and 1915, 8 AG 21 and 28 August 1914. support themselves were to be consulted at Armagh County 9 A minyan is a quorum of ten men refused entry. People could also be Museum over the age of 13, which is required for traditional Jewish expelled for similar reasons, Obituary notices: Fellows: Dreyer, worship including if they were living in J.L.E. in Monthly Notices of the 10 overcrowded accommodation. In Royal Astronomical Society, Vol. JC 26 April 1895. theory, exceptions could be made 87, p251, Feb. 1927 11 AG 18 October 1895; the 1911 for those who were persecuted in census records a David Levinson Panayi, Panikos: The settlement of living in the Shankhill in Belfast who th their own country, but that was not Germans in Britain during the 19 had a daughter born in Armagh always the case in practice. Century, http:// around 1895-96. www.mawer.clara.net/ppanayi.html 12 AG 14 August 1896 and 28 July There were newcomers from very Slater’s Directory, 1894 1899. different horizons in early 13 AG 22 April 1904. St Patrick’s Senior Lodge No623, Twentieth Century Armagh. How 14 Grand Lodge of AG 2 November 1900. easily they settled varied but social Armagh, in Freemasons of Ireland Membership 15 JC 7 September 1906. class seems to have been a major registers, 1733-1923, 16 factor. It was a lot more difficult AG 14 August 1914. for those who arrived from a life of www.Ancestry.com 17 UG 19 June 1905. poverty in Russia to start afresh The Armachian, 1882

Patrick Magee

On Saturday, 28 July at 12noon people gathered in Edward Street to view the unveiling of a Blue Plaque to the internationally renowned actor of stage and screen, Patrick Magee at number 2, the house of his birth. Armagh History Group and Armagh Theatre Group supported playwright, Daragh Carville's approach to the Ulster History Circle to have a Blue Plaque in honour of him. Thanks to the financial support of Armagh City Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council the plaque was placed in Edward Street to be unveiled by actor, Stephen Rea. Members of Patrick Magee’s family were there to view the unveiling.

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From left to right: Patrick Magee’s son Mark, his daughter Caroline Napier and actor, Stephen Rea

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An Armagh History Group Publication History Armagh No. 13 - Vol. 4 No. 1 - December 2017 44