Drumbeg

EDITED EXTRACTS FROM THE TOPOGRAPHICAL DICTIONARY OF IRELAND, 1837

DRUMBEG, a parish, partly in the barony of Upper Belfast, County Antrim, but chiefly in that of Upper Castlereagh, County Down, ¾ of a mile from Lisburn, on the road to Belfast.

The River Lagan traces the boundary line between the counties, bisects the parish, and is rich in those features of landscape which possess beauty without grandeur; picturesqueness without power.

The industrious prosecution of the linen trade, and the comparatively skilful practice of agriculture, combine with groves, and gardens, and undulated surface, to render large tracts of the parish a fine foreground to the view of Divis mountain, and the general range of heights on the southern frontier of the great trappean tableau of County Antrim.

The soil differs greatly in quality, from a sandy loam to a stiff clay, but is very fertile.

The Lagan Canal from Belfast to Lough Neagh passes through the parish.

The principal seats are Glenburn, the residence of Francis William Crossley; WILMONT; FINAGHY HOUSE; Larkfield, residence of Henderson Black; Drumbeg rectory; Drum House, W H Smyth; and Belvedere Cottage, a neat and commodious residence, built on the property of A Durham.

BALLYDRAIN, the beautiful demesne of Hugh Montgomery, though not in this parish, is within 200 yards of the church, and with the adjoining grounds of Lakefield, the residence of Miss Richardson, and Lismoyne, of Mrs Callwell, presents one of the finest landscapes in the neighbourhood of Belfast.

Drumbeg parish church (Image: W A Green/NMNI)

The living is a rectory, in the diocese of Down, and in the gift of the Bishop; a part of the rectorial tithes is impropriate in C CHARLEY, A Durham, and NARCISSUS BATT, as lessees under the MARQUESS OF DONEGALL.

The glebe house was built in 1826.

Drumbeg parish church (Timothy Ferres, 2022)

The church was rebuilt by subscription in 1795: it has a tower surmounted by a spire, which having been blown down in 1831, was rebuilt at the expense of J Charley.

About 300 children are educated in five public schools, two of which are on Erasmus Smith's foundation.

First published in July, 2022.