Markethill

EDITED EXTRACTS FROM THE PARLIAMENTARY GAZETTEER OF IRELAND, PUBLISHED IN 1846

MARKETHILL, a small market and post town in the parishes of Mullaghbrack and Kilclooney, barony of Lower Fews, County Armagh.

It stands on the road from Armagh to Newry.

Main Street, Markethill (Image: Ebay)

The surrounding country, though minutely subdivided into small holdings, is remarkable for the comfortable appearance of its cottages, the snug condition of its little farms, and the very improved, and, in some respects, peculiar state of its agriculture; the last, in a great measure, the result of the spirited and enlightened exertions of MR BLACKER, the land agent of LORD GOSFORD and COLONEL CLOSE.

Nearly three miles west of the town, and forming a conspicuous feature in an extensive landscape, is the remarkable hill called Vicar's Cairn, whose summit has an altitude of 814 feet above sea-level.

In the vicinity of the town is Draper's Hill [in Gosford Forest Park], celebrated in the writings of DEAN SWIFT.

Immediately adjacent to the town on the north and east, and to a certain extent closely and warmly sheltering it, is the handsome demesne of GOSFORD CASTLE, the seat of Lord Gosford, the proprietor of the town.

The present mansion was built only three or four years ago, and is a large edifice,  in the early style of castellated baronial architecture.

Bryandrum Cottage adjoins the east side of the demesne; and other small seats are in the neighbourhood.

The town has a bridewell [prison], a neat court-house, a good inn, and several well-built houses.

The bridewell is quite new, has sufficient accommodation for the wants of the district, and is kept in a very clean and good condition.

Markethill is the station of the staff of the county militia, and the seat of a court of quarter-sessions, and a fortnightly court of petty-sessions.

Fairs are held on the third Friday of every month.

First published in December, 2021.