Lewis’ Topographical Dictionary
LEWIS’ TOPOGRAPHICAL DICTIONARY
Contributed by Seán O’Brien
– oooOooo –
The London company, Samuel Lewis & Co., published a number of excellent topographical dictionaries and maps of Great Britain and Ireland during the 1800s. Samuel Lewis, himself, was editor of these enormous publications. His first major work was a Topographical Dictionary of England in 1831. It was so successful that six further editions were published, the last in 1849. This amounted to four volumes and was accompanied by an atlas.
He then published a Topographical Dictionary of Wales in 1833, followed by two further editions in 1844 and 1849, and then a Topographical Dictionary of Scotland in two volumes in 1846. His first Topographical Dictionary of Ireland was published in 1837, in two volumes plus an atlas.
Lewis’ Topographical Dictionary, as it is usually known, a large two-volume, 800-page approx. publication, was financed by subscriptions paid in advance. All the subscribers, for the entire country are listed. Preceding the alphabetical listing are the following subscribers’ names:
*Her Most Gracious Majesty The Queen, *His Late Most Gracious Majesty William The Fourth, *Her Majesty Dowager Queen Adelaide, *His Majesty The King of Hanover, *Her Majesty The Queen of Hanover, *His Majesty The Emperor of Austria, *His Majesty The Emperor of All the Russias, *His Majesty The King of Belgium,*His Majesty The King of Sweden and Norway, *His Royal Highness The Duke of Sussex, *His Royal Highness The Duke of Cambridge, *Her Royal Highness The Princess Augusta, *Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Kent.
A note says: Those marked with an Asterisk (*) are Subscribers for large paper copies. I do wonder what the others, about 10% of the subscribers, received . . . . hardly photocopies in those days, and they certainly were not on a DVD! My own copy obviously was one of those with the asterisk. I managed to purchase the two volumes many years ago from a book-seller in the west, whom I met while travelling to Achill, and it’s a first edition i.e. 1837. I was fortunate in coming across his Irish atlas the following year. It’s fine county maps are now much sought after by collectors. The Tipperary county map clearly shows the location of each place mentioned in the extracts shown below.
The atlas was advertised in his Topographical Dictionary @ three guineas, and half a guinea extra with the maps coloured (by hand, presumably). However, if you were among the list of subscribers to the Topographical Dictionary, you could purchase the atlas just for two guineas; two and a half, if coloured!
A second edition of the Topographical Dictionary was published in 1842. Apart from the work entailed in compiling and distributing such a publication, to collect subscriptions in advance from such a huge number of people, in a time when even the postage stamp hadn’t been invented, must surely be classed as an incredible achievement. Samuel Lewis died in 1865 at the age of 83. The list of subscribers runs to sixtyone pages, and amounts to approx. 9760 people. There was a considerable number of subscribers living in or near the large county towns; in the Slieveardagh area, the number was quite small. Hereunder find the names of those locals who subscribed:
*Barker, W. Esq., JP., Kilcooly Abbey, Johnstown, co. Tipperary.
Beere. Usher, Esq., Dublin, and Liskeveen Castle, co. Tipperary.
*Cook, Robert, Esq., Kiltinan-castle, Fethard, co. Tipperary.
*Cook, Phanuel, Esq., Poyntstown, New Birmingham, co. Kilkenny.
*Despard, John, Esq., Killaghy-castle, near Callan, co. Tipperary.
*Going, Ambrose, Esq., JP., Ballyphilip, Killenaule, co. Tipperary.
*Gwydir, D., Esq., Grove-lodge, Littleton, co. Tipperary.
*Jacob, Matthew, Esq., J.P., Mobarnan, Fethard, co. Tipperary.
*Langley, Henry, Esq., Coal Brook, New Birmingham, co. Tipperary.
*Langley, John, Esq., Coal Brook, New Birmingham, co. Tipperary.
*Lanphier, J.P., Esq., Parkstown, Littleton, co. Tipperary.
*Lanphier, Vernon, Esq., Laurel-lodge, Littleton, Co. Tipperary.
*Meighan, Rev. M., P.P., Gurtnahoe, &c., New Birmingham, co. Tipperary.
*Millet, James, Esq., St. Johnstown-castle,co. Tipperary.
*Millet, John, Esq., Lismontagh, Fethard, co. Tipperary.
*Poe, J.P., Esq., J.P., Harley-park, co. Tipperary.
*Prendergast, Rev. E., P.P., Ballingarry, co. Tipperary.
*Scully, Jeremiah, Esq., Silverfort, Cashel, co. Tipperary.
– oooOooo –
The title page reads:
A TOPOGRAPHICAL DICTIONARY of IRELAND
Comprising the several counties, cities, boroughs, corporate, market, and post towns, parishes, and villages
With
Historical and Statistical Descriptions
Embellished with
Engravings of the arms of the cities, Bishopricks, Corporate Towns, and Boroughs;
and of the seals of the several municipal corporations;
wIth an
APPENDIX,
describing the electoral boundaries of the several boroughs, as defined
by the act of the 2d & 3rd of Wlliam IV.
BY SAMUEL LEWIS.
In two volumes
London
Published by S. Lewis & Co. 87 Al;dersgate Street,
MDCCCXXXVII
– oooOooo –
Extracts regarding the Slieveardagh area and close by:
BARRETTS-GRANGE, a parish, in the barony of MIDDLETHIRD, county of TIPPERARY, and province of MUNSTER, 1 mile (S. E.) from Fethard; containing 233 inhabitants. This small parish was, until recently, considered as having merged into that of Coolmundry. It is in the diocese of Cashel, and is one of the parishes which constitute the union of Killenaule, to which the rectory is annexed: the tithes amount to £49.
BIRMINGHAM (NEW), a village and post-town, in the parish of KILCOOLEY, barony of SLIEVEARDAGH, county of TIPPERARY, and province of MUNSTER, 11 ½ miles (E. N. E.) from Cashel, and 82 (S. W. by S.) from Dublin; containing 298 inhabitants. This place, which is situated at the termination of the mail coach road branching from Littleton, contains about 50 houses, and is indebted for its origin and name to the late Sir Vere Hunt, Bart., who, struck with its favourable situation contiguous to the coal mines of the Killenaule district, used every effort to raise it into manufacturing importance. For this purpose he obtained patents for one or two weekly markets and twelve fairs, which are now discontinued; and the town, which was the residence of its founder, and is now the property of his son, Sir Aubrey de Vere, Bart., is at present comparatively deserted. It is a constabulary police station; and there is a small prison, to which offenders are committed occasionally by the county magistrates. The parochial R. C. chapel, a large and handsome structure in the later English style, and recently erected, is situated in the village; and there is a school of about 80 or 90 children.—See KILCOOLEY.
COOLEAGH, a parish, in the barony of SLIEVARDAGH, county of TIPPERARY, and province of MUNSTER, 3 miles (S.) from Killenaule, on the road to Fethard; containing 714 inhabitants. It comprises 2486 statute acres, as applotted under the tithe act, and is a rectory and vicarage, in the diocese of Cashel, forming part of the union of Killenaule: the tithes amount to £150.
CROGHANE, or CROHANE, a parish, in the barony of SLIEVARDAGH, county of TIPPERARY, and province of MUNSTER, 2 ¼ miles (E.) from Killenaule; containing 1393 inhabitants. This parish, which is situated on the confines of the county of Tipperary, comprises 5524 statute acres, as applotted under the tithe act, and valued at £.4460 per annum. It is a prebend and vicarage, in the Diocese of Cashel, forming part of the union and corps of the archdeaconry: the tithes amount to £300. The parochial school is aided by the rector; and there is a R. C. pay school, in which are about 70 boys and 50 girls.
DRANGAN, a parish, in the barony of MIDDLETHIRD, county of TIPPERARY, and province of MUNSTER, 4 ½ miles (N. E.) from Fethard; containing 1804 inhabitants. It comprises 5300 statute acres of tolerably good arable and pasture land, as applotted under the tithe act; and is a rectory and vicarage, in the diocese of Cashel, forming part of the union of Killenaule: the tithes amount to £325. In the R. C. divisions the parish forms part of the union or district of Cloneen; the chapel is a plain building. There are four pay schools, in which are about 150 boys and 170 girls; and in the village is a constabulary police station.
EIRKE, a parish, partly in the barony of UPPER OSSORY, QUEEN’S county, but chiefly in that of GALMOY, county of KILKENNY, and province of LEINSTER, 85 miles (S. W.) from Durrow, on the road from Rathdowney to Johnstown; containing 5565 inhabitants, and comprising 15,750 statute acres, as applotted under the tithe act, valued at £10,370. 6. per annum. About 2000 acres are bog. Two fairs are held at Bawn for cattle and horses; and here is a constabulary police station. Livally is the seat of — Fitzgerald, Esq. The living is a rectory and vicarage, in the diocese of Ossory, and in the patronage of the Crown; the tithes amount to £692. 6. 1 ¾. The glebe-house was built by aid of a gift of £100 and a loan of £800 from the late Board of First Fruits; the glebe comprises 15a. 25p. The church is a plain building, erected in 1823, towards which the late Board lent £650.
In the R. C. divisions the parish is the head of a union or district, comprising also those of Fartagh and Glashane, and containing three chapels, two in Eirke and one in Fartagh; to the chapel at Moninamuck, in this parish, Lord Courtown gave an acre of land and £50 towards the expense of its erection; it is in contemplation to rebuild the other. The parochial school is aided by the rector, and has a house and an acre of land rent-free: about 50 boys and 50 girls are taught in it. There are also nine private schools, in which are about 500 children.
FARTAGH, or FERTAGH, a parish, partly in the barony of CRANAGH, but chiefly in that of GALMOY, county of KILKENNY, and province of LEINSTER, 8 miles (S. W.) from Durrow, on the mail coach road from Athy to Cashel; containing, with the post-town of Johnstown (which is described under its own head), 3205 inhabitants. A priory for Canons Regular of the order of St. Augustine was founded here in the 13th century by the Blanchfield family, which, after its dissolution, was granted by Queen Elizabeth to a member of the family of Butler. The ancient chapel is still remaining, and contains a large table monument with the recumbent figure of a warrior, and formerly of a female by his side, supposed to be members of the Fitzpatrick family; and another tomb with a female figure, having a singular head dress. A few yards to the west of this building are the roofless remains of an ancient round tower, still 96 feet high and cracked from the doorway to the summit.
The parish comprises 6353 statute acres, as applotted under the tithe act, and valued at £4067 per annum, which, with the exception of a very small portion of wood and a little waste, is good arable and pasture land. Near Ballyspellan is a quarry of fine limestone used for tombstones. The principal seats are Violet Hill, the residence of Gorges Hely, Esq.; Melross, of C. Hely, Esq.; and Ellenville, of Mrs. Hely. Fowks Court, formerly the residence of Chief Justice Hely, and now the property of his descendant, G. Hely, Esq., was a very handsome seat, but is now in ruins.
A fair, chiefly for pigs, is held on the 5th of March. The living is a rectory and vicarage, in the diocese of Ossory, and in the patronage of the Bishop; the tithes amount to £360. 19. The glebe-house was erected by a gift of £323 and a loan of £415 from the late Board of First Fruits, in 1828; and there is a glebe. The church is a very neat edifice, and the Ecclesiastical Commissioners have recently granted £174 for its repair.
In the R. C. divisions the parish is part of the union or district of Eirke; there is a chapel at Johnstown, and another at Galmoy. About 120 girls are taught in the parochial school, and there are four private schools, in which are about 380 children. Here are the ruins of the castle of Killesheelan. The Ballyspellan spa, in this parish, is a powerful chalybeate, and is in great repute for its medicinal properties.
FENNOR, a parish, in the barony of SLIEVARDAGH, county of TIPPERARY, and province of MUNSTER, 2 ½ miles (S.) from Johnstown, on the mail coach road from Dublin by Cashel to Cork; containing 2073 inhabitants. This parish, which is bounded on the north and west by the bog of Allen and a small stream separating it from the barony of Eliogarty, comprises 5674 statute acres, which, with the exception of a considerable tract of bog, is chiefly under tillage. In the bog of Allen, and in this parish, is one of those verdant spots called islands, containing about 60 acres of excellent pasturage for sheep: the substratum of the island is limestone, but of almost every other part of the parish, freestone. The small river, at a very trifling expense, might be greatly improved by deepening the shallow parts, and would thus afford a facility for draining the bog, and supply abundance of water for turning the several mills upon its banks. Some limestone of a blue colour is worked for agricultural uses, but the general manure is a compost of lime and clay.
Poyntstown, the property of Phanuel Cooke, Esq., is in ruins. Here is a constabulary police station. The living is a rectory, in the diocese of Cashel, forming the corps of the prebend of Fennor, in the cathedral of Cashel, in the patronage of the Archbishop: the tithes amount to £489. 4. 7 ½. The glebe-house was erected by aid of a grant from the late Board of First Fruits; the glebe comprises 25 acres. The church is a neat modern structure, rebuilt by aid of a gift of £800 from the same Board, in 1815. In the R. C. divisions the parish is part of the union or district of Gurtnahoe, or Buolick. About 250 children are taught in three public schools, of which the parochial school is aided by a donation of £10 per ann. from the incumbent. The ruins of the old castles of Fennor and Graigue Padeen are in the parish, in which are also the remains of the old church, and several Danish raths.
GRAYSTOWN, a parish, in the barony of SLIEVARDAGH, county of TIPPERARY, and province of MUNSTER, 1 ¼ mile (S. W.) from Killenaule; containing 2190 inhabitants. It comprises 5957 statute acres, as applotted under the tithe act, and valued at £3229 per annum. Here is Noan, the seat of the Taylor family. Fairs are held in July and Nov. The Killenaule coal field, which is described in the article on the county, is in this parish. It is a rectory and vicarage, in the diocese of Cashel, forming part of the union of Templeneiry and corps of the precentorship of Cashel cathedral: the tithes amount to £260. There is a public school of 130 children, also two private schools, in which 180 children are educated.
JOHNSTOWN (ST.), or SCADDANSTOWN, a parish, in the barony of MIDDLETHIRD, county of TIPPERARY, and province of MUNSTER, 3 miles (S. by E.) from Killenaule, on the road to Fethard; containing 772 inhabitants. It comprises 2223 statute acres, as applotted under the tithe act, consisting of good land under tillage and pasture, without waste or bog. There are several quarries of excellent limestone. St. Johnstown Castle, consisting of a high square tower in good preservation, is the property of James Millet, Esq., who has a modern house in its immediate vicinity. Lis-mortagh is the residence of John Millet, Esq.; and Mortlestown Castle is also in this parish. It is a rectory, in the diocese of Cashel, forming part of the union of Killenaule; the vicarage is appropriate to the vicars choral of Cashel. The tithes amount to £143. 6. 6 ½., of which £110 is payable to the incumbent, and the remainder to the vicars choral. About 40 children are educated in the parochial school, which is aided by £12 per annum from the incumbent; the school-house and a residence for the master were built at the expense of the late Col. Pennefather. There are also three private pay schools, in which about 170 children are educated.
KILCOOLY, a parish, in the barony of SLIEVARDAGH, county of TIPPERARY, and province of MUNSTER, 5 miles (S.) from Johnstown; containing, with the town of New Birmingham, 3667 inhabitants. Donagh Carbragh O’Brien, King of Limerick, founded an abbey here for Cistertian monks, about 1200, which, at the Reformation, was granted to the Earl of Ormond: the ruins are extensive, and contain a fine east window and some handsome tombs of the Ikerrin branch of the Butler family: the proprietor, W. Barker, Esq., has lately erected a study, or summer-house, in them. The parish comprises 9052 statute acres, as applotted under the tithe act, of which the whole is arable and pasture, except about 300 acres of woodland. Limestone abounds, and coal and culm are found on Mr. Barker’s estate. Kilcooly Abbey, the residence of Mr. Barker, stands in a well-planted demesne of above 1600 statute acres. On its eastern verge is a tower built to commemorate the battle of Waterloo, which, being on a high hill, serves as an excellent landmark. On the hills is a colony of Palatines, brought from the county of Limerick, about 60 years since, by the late Sir W. Barker, Bart.
The living is a rectory, in the diocese of Cashel, and in the patronage of the Crown: the tithes amount to £507. 13. 10 ½. The church is a handsome modern structure. There is a glebe-house, for the erection of which the late Board of First Fruits, in 1818, gave £350 and lent £450: the glebe comprises 22 acres, for which £42. 12. per annum late currency is paid by the rector. In the R. C. divisions this parish forms part of the district of Gurtnahoe, or Fennor, and has a chapel at New Birmingham. There is also a meeting-house for Wesleyan Methodists. About 280 children are educated in two public schools, to one of which Mr. and Lady Harriet Barker subscribe £20 per annum. There are some ruins of the castle of Grange.—See BIRMINGHAM (NEW).
KILLENAULE, a small market and post-town, and a parish, in the barony of SLIEVARDAGH, county of TIPPERARY, and province of MUNSTER, 5 ¾ miles (N.) from Fethard, and 84 (S. W.) from Dublin, on the road from Cashel to Callan; containing 3464 inhabitants, of which number, 1578 are in the town.
The parish comprises 6121 statute acres, as applotted under the tithe act, and furnishes limestone, flagstone, potters’ clay, iron ore, and slate fit for making pencils. Its large collieries are described in the article on the county (which see). A chief constabulary police force is stationed in the town, where there is a weekly market, and a sub-post-office to Littleton; and fairs are held on the first Thursday (O. S.) in May and October, and on Jan. 1st, March 25th, June 24th, and Aug. 14th.
The living is a vicarage, in the diocese of Cashel, united to the rectories and vicarages of Cooleagh, Magawry, Drangan, Isertkerin, and Barrettsgrange, and the rectory of St. Johnstown, forming the union of Killenaule, in the patronage of the Archbishop: the rectory is appropriate to the Chancellorship of the cathedral of Christ-Church, Dublin: the tithes amount to £300, of which £200 is payable to the chancellor, and £100 to the vicar; and the entire tithes of the benefice amount to £949. The church is a small ancient building. There are a glebe-house and five glebes in the union, comprising 47a. 21p.
In the R. C. divisions this parish is the head of a union or district, and has a chapel. About 540 children are educated in six private schools; and there is a dispensary. Here are the remains of Gralla and Graystone castles.
KILVEMNON, or KILMANANIFF, a parish, in the barony of SLIEVARDAGH, county of TIPPERARY, and province of MUNSTER, 5 miles (S. S. W.) from Callan, on the road to Fethard; containing 4530 inhabitants. It comprises about 8100 statute acres, exclusively of about 1600 of bog; and includes within its limits part of the lofty mountain of Slieve-na-Man. About four-fifths of the land are arable, the remainder pasture; it is moderately productive, but in many parts is low and wet; the surface is ornamented with some plantations and hedgerows. The river Anner has a subterraneous course for about a quarter of a mile, and works the Compsey Mill.
The principal seats are Killaghy Castle, the residence of J. Despard, Esq., which was the residence of Baron Tobin, and was taken by Cromwell, who gave it to a Colonel Green, from whom it has descended to its present proprietor; Gurteen, of the Rev. W. O’Brien; the glebe-house, of the Rev. E. Labarte; and Ballylanigan, the property of the Cramer family.
The living is a rectory and vicarage, in the diocese of Cashel, and in the gift of the Archbishop: the tithes amount to £675. 6. 6 ½. There is a glebe-house, with a glebe of 6 acres. The church is a plain structure.
The R. C. parish is co-extensive with that of the Established Church, and is called Mullinahone, where there is a chapel. There are five private schools, in which about 330 children are educated.
MAGOWRY, a parish, in the barony of MIDDLETHIRD, county of TIPPERARY, and province of MUNSTER, 4 miles (S. E.) from Killenaule; containing 456 inhabitants, and comprising 1707 statute acres, as applotted under the tithe act. It is a rectory and vicarage, in the diocese of Cashel, forming part of the union of Killenaule: the tithes amount to £100.
In the R. C. divisions also it is part of the union or district of Killenaule.
MODESHILL, a parish, in the barony of SLIEVARDAGH, county of TIPPERARY, and province of MUNSTER, 3 miles (S. S. W.) from Callan; containing 998 inhabitants. It is situated on the confines of the county of Kilkenny, and comprises 2862 statute acres, as applotted under the tithe act, and valued at £2784 per annum. It is a rectory and vicarage, in the diocese of Cashel, forming part of the union and corps of the archdeaconry of Cashel: the tithes amount to £260.
MOGORBANE, a parish, in the barony of MIDDLETHIRD, county of TIPPERARY, and province of MUNSTER, 5 miles (E.) from Cashel, on the road from Clonmel to Thurles and Nenagh; containing 1282 inhabitants. It comprises 6522 statute acres, as applotted under the tithe act, and contains an abundance of limestone.
The principal seats are Mobarnan Manor, the handsome and well-planted demesne of M. Jacob, Esq.; Beechmount, the residence of T. G. Phillips, Esq.; and Silverfort, of J. S cully, Esq. It is a perpetual curacy, in the diocese of Cashel, and in the gift of the Archbishop, to whose mensal the rectory is appropriate. The tithes, amounting to £230, are entirely payable to the archbishop, who allows a stipend to the curate: there is a glebe-house. The church is a neat Gothic structure, built about 20 years since.
In the R. C. divisions the parish forms part of the union or district of Killenaule, and has a chapel at Moyglass. In the parochial school, built on an acre of ground given by S. Jacob, Esq., who also contributed £40 towards its erection, about 40 children are educated; and there are two private schools, containing about 170 children. Some remains of Mobarnan and Ballyvaiden castles still exist; and there are several ancient forts.
MULLINAHONE, a town, in the parish of KILVEMNON, barony of SLIEVARDAGH, county of TIPPERARY, and province of MUNSTER, 4 ¾ miles (S. S. W.) from Callan, on the road to Fethard; containing about 210 houses and 1175 inhabitants. It derives considerable traffic from its situation on a public thoroughfare, and is the resting-place for the carmen in their journey from Carrick-on-Suir to the colliery district around Ballingarry. A market for butter of excellent quality is held on Thursday, and great quantities are purchased by the Carrick, Kilkenny, and Clonmel merchants. Fairs are also held on the 1st of May and the first Thursday in December, for stock of all kinds, and are remarkably well attended; great numbers of pigs are sold. A constabulary police force is stationed in the town, in which are also a R. C. chapel and a dispensary. There are some remains of an ancient building, supposed to have been a monastery.
PEPPERSTOWN, a parish, in the barony of MIDDLETHIRD, county of TIPPERARY, and province of MUNSTER, 2 ¾ miles (N. E.) from Fethard; containing 1156 inhabitants. It is a rectory and vicarage, in the diocese of Cashel, forming part of the union of Fethard: the tithes amount to £250. The ruins of the church still remain. The ruined castle of Knockelly, consisting of a large and nearly perfect square tower of superior masonry, forms a conspicuous object in the surrounding scenery: it is encompassed by a strong wall, about 30 feet high, with bastions at the angles, and part of the enclosed area is now occupied by a farm-house. There is also an ancient fort or moat within the limits of the parish.
N.B. Spelling, punctuation, and place-names used in the above extracts are as used in the publication. The place-names were those used prior to the publication of an Ordnance Survey atlas in 1838. Those who are doing research of a historical or genealogical nature on the Internet, should use these old spellings as well as present day ones to ensure success.
E.&O.E.