This website has been archived from TrainWeb.org/i3 to TrainWeb.US/i3.

Irish Narrow Gauge - Ballycastle

contents

Ballycastle - BR

• osi 100m reference: D115407, map DM005
• Ballycastle - in Lewis's Topographical Dictionary of 1842
• track diagram: [BREMP b-5-p30- ]
• photos: [IRHOS: b-6-p78-1930.08.20 ]
  [INGV2 b-7-p42-1936.06.13 ]
  [BREMP b-6-p40- b-6-p40-1911 b-6-p81-1911 b-6-p96-1911 b-6-p96-1930 b-6-p97-1938 b-6-p97-1950 ]
• platform: [INGV2 b-5-p41-?1945 ]
  [BREMP b-6-p41-1950.06.26 ]
• engine shed: [INGV2 b-5-p41-?1945 b-6-p42-1950.06.26 ]
  [BREMP b-6-p41-1950.06.26 b-6-p129-1939.06 ]
• viaduct: [INGV2 b-6-p42-1950.06.26 b-7-p42-1936.06.13 ]
• water tower: [INGV2 b-5-p41-1949 ]
• yard: [INGV2 b-5-p41-?1945 ]
  [BREMP b-6-p41- ]
• Lewis' Topographical Dictionary of Ireland 1842:

  BALLYCASTLE, a sea-port, market and post-town, in the parish of RAMOAN barony of CAREY, county of ANTRIM, and province of ULSTER, 9¼ miles (N. E. by E.) from Dervock, and 132 miles (N.) from Dublin: containing 1683 inhabitants. This place, in the Irish language called Ballycashlain, or "Castletown," derived that name from a castle built here in 1609 by Randolph, Earl of Antrim, who was directed by Jas. I. to raise "faire castels" at reasonable distances on his vast estates, that the country might be the more speedily civilized and reduced to obedience. The town is advantageously situated on the northern coast, at the head of the fine bay to which it gives name, and in a beautiful valley at the foot of Knocklayd, opposite to the island of Rathlin. It consists of the Upper and Lower Town, of which the latter, called the Quay, is separated from the former by a road bordered with fine trees, which, sheltered by the hills intervening between them and the coast, have attained a stately and luxuriant growth. The houses, amounting, in 1831, to 275 in number, are in general neatly built, and in both portions of the town are several of handsome appearance. Within the distance of half a mile from Ballycastle are the elegant seats of C. McGildowny, Esq., Capt. Boyd, A. and J. McNeale, Esqrs., and several others. It was formerly a place of great manufacturing and commercial importance, abounding with various works upon a large scale, among which were extensive breweries, glass-houses, salt-works, and spacious warehouses; and in the immediate neighbourhood were extensive collieries, the produce of which formed a material article in its trade. In 1730, endeavours were made in the Irish Society and the corporation of Londonderry. It had a spacious harbour, in which 74-gun ships could anchor in safety in any weather, and upon the improvement of which £130,000 had been expended; also a pier and quay, the construction of which cost £30,000. But this high degree of prosperity, which the town attained under the auspices of Hugh Boyd, Esq., began to decline soon after that gentleman's decease, and all that at present remains of its trade is a small fishery carried on by a few boats in the bay. The harbour is now completely choked up; the pier and quay are a heap of ruins; the custom-house has been converted into a whiskey shop, the breweries are un-tenanted, the glass-houses have been converted into a carpenter's shops, and the mansion-house is a parish school.