Page:The National Gazetteer - A Topographical Dictionary of the British Islands, Volume 1.djvu/808

Rh DOWNPATRICK HEAD. Dowsr.v. granted to it by Henry TV., entitled to the " mayor, li.ii- litls, and commonalty of thec -ityot' 1 >-wn in Ulster." So early as 1585 this borough returned two m. mbers for the Irish parliament, which continued till the Union; since then one member only has been returned to the Im- perial parliament. The petty sessions ore held here on alternate Thursdays. The assizes, quarter sessions, and oourt-leet are also held here. The chief object of , tion in the town is the cathedral, .- an eminence to the W. of the town; it is a stately mhattled edifice, chiefly of unhewn stone, supported externally by b 1 1 ses. It remained a ruin till 1790, when it was restored, by a grant of 1,000 from government and liberal subscrip- tions from the nobility and gentry of the county, to its present external condition. The interior has been hand- somely restored by Dr. Woodward, tho present di an. It contains the mutilated effigies of St. 1'atrick, its founder, St. Bridget, and St. Columbkill; a monument to the memory of Cromwell, Baron Okeham ; and another to his grandson, the Earl of Ardglass. There is also a parish church, the living of which is a rect. Also a Roman Catholic chapel, two Presbyterian and two Methodist meeting-houses. The county-hall occupies an i i site in English-street ; it is a large and handsome build- ing, approached by a flight of stone steps. The centre of the hall is appropriated to the criminal court, the eastern wing to the civil court, and in the western arc preserved the county records : it contains also a suite of assembly-rooms. The county gaol is another large erection ; the internal arrangements of which are said to be excellent Among the other principal buildings may be mentioned the barracks, the diocesan schools of Down, the infirmary and fever hospital, the Northern bank, the Ulster bank, almshouses, and widows' houses. It possesses also a public library and newsroom. Tho streets are well paved and lighted with gas. There is a considerable business in brewing, tanning, soap- making, &c. A small export trade is carried on by means of vessels from Lough Strangford, which dis- charge at thcQuoil Quay, 1 mile from the town. There are several raths and forts in the parish ; the most noted are the one near the cathedral and one at Bally- kilbeg. About a mile from the town is the celebrated St. Patrick's Well, which is frequented by some for the waters, and others to perform penance. Downpatrick boasts of having been the birthplace of Duns Sootus. The Doicnpatrick Recorder is published in the town. Market days are Tuesdays and Saturdays. Fairs are held on the first Tuesday of each month. Races are held here in July, on an excellent course, 1 mile S. of the town. DOWNPATRICK HEAD, in tho bar. of Tira -1. y, in the co. of Mayo, prov. of Connaught, Ireland, 4 milts N.N.E. of Ballycastlo. Its height is 126 feet, and its peculiar formation renders it an object of striking inte- rest. There are traces of fortifications, and part of tho rock has a natural tunnel and shaft. DOWNS, a vil. in the par. of Kilcoole, bar. of New- castle, in tho co. of Wicklpw, prov. of Leinstcr, Ireland, 4 miles S. of Bray. It is situated on tho road from thence to Wicklow. DOWNS, a romantic glen between the bar. of New- castle, and tho half bar. of Rathdown, in tho co. of Wicklow, prov. of Leinster, Ireland, near Bray Bell- cone. The adjacent demesne is a spot of extreme beauty. DOWNS (THE), a much In, Dented roadstead be- tween the North and South Foreland, off the coast of Kent. It affords a safe shelter for shipping, the Good- win Sands forming a natural breakwater. When the wind is contrary, several hundred vessels may frequent 1 v be seen at one time opposite Ramsgate, Sandwich, and Deal. DOWNSHA Y, a vil. in tho par. of Worth Mate, in tho co. of Dorset, 1 mil. S K. of Corfc Castle. There was formerlya marble quarry worked 1 DOWNSIDE, ahmlt. in tho par. of llackwell, in the co. of Somerset, ? miles S.W. of Bristol. DOWNSIDE, a Hthtf. in tho par. of Midsomer Norton, co. of Somerset, 2 miles N.E. of Shepton Mallet. The living is a cur. in t . ilp j, i' mil. of the vi is a D^^^l chapel, believed to be one of the oldest in i tho country. St. Gregory's College is a I institnl DOWN T<>, a par. in tin- hund. <>i V. co. of ll"]el'"icl, _' mill - S.E. "!' Leiutv. town, and 7 W. "I I.i Terne, and is well wooded. Th'- .soil is sha substratum of rock. There are only a lew M^H houses. Tho living is a vie. * in the dioc. of Hetjl val. 154, in the patron, of (he lord rl church, di ! : . (iilcs, is a smal ture in . It contains monument*. :inN, a par. and town in the lmn.1. ofH i the co. of Wilts, 7 in: Salisbv^H w S.V. of London. It is m T^H river Avon, and contains the tvthirs. of( 'harltun, C^H East Downton, Hamptworth, Wick, und Val: Witherington ami town, which contains between 3,000 and 4,000 tanU, consists principally of one from E. to W. It was formerly u market town of i importance, and returned two m parli before the passing of the Keform Bill. It is i and presents somewhat the appearance ol having declined. The inhabitants are ohiolly < in making straw-plait, limiting, tain making, and in lime-burning. On the river A is hero divided into throe chain bridge, are several grist and paper mills. T:. a vie. with the cur.* of Nunton annex Salisbury, val. 571, in the jm 1 College. There are also the tw<> Charlton and Ecdlynch, both ]>< 1 1 tho vicar. The parish church, dedic-r rence, is an ancient structure, r> tower has been raised 30 feel above its r. It COD tains monuments to Lord Feverehu; and other members of tho Dune churches of All Saints and St. Mar liuilt in the ancient style, with s; Tho Baptists, Wesleyans, and oth. have places of worship. The chari; 50 per annum. There is a free gi founded by Sir Joseph Ashe in 1679, ano 1 about 40 per annum; also Nation:, There are a few remains of an. ached place, called Clerbury Cai John's palace is believed to have from Downton is Standlynch, or i senled by the English nation : en the -jiir.l A]> ill and 2nd Oe .rses, IxAVNToN. .1 tnshp. of the par. 'oji, ;( miles N.K. ol I.udlow. DOWSBY, a par. in tho wap. of A Kesteven, in the co. of Lincoi kingham, its poet town, and 6 > - me *t tho Great Northern railway. It contains 'ha Graby, and is bounded on the E. by tlie South 1 drain, which is navigable to Boston. The soil is very fertile. A large part of the parish has 1 V.Ki tumuli. -L.'.a ti northern end of the parish, mark the 1-,. Saxons and Dam*, who > a rect.* in the dioc. of Lincoln, val. 421, in tl. of the Ke^ K. Foster. The church, ci w, is an ancient massive structure, with pmbtH I..WIT containing three bells. Tho charities are share-i. with Scothcrn. There is an endowed free school * both sexes. Lord Aveland is lord of the manor.