Page:The National Gazetteer - A Topographical Dictionary of the British Islands, Volume 2.djvu/713

Rh LONGFORD. 705 LONGFORD. tower, Killinmore, Lcsha, or Laragh, and Moydow, be- those of the Islands of Iimisinore, a foundation of lumba's in Lough Gownagh; Innisbofin, founded by a nephew of St. Patrick, about 530, in Lough Ree, Imiiscloran, or Inch-Clorin, also in Lough Ree, on which arc tho ruins of seven churches and a round tower, and All Saints' monastery, founded by St. Kicran in 511. Kuins of all tho above remain, but of tho priories at Bollynasaggard, Kilgluss, and St. Johnstown, no vestiges can now lie found. At Lanesborough arc tho ruins of a preceptory of the Knights Templars. A few castles arc still partially standing ; tho most interesting are Granard Castle, built on the summit of a lofty hill, and command- ing an extensive view over the level country; Castlc- 1'nrbes, the strongly-fortified seat of tho Forbes family ; Ballymahon, erected to defend the ford of the Inny, of which tho vaults only remain ; Rathcline, the chief resi- dence of the O'Cuins; Barnacor and Lot's Castles, on the opposite banks of the Inny ; Teneltick, a very strong castle, of which there are considerable ruins. LONGFORD, a bar. in co. Longford, prov. of Loin- ster, Ireland. It is 14 j miles in length, and its greatest breadth is 10J. Its boundaries are the bars, of Granard, Ardagh, Moydow, and cos. Rpscommon and Leitrim. It contains part of the pars, of Killashec, Killoe, Mohill, and Templemichael, and the whole of Clongesh. . LONGFORD, an incorporated market and post town and capital of tho co. of Longford, in tho par. of Templemichael, partly in tho bar. of Longford, but chiefly in that of Ardagh, prov. of Leinster, Ireland, 20 miles N.W. of Mullingar, and 75 W.N.W. of Dublin by road, or 76 by tho Midland Great Western and Great Northern and Western of Ireland railway, which has a branch line to this town. This place, anciently called -slthfacl/ia,vfas the site of a monastery founded by St. Idus, a disciple of St. Patrick, and also of a Domini- can Abbey founded in 1400, and which continued to flourish till the Dissolution. The castle, a place of some strength, was taken by tho insurgents from the O'Ferrals in 1641, and the garrison put to the sword. In 10.57 Francis Lord Aungier, Baron of Longford, who had become proprietor of tho town, obtained from Charles II. the grant of a charter incorporating tho town by the designation of the "sovereign, bailiffs, and burgesses of the borough of Longford," with the power of holding a court of record before his seneschal, of appointing bailiffs for his manor court, and maintaining 1 for the manor and town. Previous to the Union it was a parliamentary borough, returning two members i'> the Irish parliament, but was then disfranchised. Tho corporation still consists of a sovereign, two bailiffs, twelve burgesses, and other officers, but its functions are IIKW little more than nominal. The assizes for the county and quarter sessions are held here. The popula- tion in 1861 was 4,535. The town, which stands on tho left bank of tho river Camlin, with a small portion on llu: opposite bank, is well built. It consists of several regular streets of good houses, and has recently been mueh improved. Tho streets are paved" and well kept, being cleaned and lighted by a general rate. It contains tho county court house, tho county gaol, 'I in 1825 on the radiating principle, a market-, erected by the late Lord Longford, cavalry and artilli ? v barracks, built on tho right bank of the river, a principal police station, county infirmary and dispen- . mid a branch of tho bank of Ireland, which has ishcd here since 1834. The parish church of I'iemichaol is situated in the town, also a Roman "lie cathedral recently erected, with a tower 200 I igh and a portico of six Ionic columns. Besides there arc Presbyterian and Methodist meeting- i he trade of tho town has considerably in- d since tho extension into it of a branch of tho il and a branch lino of railway from tho
 * reat Western of Ireland. It is now one of

the best markets for corn, pork, bacon, and butter, and Jo trade in linen and coarse woollens. naivo storehouses in tho town, also a whi.,!;y distillery, brewery, several tan-yards, a butter market, and shambles. At tho termination of tho now cut from the Royal canal a basin for boats was con- structed by tho late Earl of Longford, to whom tho town is indebted for many of its improvements. Tho principal scats in the vicinity arc Castle Forbes, of tho Karl of Granard ; Carrickglass, of the Lefroys ; Mount Jessop, and Clonbolt. Tho Longford Poor-law Union comprises 19 electoral divisions in tho baronies of Ardagh and Longford. Market days arc Wednesday and Saturday, chiefly for corn, butter, bacon, pigs, hemp, and ilax. Fairs are held on the 25th March, 10th June, 19th August, and 22nd October. Tho June and October fairs are most frequented. LONGFORD, a bar. in co. Galway, prov. of Con- naught, Ireland. It is bounded by the bars, of Leitrim, Kjlconnel, and Clonmacnoon, and cos. Roscommon, King's County, and Tipperary. It is 15 miles long, and its average breadth is 8. It contains the pars, of Clonfert, Donanaghta, Fahy, Kilmalinoge, Kilquain, Kiltormer, Lickmolassy, Meolick, Tiranascragh, and parts of Abbeygormacan, Clontuskert, Dunery, Killi- morbologue, Tynagh, and Killoran, with the towns and vils. of Kyrecourt, Lawrencctown, and Portumna. LONGFORD, a par. and tnshp. in tho hund. of Appletrce, co. Derby, 6 miles S. of Ashborne, and 9 W. by N. of Derby, its post town. It is situated on a tributary of the river Dove, and includes tho hmlts. of Alkmonton, llollington, Hungry Bently, and Rodsley. Tho land is chiefly in pasture, with a very small quantity of arable and woodland. Tho soil is in general fertile. At Alkmonton are traces of an ancient religious house. The living is a rcct.* in tho dioc. of Lichtield, val. 700. The parish church, dedicated to St. Chad, is an ancient structure, mostly in tho Norman style of architecture. It contains freestone stalls, and a monu- ment of tho Countess of Leicester. There is also a district church at Aikmonton, tho living of which is a perpet. cur.,* val. 50. There arc almshouses founded by Sir R. Coke, and endowed with property producing 55 per annum. In 1G8S Lady Catherine Coke be- queathed land producing 50 per annum for school purposes. The total amount of charities is about 77 per annum. The Earl of Leicester is lord of tho manor. LONGFORD, a par. in the Newport div. of the hund. of South Bradford, co. Salop, 1 mile S.W. of Newport, its post town, and 16 miles N.E. of Shrewsbury. Tho Shropshire Union railway has a station here. The par. includes the tnshps. of Drockton and Stockton. A Roman station appears formerly to have occupied tho site of tho present village. The tithes have been commuted for a rent-charge of 144 16s. Gd. The living is a rect.* in the dioc. of Lichfield, val. 415. The church, dedicated to St. Mary, is a modern structure, with a square tower and stained-glass windows. Adjoining the church is a portion of the former one, containing monuments of tho Talbot family. Longford Hall has a Doric portico, and is situated in an extensive park. It is tho seat of tho Leeko family, to whom the manor belongs. This is a meet for the Hoar Cross hounds. LONGFORD, a hmlt. in the par. of Britford, co. Wilts, 2 miles S.E. of Salisbury. It is watered by tho river Avon. Here is Longford Castle, a seat of Earl Radnor, in which is a collection of paintings by tho old masters, including some portraits of eminent persons. There is also a steel chair, with about 1 30 bas-reliefs taken from Roman history, and a triangular house erected by Lord Coleraine, both of the 16th century. LONGFORD, a hmlt. in the par. of Kingsland, hund. of Stretford, co. Hereford, 4 miles N.W. of Leominster. LONGFORD, a hmlt. in the borough of Coventry and hund. of Knightlow, co. Warwick, 3 miles N. by E. of Coventry. It is a station on tho Coventry and Nuneaton branch of the London and North-Western railway. LONGFORD, a tnshp. in tho par. of Morton-Sey, co. Salop, 2 miles W. of Market Dray ton. I.OXGFOKD, a 'hmlt. in tho par. of Stanwoll, co. Middlesex, 1 milo E. of Colnbrook, and 17 miles W. of