Page:The National Gazetteer - A Topographical Dictionary of the British Islands, Volume 3.djvu/280

Rh QUEEN'S COUNTY. 268 QUEENSFERRY, SOUTH. are often wet and spongy as well as rocky. The Dysart Hills, and the plain from which they rise, consist of rich loam, and are good grazing grounds ; and the lands on either side of the Barrow are rich and alluvial, and specially suited for pasturage. Bogs are to he found in many places, especially about Maryborough, and aiford a valuable supply of turf for fuel or for manure. Pas- turage predominates over tillage. In 1865 there were 148,391 acres under crop, of which 5,966 acres were devoted to wheat, 23,414 acres to oats, 22,905 to barley, bere, rye, vetches, and rape, 21,105 acres to potatoes, 15,987 to turnips, mangel wurzel, beetroot, carrots, and other green crops, 422 acres to flax, and 68,593 to meadow and clover. 359 acres were left fallow or un- cultivated, and 214,132 acres were under grazing land. Upon the several holdings there were 12,822 horses, 65,785 cattle, 97,132 sheep, and 29,818 pigs. The acre- age under wheat in 1865 was not one-fourth of that in 1848, when 24,944 acres were sown, since which time the quantity gradually decreased, except during and im- mediately succeeding the Crimean war, when there was a temporary reaction. The large importations of foreign grain in later years will account for this change. The extent under oats in 1848 was 32,941 acres, or more than 40 per cent, over that of 1865, while that of barley, bere, &c., was only 6,881 acres. That under turnips and other green crop increased from 10,262 acres in 1848 to 15,987 acres in 1865. Flax is still little grown, and only for domestic consumption. The cattle are generally of a very superior description, and have increased in numbers from 60,753 in 1848, the number of pigs increased from 16,571 in the same year, while sheep gradually declined from 198,208 in the same year to less than half that number in 1865. Tho value of live stock generally increased from 571,390 in 1851 to 661,511 in 1861. The average rent of land is 12. per acre. Tho farm buildings and peasants' cottages are generally of a poor description. The farms are divided principally by hedgerows, but ditches and stone walls are occasionally met with. Dairies are numerous, and the butter is much esteemed ; some cheese also is made. The woollen trade was formerly carried on to a con- siderable extent, and broadcloths were manufactured at Maryborough and Mountmellick, but the business is now very limited, and is confined to flannels, friezes, and coarse stuffs. There is also something done in weaving of linen and cotton. The religion of the county is principally Roman Catholic, 80,025 persons, or 88 per cent., having in 1861 belonged to that persuasion ; 9,683, or 11 per cent., were members of the Established Church, and 942, or 1 per cent., were of other Christian denominations. Most of the county is in the united diocese of Ossory, Ferns, and Leighlin, of which Kil- kenny is the episcopal seat, but it extends also into Kildare, which is joined with Dublin and Glandelagh. It belongs to the Roman Catholic dioceses of Kildare and Leighlin, with Carlow as the episcopal residence, and of Ossory, with Kilkenny as the cathedral town. It is divided for civil purposes into 11 baronies, Bally- adams, Clandonagh, Clarmallagh, Cullenagh, Mary- borough, East and West, Portnahinch, Slievemargy, Stradbally, Tinnahinch, and Upperwoods, and containing 63 parishes. The chief towns are Maryborough, Mount- mellick, Mountrath, Abbeyleix, and part of Portarling- ton, the rest of which is in King's County ; also the market towns of Ballinakill, Durrow, and Stradbally. The county returns three members to parliament, two for the county at large constituency in 1863, 3,554 and one for the borough of Portarlington constituency 99. It is in the Dublin, or northern military district ; and there is a barrack station at Maryborough, in which town the assizes are held. The county town is in the home circuit. It is governed by a lieutenant and custos, high sheriff, 17 deputy - lieutenants, and about 65 magistrates. The county gaol, county infirmary, and the district lunatic asylum for King's and Queen's counties are at Maryborough. In 1861 there were 83 National schools within the county, besides 39 under the Church Education Society and other societies, and 14 private schools, in which a course of primary instruc- tion was imparted, and there were 19 other schools in which one or more foreign languages were taught. The standard of education has been steadily raised since 1841, when only 33 per cent, of the population over five years of age could read and write, 26 per cent, could read only, and 41 per cent, could neither read nor write. The per-centage in 1851 of those who could read and write had increased to 37, and that of persons who could read only, and who could neither read nor write, had fallen to 25 and 38 respectively. In 1861 46 per cent, of those above five years of age could read and write, 23 per cent, could read only, and the per-centage of persons wholly ignorant had fallen to 31. The principal seats are, Emo Park, Earl of Portarlington ; Abbeyleix, Vis- count de Vesci ; Durrow, Viscount Ashbrook ; Rath- league, Lord Congleton ; Ballyfin, Sir Charles Coote ; Lisduff, J. W. Fitzpatrick ; Indiaville, Des Voeux ; Bellegrove, Adair ; Stradbally, Cosby ; Cremorgan, Moore ; Cooperhill, Cooper ; Dunmore, Staples ; besides many other private residence. The chief antiquities are, a cromlech and rath at Gracefield; a round tower, almost perfect, at Timahoe, near the ruins of a monas- tery ; the remains of two others at Killcshin and Rose- nalis ; several tumuli around Mountmellick ; a rath and the ruins of an abbey at Aghaboe ; of a priory at Agh- macart ; and of a monastery at Rathapick. There are also the remains of many old fortresses, amongst which are Lea Castle, near Portarlington ; the strongholds of the Fitzpatricks at Castletown and Borris-in-Ossory ; Castlecuff, in Timehinch, built in 1641 by Sir Charles Coote ; and a castle of Earl Strongbow on the rock of Dunamose, about four miles from Maryborough. Thes'e last named stand on the top of a single elevation, which projects from the more lofty range of the Dysart hills. They were formerly of great strength and of considerable importance, and were the scene of many acts of blood- shed. The castle was at length destroyed by Crom- well's army, but the remains are yet very extensive, and are among the most remarkable military ruins in Ireland. QUEEN 'S-FERRY, a hmlt. in the par. of Hawarden, bund, of Mold, co. Flint, 2 miles N. of Hawarden, and 7 N W. of Chester. It is a station on the Chester and Holyhead railway. It is so named from the ferry across the Dee. QUEENSFERRY, NORTH, a vil. in the par. of Inverkeithing, district of Dun fermline,co. Fife, Scotland, 2 miles S. of Inverkeithing, and 4 S.E. of Dunfermline. It is a ferry station situated on Cruick's peninsula, opposite South Queensferry, and is much frequented during the summer season as a bathing-place. There is a natural basin called Cruick's Harbour, which affords accommodation to vessels during rough weather. The inhabitants are chiefly engaged in the fisheries. A small kind of fish resembling the sprat is taken on the coast in prodigious quantities. Cromwell encamped here in 1651. QUEENSFERRY, SOUTH, a par., royal and par- liamentary burgh, co. Linlithgow, Scotland. The parish, which is of small extent, is bounded by the Frith of Forth on the N. side, and on the other sides by the parish of Dalmeny, from which it was separated and formed into a separate parish in 1636. The town of Queensferry is about 1 1 miles from Edinburgh, 8 E. of Linlithgow, and 4 S.E. of the Ratho station on the Edinburgh and Glasgow railway. It is situated betwixt the shore of the Frith of Forth and a ridge of hills that skirt the coast, and has an important steam ferry station. It was presented by Malcolm IV. to the monks of Dunfermline, and derives its name from Margaret, Queen of Malcolm Canmore, who frequently used the ferry for the passage of the Frith, which is here only two miles across. As a royal burgh Queensferrj first chartered by Charles I., and under the late Act is governed by a provost, a land bailie, two sea bai ; dean, and three guilds, and a town council. The muni- cipal revenues amount to about 200 per annum. The town is well supplied with water, but the streets are long and narrow. There is a small pier harbour at