﻿LONDONDERllT. 



LOKDOKDERRT. 



aoo 



BanbnulHEb. The CUdy joiaa the Bann at Portgleoona. South of 

 thii Uie cUaioage of the county U towardu Lough Neagb, through the 

 riren Mayola and Balliadeny, the latter of wkieh forms part of the 

 oounty boundary on thin ride. 



The roads throughout the county are in general excellent The 

 unnie<)iate valley of the Hann, and the district of Lough Neagh in 

 particular, are closely intersected with lines of commuDioation. The 

 western district is not so well opened. The chipf lines here are those 

 connecting Newtownlimarady, by the southern shore of Lough Foyle 

 and the valley of the Lower Faughan, with Londonderry, and that 

 which runs by the Upper Faughan fix>m Dungiven to the same place. 

 The valley of the Koe is weU provided with roads, which extend 

 southward by Banagber to Clady, giving ample means of communi- 

 cation to the country between the heads of the rivers Koe and 

 Faughan. The communication southward is chiefly by the valley of 

 the Foyle on one siile, and by the head of the valley of Ballynascreen 

 on the other. Besides these there are several passes from Tyrone iuto 

 Londonderry among the mountain groups which lie between these 

 pointa. A line of railway connects Londonderry city with Coleraine. 

 The railway from the city of Londonderry to Enuiskillen runs along 

 the left bank of the Foyle till it crosses the river a littla beyond the 

 boundary of the county. 



GaUogy. — The basaltic tract corresponds in all respects to the 

 remainder of the field on the opposite side of the Baun [Antrim], 

 except that the dip of the strata is reversed ; the surface, and the 

 masses which compose it, on the Londonderry sije of the Bann dipping 

 towards the north-east, whereas their direction oa the Antrim side is 

 nearly to the south-west. The basalt, as in Antrim, attains its greatest 

 thickness at the northern extremity of the field, the cap of Benyeve- 

 nagh measuring upwards of 900 feet. Chalk, lias, limestone, and red- 

 sandstone, succeed in descending order (one or more of the members 

 being frequently absent), and constitute the remainder of the system, 

 which throughout reposes immediately on the primitive rock. The 

 geological smicture of the district may thus be described as a floor of 

 primitive rock overlaid in part by a field of secondary formations, 

 capped by basalt The boundary-line is marked by the abrupt 

 declivities forming the eistem limit of the valley of the Ree ; from 

 the southern extremi^ of this range it passes across the Mayola River 

 to the east of Slieve Uallion, and so to Lough Neagh, on the opposite 

 aide of which it re-appears at the mouth of the Glena^•y River. The 

 main constituent of the rest of the county is mica-slate. This rock 

 covers about 450 square statute miles of the surface of Londonderry. 

 In general the line of demarcation between it and the red-sandstone, 

 which is the most prominent member of the secondary field, is well 

 defined. One mass however, that of Coolcoscrahan Moimtain, which 

 rises nearly 1300 feet above the level of the sea, is wholly composed 

 of this rock, although almost surrounded by the advanced basaltic 

 heights of Craignashock and Benbradagh. Upwards of two-thirds of 

 the mica-slate of this district belong to the talcose variety. Primitive 

 limestone is of frequent occurrence throughout this field. At a height 

 of 800 feet above the sea, on the north-west side of Camtogher Moun- 

 tain, it is found with veins of coloured spar, quartz, and green chlorite. 

 It also occurs near Dungiven and Claudy. On the east side of Slieve 

 Uallion there is a granular limestone, which contains quantities of 

 cryBt.allined hornblende. Hornblende slate is found at several places 

 in the vsdley of the Roe ; a bed, 400 yards in extent, occun near the 

 old church of Dungiven, where it runs parallel to the bed of primitive 

 limestone above mentioned. The structure of the soutn-eastem 

 extremity of the county is more complex. Slieve Qallion, besides 

 having a cap of basalt, with the usual underlying formations, exhibits 

 towards its base beds of sienito in connection with porphyry. On 

 the north-west aide the menite verges into greenstone. Several masses 

 of greenstone, unconnected with the tabular basalt of the summit, also 

 crop out on the east side of the moontain. All along the western 

 verge of the basaltic region the red-sandstone, which forms the lowest 

 member of the field, projects beyond tlio superior strata in a belt 

 varying from one to two miles in breadth. This is the surface rock 

 of the eastern valley of the Roe, from the head of which it sweeps 

 •CToas the opening of the valley of Ballinderry, and so between Slieve 

 QalUon and the line of basalt iuto Tyrone. A detached patch of 

 ■Iratified limestone occun near the outer edge of the sandstone field 

 at Desartmartln. There are no mines worked in this county. 



Climate, Soil, and Produce. — The climate is comparatively moist 

 and cold. The soil of that part of the valley of the Bann where the 

 nibsoil is hard basalt, consists for the most part of a rusty loose grit, 

 without sufficient strength or cohesion for wheat crops. Numerous 

 tracts of bog, interspened with shallow pools, and frequently separated 

 tnf craggy knolls of basalt, are scattered over this part of the county. 

 Tkera are however tracts of good land along the banks of the several 

 riven which traverse the district, and especially at their junctiona 

 A tract of rich open country, which extends southward into Tyrone, 

 is the moat extensive tract of good ground in the county. Beyond 

 tba aaateni terrace which bounds the valley above Newtownlimavady 

 commences a tract of red-clay, arising from the dcoompoMtion of the 

 sandstone, which at this side forms the siirface-rock up to the imme- 

 diate acclivities of the mountains. This clay contains extensive beds 

 of marl, and with ^ood treatment bears excellent grain crops. The 

 schistose district, lymg between the valleys of the Roe and Faughan, 



is to a great extent moory and mountainona The valleys of Faughan 

 Vale and Muff Olen, running southward from the open tract alou'^ the 

 margin of Lough Foyle into the schistose region, have good tracts of 

 fertile land. In the main valley of the Faughan River are gnrel 

 terraces reaching back to the schistose region at each side. These are 

 well cultivated. The best improved portions of the county are the 

 district of Lough Neagh, the valley of the Roo, the valley of tiie 

 Faughan, including the coast of Lough Foyle, between the embou- 

 chures of these riven, and the immedute vicinity of Londonderry on 

 both rides of the Foyle. 



The progress of agriculture in this county has been materially 

 forwarded by the esfaiblishment of an agricultural school near Muff 

 by the Company of Grocers of London, who hfra hold large estates 

 under the crown. There are 172 acres of land attache! to tho school 

 for experimental farming; a classical school is likewise connected 

 with the establishment In 1 853 there were under crops in the county 

 174,887 acres, of which 2163 acres grew wheat; 88,176 oaU; 2290 

 barley, here, 170, peas and beans; 29,749 potatoes; 12,2SI turnips; 

 178S mangel-wurzel, carrots, vetches, and other green crops; 19,219 

 flax; and 19,324 acres meadow and clover. The plantations in 1841 

 covered 11,291 acres, yielding oak, ash, elm, birch, pine, £c. In 1852 

 on 17,487 holdings, there were 19,640 hones; 400 mules and asses; 

 92,132 cattle; 23,343 sheep; 22,421 pigs; 2518 goato; and 229,801 

 poultry. The total value of the live stock here enumerated was 

 estimated at 817,108J. 



The manufacture and bleaching of linen is the staple trade of the 

 county. The most extensive bleach-greens lie along the riven Roe and 

 Faughan : on the Faughan there is abun<1ant water-power, and 

 numerous rites are admirably calculated for this branch of the manu- 

 facture. The export and import trade of the county is carried on at 

 the ports of Londonderry city and Portrush, tho latter being the 

 sea-port of Coleraine. The county is chiefly in the diocese of Derry, 

 with portions in the dioceses of Armagh and Connor. It is divided 

 into four baronies — Coleraine, Keunaght, Lougliinsholin, and Tir- 

 keeran— and two liberties, Londonderry and Coleraine, which include 

 the city and town of these names. The principal towns are— 



LONDOSDERKT ClTV, CoLEKAINE, NeWTOW.VLIMAVADT, and MaGHEEA- 



FELT, which are noticed under their respective titles. The other more 

 important places are the following, with the papulation of each in 

 1861 :— 



Cculle- Dawson, population 663, situated on the Mayola River, con- 

 tains some good dwelling-houses, a qbapel of case, and a Presbyterian 

 meeting-house. The inhabitants are employed in the linen manufac- 

 ture. A monthly market is held on S.iturday ; fairs are held four 

 times in the year. The mansion and demesne of Castle-Dawson, the 

 property of the Right Hon. G. R. Dawson, are on the opporite ride of 

 the river. 



Dungiven, population 917, a market- and post-town, situated on the 

 river Roe, 15 miles E.S.K. from Londondi'rry, consists principally of a 

 long straggling street built on a ridge of red-sandstone, and contains 

 a church, a Roman Catholic chapel, a Presbyterian meeting-house, and 

 a dispensary. At the head of the town are the remains of a castle 

 and bawn built in 1618 by the Skinnera' Company, to whom the place 

 belongs. On the right bank of the river, on a rock rising 200 feet from 

 the stream, are the picturesque ruins of the abbey-church, supposed 

 to have been founded in 1100, and containing a richly-sculptured 

 altar-tomb of a chief of the O'Kanes. The village is chiefly remark- 

 able for its romantic site, being surrounded by some of the principal 

 heights of the county, with Benbradagh as chiet Fain are held on 

 May 25th and October 25th. A mbrket is held on Saturday. 



(Jarvagh, population 785, a market- and post-town, distant 11 miles 

 S. fram Coleraine, is a neat little town, containing a parish church, a 

 Roman Catholic chapel, a Presbyterian meeting-house, several schools, 

 and a diHtiict dispensary. A market is held on Friday, and fain are 

 held on May 23rd, July 26th, and November 5th. 



Kilrta, population 998, a market- and post-town, is situated near tho 

 river Bann on its left bank, distant 11 4 miles from Coleraine. The 

 place has been much improved by its proprietora, the Mcrcon' Com- 

 pany, who have built a market-house, a public school, a police barrack, 

 and a hotel, and have also constructed new roads. Linen-weaving 

 employs some of the inhabitants. A fair is held on October 10th. 



Maghera, population 1102, a market- and post-tonn, distant 24 ( 

 miles S.E. by E. from Londonderry; contains a parish church, two 

 Presbyterian meeting-huuses, a district dispensary, and a petty sessions 

 hous& in which a court is held every alternate Saturday. The market 

 is held on Tuesday, and fain are held on the last Tuesday of every 

 month. In tho town ai-o some interesting ruins of the old parish 

 church. 



Momeymore, population 781, a market- and post-town, about 89 miles 

 S.E1. from Londonderry, is distinguished by an appearance of neatness 

 and comfort, and contiius various places of worship, a court house, 

 market-house, linen-hall, a district dispensary, and numerous hand- 

 some dwelling-housea ITie Drapera' Company of London, to whom 

 it belongs, have liberally aided in the improvement of tho town and 

 neighbourhood. There is a c^nsidcroblB trade in linen. A corn- 

 market is held weekly on Monday, and a fair on the 21st of every 

 month. 



Port Stewart, a small town on the coast, about 2S miles N.E. from 



