SLANES, a parish, in the barony of ARDES,
county of
Down, and province of ULSTER,
4 miles ( E.) from
Portaferry; containing 589 in habitants. This parish is
situated o the eastern coast, and comprises, according to
the Ordnance survey, 946.5 statute acres, the whole of
which is under cultivation, and produces excellent crops
of
corn, flax, and potatoes. Here is Slanes' Point, between
which and Carney Point is a cluster of rocks and shoals,
one of which, Called South Rock, is three miles ( E.N.E.)
from Carney Point, and on it there is a light-house, called
the Kilwarlin Light, erected by the coporation for the
improvement of the Port of Dublin: it is a revolving light
elevated 52 feet about the sea at high water, with 10
lamps.
of bright colour, appearing once in a minute and a half:
two bells are also kept tolling in foggy weather, by
means
of clockwork, to warn mariners of their proximity to
danger. The rocks and shoals extend a mile at least to the
eastward of the lighthouse. Here is a coast-guard station.
On the shore are the remains of a large castellated
edifice,
called Newcastle, which has given the name to the
district;
from this is the communication with the light-house, and
are the residences of the keepers. It is a rectory, in the
diocese of Down, forming part of the union of
Ballyphillip,
and of the corps fo chancellorship of Down; the tithes
amount to ( Brittish Pounds ) 106.13.5-1/2. There is no
ves-
tige of a church, but the burial-ground remains, where
once
stood and extensive edifice, traditionally said to have
been
a wealthy abbey: the Protestants attend devine service at
Portaferry church. In the Roman Catholic divisions, the
parish forms part of the union or district of the Upper
Ardes.
In 1306c Ardmacaisse ( or varient ) was the name
of
the parish whereas Slanes was the name of some
sub-denomination in it. Slanes then was applied
to the town
land in which the church yard was located. The boundaries
of the parish cahnded agin in January of 1828 to what we
have now. |
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