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{{short description|Village in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland}}{{pp-protected|small=yes}}
{{Infobox UK place
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
|official_name= Eglinton
{{Infobox UK place
|irish_name=
| official_name = Eglinton
|scots_name=
| irish_name = An Mhagh<ref>{{Cite web |title=An Mhagh/Eglington |url=https://www.logainm.ie/en/129748 |access-date=2024-04-13 |website=logainm.ie |language=en}}</ref>
|local_name=
| scots_name =
|static_image= ]
| local_name =
|static_image_caption=
| static_image_name = Eglinton near the main street.jpg
|map_type= Northern Ireland
| static_image_caption =
|latitude= 55.040397
| map_type = Northern Ireland
|longitude= -7.175047
| coordinates = {{coord|55.040397|-7.175047|display=inline,title}}
|belfast_distance=
| belfast_distance_mi = 58
| population = 3,165
| population = 3,571
| population_ref = <small>(])
| population_ref = <small>(])</small>
|irish_grid_reference=
| irish_grid_reference =
|unitary_northern_ireland= ]
| unitary_northern_ireland = ]
|country= Northern Ireland
| country = Northern Ireland
|post_town= LONDONDERRY<ref>This is the official Post Town as defined by ].</ref>
| historic_county =
|postcode_area= BT
| post_town = LONDONDERRY<ref>This is the official Post Town as defined by ].</ref>
|postcode_district= BT47
| postcode_area = BT
|dial_code= 028
| postcode_district = BT47
|constituency_westminster= ]
| dial_code = 028
|lieutenancy_northern_ireland= ]
| constituency_westminster = ]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Final Recommendations Report of the 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituencies.PDF |url=https://www.boundarycommission.org.uk/files/boundarycommission/2023-07/Final%20Recommendations%20Report%20of%20the%202023%20Review%20of%20Parliamentary%20Constituencies.PDF |access-date=2024-06-24}}</ref>
|hide_services=yes
| lieutenancy_northern_ireland = ]
| hide_services = yes
}} }}


'''Eglinton''', known before the ] as '''Muff''' or '''Moyagh''' ({{derive|Irish|an Magh/Ma|the plain}}),<ref>''A Concise Dictionary of Modern Place Names in Great Britain and Ireland'' by Adrian Room (ISBN 978-0192115904), page 36</ref><ref>''Éigse'', National University of Ireland (1969)</ref> is a village in ], ]. It lies {{convert|8|mi|km}} east of ] to which it serves as a sleeper-village and {{convert|9|mi|km}} west of Limavady. Many inhabitants work in the city and send their children to school there. Eglinton had a population of 3,165 people in the ]. The ] also known as Eglinton Aerodrome<ref>http://www.nats-uk.ead-it.com/aip/current/ad/EGAE/EG_AD_2_EGAE_en.pdf</ref><ref>http://www.derrycity.gov.uk/inquiry/downloads/Airport%20Independent%20Inquiry.pdf</ref> lies a short distance from the village. '''Eglinton''' is a village in ], ]. It lies {{convert|5.5|mi|km}} east-north-east of ], to which it serves as a ], and {{convert|9.5|mi|km}} west-south-west of ]. It resides within ] district. The ], also known as Eglinton Aerodrome and formerly as Londonderry Eglinton Airport,<ref>http://www.nats-uk.ead-it.com/aip/current/ad/EGAE/EG_AD_2_EGAE_en.pdf{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.derrycity.gov.uk/inquiry/downloads/Airport%20Independent%20Inquiry.pdf |title= Inquiry |access-date=2010-01-15 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070703082821/http://derrycity.gov.uk/inquiry/downloads/Airport%20Independent%20Inquiry.pdf |archive-date=2007-07-03 }}</ref> lies a short distance from the village.


Eglinton still has an elegant church, former market house, trees around a green and two oaks which started life in ]. The River Muff flows through the village with the afforested Muff Glen being situated just south of the village.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.forestserviceni.gov.uk/index/forests-in-northern-ireland/forests-in-the-east-region/muff-glen-forest.htm |title=Muff Glen Forest |publisher=Northern Ireland Forest Service |accessdate=2010-01-14}}</ref> At an embankment of ], ]s can find the feeding ground of many ]s and ]s on the mud flats at low tide. Eglinton still has an elegant church, former market house, trees around a green and four oaks which started life in ].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cvni.org/ort/commemorative-trees/and-coronations-too |title=AND CORONATIONS TOO |publisher=The Conservation Volunteers in Northern Ireland |access-date=2012-08-04}}</ref> The River Muff flows through the village with the afforested Muff Glen being situated just south of the village.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.forestserviceni.gov.uk/index/forests-in-northern-ireland/forests-in-the-east-region/muff-glen-forest.htm |title=Muff Glen Forest |publisher=Northern Ireland Forest Service |access-date=2010-01-14 }}{{dead link|date=December 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> At an embankment of ], ]s can find the feeding ground of many ]s and ]s on the mud flats at low tide.


== History == == History ==
The village of Eglinton was originally known as ''(the) Muff'', and alternatively as ''(the) Moigh'' or ''Mough''.<ref name="PNI">{{cite web |title=Eglinton, County Derry/Londonderry |url=https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/9b31e0501b744154b4584b1dce1f859b/page/Place-Name-Info/#data_s=id%3AdataSource_1-PlaceNames_Gazeteer_No_Global_IDs_3734%3A22727 |access-date=16 November 2024 |website=placenamesni.org}}</ref> These come {{etymology|ga|Magh / an Mhagh|the plain}}<ref name="PDI">{{cite web|url=http://www.logainm.ie/129748.aspx|title=An Mhagh/Eglington|website=Logainm.ie|access-date=21 April 2018}}</ref><ref name="PNI"/> and were the names of the ] in which the village began.<ref name="PNI"/> The village was founded in 1619 by the ]. As part of the ], ] had granted a large area (15,900 acres) of Faughanvale parish to the Grocers in 1609. The Grocers did not farm it themselves but leased this area to Edward Rone of Essex in 1615 with the stipulation that he built a ] and 12 houses by 1619. The yearly rent being £116-13s-4d. Rone died in 1618 but his brother-in-law Robert Harrington took over and by 1619 a castle and bawn, as well as eight houses were erected in the townland of Muff (now Eglinton) and by 1622 the stipulated building was completed


The castle (really a castellated house and bawn with 4 flanker towers) was besieged in 1641 during the English Civil War by the insurgents under Colonel McDonnell and defended by the garrison during the winter of that year. It was relieved the following summer by troops from Derry but it afterwards fell into the hands of the parliamentarians by whom it was dismantled. During the ], the castle was briefly occupied by troops of King James while they were foraging for supplies.
The village of Eglinton originally known as Muff (Anglicisation of Irish ''an Magh'' meaning a plain) was founded in 1619 by the Grocers’ Company of London. The name Eglinton is believed to originated from the composition of the 'ton' from the old english to mean 'community/town' and the old norman word 'egle' meaning 'eagle'. There are several other possible origin for is name, but it is common in East Anglia, and it is not that many names in East Anglia came from nicknames of which there were a great variety, often referring to origins, habits, appearance, animals and birds.
]
]
The ruins were standing and occupied until 1823 when the present Rectory was built on the site. The only remains of the castle today being the cellars under the rectory.


The ] was represented within the village by the Parish Church of Faughanvale which was built in 1626. It was later superseded by a new Parish Church constructed in 1821 with the ruins of the old church being extant within the adjacent graveyard.
As part of the Plantation of Ulster James I, had granted a large area (15900 acres) part of Faughanvale parish to the Grocers in 1609.The Grocers did not farm it themselves but leased this area to Edward Rone of Essex in 1615 with the stipulation that he built a bawn and 12 houses by 1619.The yearly rent being £116-13s-4d. Unfortunately Rone died in 1618 but his brother-in-law Robert Harrington took over and by 1619 a castle and bawn and 8 houses were erected in the townland of Muff (now Eglinton) and by 1622 the stipulated building was completed


The Presbyterian Church was represented in the village with the building of the first church in 1730. Prior to this, the congregation formed part of the Glendermott Congregation in the city of Derry. The original church was built in the townland of Tullanee just east of the village. The existing much larger church, Faughanvale Presbyterian Church, was built in 1894 with the help of donations from fellow citizens of the congregation who had some time earlier emigrated to the United States. Nothing remains of the original church which stood in what is now the Presbyterian Church graveyard immediately to the rear of the new church.
The castle (really a castellated house and bawn with 4 flanker towers) was besieged in 1641during the English Civil War by the insurgents under Colonel McDonnell and gallantly defended by the garrison during the winter of that year. It was relieved the following summer by troops from Derry but it afterwards fell into the hands of the parliamentarians by whom it was dismantled. During the Siege of Derry the castle was briefly occupied by troops of King James while they were foraging for supplies.<!-- Deleted image removed: ] --><!-- Deleted image removed: ] -->The ruins were standing and occupied until 1823 when the present Rectory was built on the site. The only remains of the castle today being the cellars under the rectory.


There were several other places called ''Muff'' at the time, especially ] which created much confusion. The residents of the village resolved to afford of the opportunity to change the name. Therefore, on 19 August 1858, the village of ''Muff'' became '''''Eglinton''''' in honour of the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, the ] who was visiting the nearby Templemoyle Agricultural School at the time. The school was opened in 1826 aimed at teaching new agricultural methods but eventually closed in 1865. The building remained disused for many years before being converted into a nursing home in the 1990s.
The Church of Ireland was represented within the village by the Parish Church of Faughanvale which was built in 1626. It was later superseded by a new Parish Church constructed in 1821 with the ruins of the old church being extant within the adjacent graveyard.
]
] (1840–1927), the miller's son of Templemoyle, was the founder of the famous tobacco firm of Gallahers, now the ]. His relatives lived in The Glen House in the centre of Eglinton village until the 1950s.


One of the oldest buildings, if not the oldest standing today, is Foyle Park House. Foyle Park was built in 1813 by David ] who rented his land from the ]. The mansion was built when Babington started to make land improvements in the west of the village between 1805 and 1836 when he planted 172,000 trees, mainly to shelter the house. Babington used the house as a literary school for a while. When Babington's lease expired, the Grocers didn't renew the lease so the Literary School then closed its doors and Foyle Park then became the new Grocers' Hall. It was used as the Grocers' Hall until the 1870s when James Davidson, a customs and exports worker, bought the entire village from the Grocers' Company. This included the Foyle Park Estate. Davidson lived at Foyle Park and the Manor House. His son, James William Davidson then lived in Foyle Park after him. Davidson's grandson sold Foyle Park to H. Whiteside in 1920 and the house fell out of the Davidson family. The house was re-acquired by the family when Lt. Col. Kenneth Davidson bought the house back in the 1960s. The house remained with the family until it was finally sold off in 2011, after over 100 years of ownership.
The Presbyterian Church was represented in the village with the building of the first church in 1730. Prior to this, the congregation formed part of the Glendermott Congregation in the city of Derry. The original church was built in the townland of Tullanee just east of the village. The existing much larger church, Faughanvale Presbyterian Church, was built in 1894 with the help of donations from fellow citizens of the congregation who had some time earlier emigrated to the United States. Nothing remains of the original church which stood in what is now the Presbyterian Church graveyard immediately to the rear of the new church.


Another of the oldest buildings today is the Erasmus Smith schoolhouse built in 1814 beside the old national school of 1886 both now private residences. The Grocers did not resume active management of the estate until 1823 when they rebuilt the village. Among the buildings erected by the company in 1823-5 were the Rectory, a Courthouse or Market house ( an unusually well designed building by Nicholson which included a dispensary (the wall plaques outside the former courthouse are the Grocers and David Babingtons coat of arms)), a Manor house for the Grocers agent and the Glen house. All of which are still to be seen today. They also built a row of cottages for local widows which was known until quite recently as Widow's Row (now renamed Cottage Row) and tradesmen's houses along Main Street. The millers house opposite the Happy Landing public house became the old R.I.C. barracks until the present police station was built. The Grocers sold the village in 1874 to James Davidson from Brechin, Scotland; his descendants still reside in the manor house to this day.
There were several other places called Muff at the time, especially one nearby in Donegal which created much confusion. The residents of the village resolved to afford of the opportunity to change the name. Therefore, on 19 August 1858, the village of Muff became Eglinton in honour of the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, the 13th ] who was visiting the nearby Templemoyle Agricultural School at the time. The school was opened in 1826 aimed at teaching new agricultural methods but eventually closed in 1865. The building remained disused for many years before being converted into a nursing home in the 1990's. In the nearby Foyle Park House, a Literary School was built in 1813 by the last tenant farmer, David Babington.


During the ] ] was home to many ] and later to ] personnel. Many old buildings currently in a state of disrepair, evidence their presence, and can still be seen dotted around the outskirts of the village. The airfield was a major airfield for flights over the North Atlantic, their tasks included searching for U-boats and acting as air cover for convoys. Several aircraft crashed in the vicinity of the village and the nearby airfield with several pilots and aircrew being buried locally in the Parish Church and Presbyterian Church graveyards.
Thomas Gallagher (1840-1927), the miller’s son of Templemoyle, was the founder of the famous tobacco firm of Gallaghers, now renamed the ]. His relatives lived in The Glen House in the centre of Eglinton village until the 1950’s.


] was born and lived in the townland of Tullanee in Eglinton (then Muff), where his father held land on the Grocers Estate.<ref name="McKeefry">McKeefry, Rev. J., ''Shane Crossagh, The County Derry Rapparee''. Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland</ref> The same townland where the Faughavale Presbyterian Church resides.<ref>{{cite web |title=File:Faughanvale Presbyterian Church.jpg |url=https://commons.m.wikimedia.org/File:Faughanvale_Presbyterian_Church.jpg |website=Wikimedia Commons |access-date=2024-10-20}}</ref> <ref name="McKeefry">McKeefry, Rev. J., ''Shane Crossagh, The County Derry Rapparee''. Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland</ref> The ] is named after Shane.<ref name="shane-crossagh">{{cite web |last= |first= |title=Shane Crossagh |url=https://www.belfastentries.com/people/shane-crossagh/ |website=Belfast Entries |publisher= |date= |access-date=2024-10-20}}</ref> Shanes father, Donal, was evicted after a bailiffs son was allegedly insulted at their home. When Shane returned to the family home he was accused of trespassing, and the family were forced to flee to the hills above ] to avoid prosecution.<ref name="shane-crossagh"/><ref name="McKeefry">McKeefry, Rev. J., ''Shane Crossagh, The County Derry Rapparee''. Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland</ref> Many families had been driven there to make way for settlers.<ref name="shane-crossagh"/><ref name="McKeefry">McKeefry, Rev. J., ''Shane Crossagh, The County Derry Rapparee''. Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland</ref> After a confrontation with two soldiers, Shane was a marked man. Together with his family and local schoolmaster, he was advised to hand himself to the magistrate for a more leniant sentence.<ref name="shane-crossagh"/><ref name="McKeefry">McKeefry, Rev. J., ''Shane Crossagh, The County Derry Rapparee''. Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland</ref> Shane refused, and spent his next years as a ], where he stole from wealthy settlers and landlords with the support of others who were dispossessed.<ref name="shane-crossagh"/><ref name="McKeefry">McKeefry, Rev. J., ''Shane Crossagh, The County Derry Rapparee''. Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland</ref> Shane along with his two sons, Rory and Paudreen, where hanged in the Diamond in ] in the 1720s.<ref name="shane-crossagh"/><ref name="McKeefry">McKeefry, Rev. J., ''Shane Crossagh, The County Derry Rapparee''. Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland</ref>
One of the oldest buildings today is the Erasmus Smith schoolhouse erected in 1812 beside the old national school of 1886 both now private residences. The Grocers did not resume active management of the estate until 1823 when they rebuilt the village. Among the buildings erected by the company in 1823-5 were the Rectory, a Courthouse or Market house ( an unusually well designed building by Nicholson which included a dispensary (the wall plaques outside the former courthouse are the Grocers and David Babingtons coat of arms)), a Manor house for the Grocers agent and the Glen house. All of which are still to be seen today. They also built a row of cottages for local widows which was known until quite recently as Widow's Row (now renamed Cottage Row) and tradesmen's houses along Main Street. The millers house opposite the Happy Landing public house became the old R.I.C.barracks until the present police station was built. The Grocers sold the village in 1874 to Mr James Davidson from Brechin Scotland, his descendants still reside in the manor house to this day.

During the second world war Eglinton was home to many Air Force and Naval personnel. Many old buildings currently in a state of disrepair, evidence their presence, and can still be seen dotted around the outskirts of the village. The airfield was a major base for flights over the North Atlantic, their tasks included searching for U-boats and acting as air cover for convoys. Several aircraft crashed in the vicinity of the village and the nearby airfield with several pilots and aircrew being buried locally in the Parish Church and Presbyterian Church graveyards. These brave heroes are always remembered on each and every armistice Sunday.

During the last decade Eglinton has experienced phenomenal growth due to the large number of new private houses which have been constructed in and around the village resulting in the arrival of many newcomers from far and afield.


==Transport== ==Transport==
*Eglinton railway station opened on 29 November 1852 and finally closed on 2 July 1973.<ref>{{cite web | title=Eglinton station | work=Railscot - Irish Railways | url=http://www.railscot.co.uk/Ireland/Irish_railways.pdf | accessdate=2007-10-13|format=PDF}}</ref> *] opened on 29 November 1852 and finally closed on 2 July 1973.<ref>{{cite web | title=Eglinton station | work=Railscot - Irish Railways | url=http://www.railscot.co.uk/Ireland/Irish_railways.pdf | access-date=2007-10-13|format=PDF}}</ref>
*], formerly RAF Eglinton, is located nearby. *], formerly RAF Eglinton, is located nearby.
*The A2 between City of Derry Airport and Maydown is currently being upgraded to Dual Carriageway standard which will ultimately provide a high speed link between the village and the city of Derry. *The A2 between City of Derry Airport and Maydown was recently upgraded to Dual Carriageway standard which road runs between the village and the city of Derry.
*Derry city bus stops within Eglinton mainstreet.
*The ] on ] has trains running through but not stopping, as the station is not yet reopened.


== 2001 Census == == Demography ==
{{bar box
|title = National Identity of Eglinton residents (2021)<ref>{{cite web |title=National Identity (Irish) |url=https://build.nisra.gov.uk/en/custom/data?d=PEOPLE&v=SETTLEMENT15&v=NAT_ID_IRISH_AGG3&%7ESETTLEMENT15=N11000244 |website=NISRA |access-date=18 August 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=National Identity (Northern Irish) |url=https://build.nisra.gov.uk/en/custom/data?d=PEOPLE&v=SETTLEMENT15&v=NAT_ID_NORTHERN_IRISH_AGG3&%7ESETTLEMENT15=N11000244 |website=NISRA |access-date=18 August 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=National Identity (British) |url=https://build.nisra.gov.uk/en/custom/data?d=PEOPLE&v=SETTLEMENT15&v=NAT_ID_BRITISH&%7ESETTLEMENT15=N11000244 |website=NISRA |access-date=18 August 2023}}</ref>
|titlebar=#ddd |left1=Nationality |right1=Per cent |float=right
|bars =
{{bar percent|Irish|DarkOrchid|41.3}}
{{bar percent|Northern Irish|grey|34.6}}
{{bar percent|British|Blue|33.9}}
}}
===2021 Census===
On Census day (21 March 2021) there were 3,571 people living in Eglinton.<ref>{{cite web |title=Settlement 2015 |url=https://build.nisra.gov.uk/en/custom/data?d=PEOPLE&v=SETTLEMENT15&%7ESETTLEMENT15=N11000244 |website=NISRA |access-date=18 August 2023}}</ref> Of these:
*57.69% were from a ] background and 37.19% were from a ] or other Christian background.<ref>{{cite web |title=Religion or religion brought up in |url=https://build.nisra.gov.uk/en/custom/data?d=PEOPLE&v=SETTLEMENT15&v=RELIGION_BELONG_TO_OR_BROUGHT_UP_IN_DVO&%7ESETTLEMENT15=N11000244 |website=NISRA |access-date=18 August 2023}}</ref>


===2011 Census===
Eglinton is classified as an intermediate settlement by the (ie with population between 2,250 and 4,500 people).
On Census day (29 April 2001) there were 3,165 people living in Eglinton.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nisranew.nisra.gov.uk/census/pdf/ks_sett_tables.pdf |title=Key Statistics for Settlements Tables |author= |date= |work= |publisher= |accessdate=2010-01-14}}</ref> Of these: On Census day (27 March 2011) there were 3,679 people (in 1,315 households) living in Eglinton<ref name=Census2011>{{cite web | url = https://www.ninis2.nisra.gov.uk/public/AreaProfileReportViewer.aspx?FromAPAddressMulipleRecords=Eglinton@Exact%20match%20of%20location%20name:%20@Exact%20Match%20Of%20Location%20Name:%20%20Eglinton@23? | title = Census 2011 Population Statistics for Eglinton Settlement | publisher = ] (NISRA) | access-date = 23 July 2019}}</ref> an increase of 16% on the 2001 Census population of 3,165.<ref name=Census2001>{{cite web | url = https://www.ninis2.nisra.gov.uk/public/PivotGrid.aspx?ds=4840&lh=69&yn=2001&sk=135&sn=Census%202001&yearfilter=2001 | title = Census 2001 Usually Resident Population: KS01 (Settlements) - Table view | page = 4 | publisher = ] (NISRA) | access-date = 23 July 2019}}</ref> Of these:
*28.6% were aged under 16 and 10.3% were aged 60 and over *25.5% were aged under 16 and 9.6% were aged 65 and over
*50.2% of the population were male and 49.8% were female *49.8% of the population were male and 50.2% were female
*46.5% were from a ] background and 51.1% were from a ] background *53.3% were from a ] background and 42.7% were from a ] or other Christian background
*4.0% of people aged 16-74 were unemployed. *4.9% of people aged 16–74 were unemployed


==People== ==Notable people==
*], Paralympic gold medalist
*] - International footballer
*], Community Outlaw / ]
*Elaine Way - Chief Executive of Western Health And Social Trust

*] - Paralympic Gold Medalist
== See also ==
*
*]
*]


== References == == References ==
{{reflist}} {{reflist}}
==Sources==
* *
* *
*

== See also ==
*]
*]


== External links == == External links ==
* *
* *
*


] {{County Londonderry}}


{{authority control}}
]

]
]
]

Latest revision as of 03:10, 17 November 2024

Village in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland

Human settlement in Northern Ireland
Eglinton
Eglinton is located in Northern IrelandEglintonEglintonLocation within Northern Ireland
Population3,571 (2021 Census)
• Belfast58 mi (93 km)
District
County
CountryNorthern Ireland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townLONDONDERRY
Postcode districtBT47
Dialling code028
UK Parliament
List of places
UK
Northern Ireland
County Londonderry
55°02′25″N 7°10′30″W / 55.040397°N 7.175047°W / 55.040397; -7.175047

Eglinton is a village in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It lies 5.5 miles (8.9 km) east-north-east of Derry, to which it serves as a sleeper village, and 9.5 miles (15.3 km) west-south-west of Limavady. It resides within Derry and Strabane district. The City of Derry Airport, also known as Eglinton Aerodrome and formerly as Londonderry Eglinton Airport, lies a short distance from the village.

Eglinton still has an elegant church, former market house, trees around a green and four oaks which started life in Windsor Great Park. The River Muff flows through the village with the afforested Muff Glen being situated just south of the village. At an embankment of Lough Foyle, birdwatchers can find the feeding ground of many seabirds and waders on the mud flats at low tide.

History

The village of Eglinton was originally known as (the) Muff, and alternatively as (the) Moigh or Mough. These come from Irish Magh / an Mhagh 'the plain' and were the names of the townland in which the village began. The village was founded in 1619 by the Grocers' Company of London. As part of the Plantation of Ulster, James I had granted a large area (15,900 acres) of Faughanvale parish to the Grocers in 1609. The Grocers did not farm it themselves but leased this area to Edward Rone of Essex in 1615 with the stipulation that he built a bawn and 12 houses by 1619. The yearly rent being £116-13s-4d. Rone died in 1618 but his brother-in-law Robert Harrington took over and by 1619 a castle and bawn, as well as eight houses were erected in the townland of Muff (now Eglinton) and by 1622 the stipulated building was completed

The castle (really a castellated house and bawn with 4 flanker towers) was besieged in 1641 during the English Civil War by the insurgents under Colonel McDonnell and defended by the garrison during the winter of that year. It was relieved the following summer by troops from Derry but it afterwards fell into the hands of the parliamentarians by whom it was dismantled. During the Siege of Derry, the castle was briefly occupied by troops of King James while they were foraging for supplies.

Eglinton Parish Church
Faughanvale Presbyterian Church

The ruins were standing and occupied until 1823 when the present Rectory was built on the site. The only remains of the castle today being the cellars under the rectory.

The Church of Ireland was represented within the village by the Parish Church of Faughanvale which was built in 1626. It was later superseded by a new Parish Church constructed in 1821 with the ruins of the old church being extant within the adjacent graveyard.

The Presbyterian Church was represented in the village with the building of the first church in 1730. Prior to this, the congregation formed part of the Glendermott Congregation in the city of Derry. The original church was built in the townland of Tullanee just east of the village. The existing much larger church, Faughanvale Presbyterian Church, was built in 1894 with the help of donations from fellow citizens of the congregation who had some time earlier emigrated to the United States. Nothing remains of the original church which stood in what is now the Presbyterian Church graveyard immediately to the rear of the new church.

There were several other places called Muff at the time, especially one nearby in Donegal which created much confusion. The residents of the village resolved to afford of the opportunity to change the name. Therefore, on 19 August 1858, the village of Muff became Eglinton in honour of the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, the 13th Earl of Eglinton who was visiting the nearby Templemoyle Agricultural School at the time. The school was opened in 1826 aimed at teaching new agricultural methods but eventually closed in 1865. The building remained disused for many years before being converted into a nursing home in the 1990s.

Main Street looking east

Tom Gallaher (1840–1927), the miller's son of Templemoyle, was the founder of the famous tobacco firm of Gallahers, now the Gallaher Group. His relatives lived in The Glen House in the centre of Eglinton village until the 1950s.

One of the oldest buildings, if not the oldest standing today, is Foyle Park House. Foyle Park was built in 1813 by David Babington who rented his land from the Worshipful Company of Grocers. The mansion was built when Babington started to make land improvements in the west of the village between 1805 and 1836 when he planted 172,000 trees, mainly to shelter the house. Babington used the house as a literary school for a while. When Babington's lease expired, the Grocers didn't renew the lease so the Literary School then closed its doors and Foyle Park then became the new Grocers' Hall. It was used as the Grocers' Hall until the 1870s when James Davidson, a customs and exports worker, bought the entire village from the Grocers' Company. This included the Foyle Park Estate. Davidson lived at Foyle Park and the Manor House. His son, James William Davidson then lived in Foyle Park after him. Davidson's grandson sold Foyle Park to H. Whiteside in 1920 and the house fell out of the Davidson family. The house was re-acquired by the family when Lt. Col. Kenneth Davidson bought the house back in the 1960s. The house remained with the family until it was finally sold off in 2011, after over 100 years of ownership.

Another of the oldest buildings today is the Erasmus Smith schoolhouse built in 1814 beside the old national school of 1886 both now private residences. The Grocers did not resume active management of the estate until 1823 when they rebuilt the village. Among the buildings erected by the company in 1823-5 were the Rectory, a Courthouse or Market house ( an unusually well designed building by Nicholson which included a dispensary (the wall plaques outside the former courthouse are the Grocers and David Babingtons coat of arms)), a Manor house for the Grocers agent and the Glen house. All of which are still to be seen today. They also built a row of cottages for local widows which was known until quite recently as Widow's Row (now renamed Cottage Row) and tradesmen's houses along Main Street. The millers house opposite the Happy Landing public house became the old R.I.C. barracks until the present police station was built. The Grocers sold the village in 1874 to James Davidson from Brechin, Scotland; his descendants still reside in the manor house to this day.

During the Second World War RAF Eglinton was home to many Royal Air Force and later to Royal Navy personnel. Many old buildings currently in a state of disrepair, evidence their presence, and can still be seen dotted around the outskirts of the village. The airfield was a major airfield for flights over the North Atlantic, their tasks included searching for U-boats and acting as air cover for convoys. Several aircraft crashed in the vicinity of the village and the nearby airfield with several pilots and aircrew being buried locally in the Parish Church and Presbyterian Church graveyards.

Shane Crossagh O'Mullan was born and lived in the townland of Tullanee in Eglinton (then Muff), where his father held land on the Grocers Estate. The same townland where the Faughavale Presbyterian Church resides. The Glenshane Pass is named after Shane. Shanes father, Donal, was evicted after a bailiffs son was allegedly insulted at their home. When Shane returned to the family home he was accused of trespassing, and the family were forced to flee to the hills above Claudy to avoid prosecution. Many families had been driven there to make way for settlers. After a confrontation with two soldiers, Shane was a marked man. Together with his family and local schoolmaster, he was advised to hand himself to the magistrate for a more leniant sentence. Shane refused, and spent his next years as a Raparee, where he stole from wealthy settlers and landlords with the support of others who were dispossessed. Shane along with his two sons, Rory and Paudreen, where hanged in the Diamond in Derry in the 1720s.

Transport

  • Eglinton railway station opened on 29 November 1852 and finally closed on 2 July 1973.
  • City of Derry Airport, formerly RAF Eglinton, is located nearby.
  • The A2 between City of Derry Airport and Maydown was recently upgraded to Dual Carriageway standard which road runs between the village and the city of Derry.
  • Derry city bus stops within Eglinton mainstreet.
  • The Belfast–Derry line on Northern Ireland Railways has trains running through but not stopping, as the station is not yet reopened.

Demography

National Identity of Eglinton residents (2021)
Nationality Per cent
Irish   41.3%
Northern Irish   34.6%
British   33.9%

2021 Census

On Census day (21 March 2021) there were 3,571 people living in Eglinton. Of these:

  • 57.69% were from a Catholic background and 37.19% were from a Protestant or other Christian background.

2011 Census

On Census day (27 March 2011) there were 3,679 people (in 1,315 households) living in Eglinton an increase of 16% on the 2001 Census population of 3,165. Of these:

  • 25.5% were aged under 16 and 9.6% were aged 65 and over
  • 49.8% of the population were male and 50.2% were female
  • 53.3% were from a Catholic background and 42.7% were from a Protestant or other Christian background
  • 4.9% of people aged 16–74 were unemployed

Notable people

See also

References

  1. "An Mhagh/Eglington". logainm.ie. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
  2. This is the official Post Town as defined by Royal Mail.
  3. "Final Recommendations Report of the 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituencies.PDF" (PDF). Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  4. http://www.nats-uk.ead-it.com/aip/current/ad/EGAE/EG_AD_2_EGAE_en.pdf
  5. "Inquiry" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 July 2007. Retrieved 15 January 2010.
  6. "AND CORONATIONS TOO". The Conservation Volunteers in Northern Ireland. Retrieved 4 August 2012.
  7. "Muff Glen Forest". Northern Ireland Forest Service. Retrieved 14 January 2010.
  8. ^ "Eglinton, County Derry/Londonderry". placenamesni.org. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
  9. "An Mhagh/Eglington". Logainm.ie. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
  10. ^ McKeefry, Rev. J., Shane Crossagh, The County Derry Rapparee. Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland
  11. "File:Faughanvale Presbyterian Church.jpg". Wikimedia Commons. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
  12. ^ "Shane Crossagh". Belfast Entries. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
  13. "Eglinton station" (PDF). Railscot - Irish Railways. Retrieved 13 October 2007.
  14. "National Identity (Irish)". NISRA. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
  15. "National Identity (Northern Irish)". NISRA. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
  16. "National Identity (British)". NISRA. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
  17. "Settlement 2015". NISRA. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
  18. "Religion or religion brought up in". NISRA. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
  19. "Census 2011 Population Statistics for Eglinton Settlement". Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA). Retrieved 23 July 2019.
  20. "Census 2001 Usually Resident Population: KS01 (Settlements) - Table view". Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA). p. 4. Retrieved 23 July 2019.

Sources

External links

Places in County Londonderry
List of places in County Londonderry
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