Hillsborough, County Down

This article is about the village in County Down. For other uses, see Hillsborough.

Hillsborough
Irish: Cromghlinn
Hillsborough Castle
Hillsborough Hillsborough shown within Northern Ireland
Population	3,400 (2001 Census)
District	Lisburn and Castlereagh
County	County Down
Country	Northern Ireland
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	HILLSBOROUGH
Postcode district	BT26
Dialling code	028
EU Parliament	Northern Ireland
UK Parliament	Lagan Valley
NI Assembly	Lagan Valley
List of places UK Northern Ireland Down

Coordinates: 54°27′43″N 6°04′59″W / 54.462°N 6.083°W / 54.462; -6.083

Former Market House – the Court House and Tourist Information Office

Hillsborough is a village, townland and civil parish in County Down, Northern Ireland, situated 19 km (12 mi) from the city of Belfast. It is within the Lisburn and Castlereagh District Council area.

The historic centre of the village contains significant amounts of Georgian architecture. The village was originally a compact settlement hosting a regular market. More recently land to the north of the village has been developed as housing and Hillsborough has become part of the commuter belt of Belfast. In recent years townhouses and apartments have been built closer to the centre of the village, and the former civic building of Lisburn Borough Council has been converted to residential use. That building is in twentieth century neo-Georgian style. Development to the east of the village is continuing to swell Hillsborough's population. The associated settlements of Culcavy and Aghnatrisk to the north-west are also growing.

A prominent feature of the east and south approaches to Hillsborough is a 5-mile wall which encloses the "Park Dam", an artificial lake, and the forest surrounding it.

In 2007 Hillsborough won 3rd place in the Ulster in Bloom large village competition.^[1]

History

Before 1661, the townland was known as Crumlin or Cromlin (from Irish Cromghlinn, meaning "crooked glen"). By 1661 the townland and the settlement within it had been renamed Hillsborough.^[2] It was named after Sir Arthur Hill, who built Hillsborough Fort in 1650 to command the road from Dublin to Carrickfergus. The Hill family became the Earls of Hillsborough, then Marquises of Downshire.

A prominent memorial to the 3rd Marquis of Downshire (and closely resembling Nelson's column in Trafalgar Square, London) stands to the south of the village and is visible throughout much of the surrounding area.

Governance

Hillsborough is situated within Lisburn City Council and from the 1st of April 2015 it will form part of the new Lisburn and Castlereagh "Super Council". Hillsborough is located within the Lagan Valley Westminster and Northern Ireland Assembly constituency.

Hillsborough is represented in Parliament by Jeffrey Donaldson MP.

Hillsborough is represented in the Northern Ireland Assembly by 6 MLAs namely Edwin Poots MLA, Basil McCrea MLA, Paul Givan MLA, Jonathan Craig MLA, Trevor Lunn MLA and Brenda Hale MLA.

In local government elections held on the 22nd of May 2014 the following local councillors were elected to represent Hillsborough on Lisburn and Castlereagh Council. Allan Ewart (DUP), John Palmer (DUP), Jim Dillon (UUP), Alexander Redpath (UUP) and Owen Gawith (Alliance).

Demography

Hillsborough is classified as an intermediate settlement by the NI Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) (i.e. with population between 2,250 and 4,500 people). On Census day (29 April 2001) there were 3,400 people living in Hillsborough. Of these:

19.9% were aged under 16 years and 21.4% were aged 60 and over
47.9% of the population were male and 52.1% were female
5.0% were from a Catholic background and 91.7% were from a Protestant background
1.4% of people aged 16–74 were unemployed.

For further details see: NI Neighbourhood Information Service

Places of interest

Hillsborough Castle a two-storey Georgian mansion, was Government House from 1924 until 1973 and is the official residence of Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom (and other royal family members) when visiting the province and the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland from 1973. Hillsborough Castle was the venue for the signing of the Anglo-Irish Agreement in 1985. Former Prime Minister Tony Blair has stayed at the castle on many occasions during negotiations related to the peace process, and hosted George W. Bush at the Castle for a one night visit in 2003
There are many interesting walks and local pubs offering delicacies to enjoy; and is home to a public forest park and lake that form the picturesque setting for the original fort residence of Lord Hillsborough. Hillsborough hosts an International Oyster Festival each year, generally September. This attracts thousands of visitors from as far away as Japan, Russia, the United States and Argentina) The festivities include boat racing, parachuting, garden fêtes, oyster eating and Guinness drinking – all in the name of fun, revelry and charity.
The historic Parish Church dedicated to Saint Malachy is one of the finest examples of Gothic Revival architecture. It was built by the 1st Marquis of Downshire between 1760 and 1774, in the hope that the church would become the cathedral of the diocese of Down. In addition to its imposing setting, it boasts two 18th century organs,^[3] a peal of ten bells and a number of works by notable craftsmen of the era, including the Colours of the County Down Battalion of Carson's Ulster Volunteers. Today it is a vibrant parish in the Church of Ireland Diocese of Down and Dromore.

Monument to 4th Marquis of Downshire

Hillsborough is (in somewhat exaggerated terms) said to be the birthplace of the United States – due to a disastrous meeting that took place between Benjamin Franklin and Lord Hillsborough (then the acting Secretary of State for the Colonies) in the early 1770s. They are reported to have hated each other at first sight and, on leaving three days into a week-long visit, Franklin returned home to convince the dissident colonists he represented that there was no alternative but to initiate immediate revolution. The 'Declaration of Independence' in July 1776 followed shortly after Franklin's return.

Notable people

The composer and conductor Hamilton Harty (1879–1941), whose father William Harty was organist in the Parish Church, was born in Hillsborough.
Hillsborough was home to TV and radio presenter Gloria Hunniford for a number of years. Her late daughter Caron Keating spent much of her childhood in the village.
Frank Pantridge (1916–2004) was a physician and cardiologist born in Hillsborough, who invented the portable defibrillator.

Railways

The Hillsborough railway station was opened by the Banbridge, Lisburn and Belfast Railway on 13 July 1863.^[4] The line through the station was part of the Great Northern Railway (Ireland) system. The station closed on 30 April 1956 under the auspices of the Ulster Transport Authority.

Sport

In 2005 Lisnagarvey Hockey Club relocated from their Blaris ground to the outskirts of Hillsborough.
Downshire Young Men F.C.

References

↑ http://www.translink.co.uk/20070904ulsterinbloom.asp
↑ Placenames NI
↑ http://www.lisburn.com/churches/Lisburn-churches/hillsborough-parish-church.html
↑ "Hillsborough station" (PDF). Railscot - Irish Railways. Retrieved 2012-05-06.

External links

Places in County Down

List of places in County Down

Cities	Belfast (part) Lisburn (part) Newry (part)

Towns	Ballynahinch Banbridge Bangor Carryduff Comber Donaghadee Downpatrick Dromore Dundonald Holywood Kilkeel Newcastle Newtownards Warrenpoint

Villages and townlands	Annahilt Annalong Annsborough Ardglass Attical Aughnacloy Ballela Balloo Ballybannan Ballybeen Ballydargan Ballygowan Ballyhalbert Ballyhay Ballyholme Ballyhornan Ballykinler Ballylesson Ballylough Ballymacmaine Ballymartin Ballynagarrick Ballynahatty Ballynoe Ballyskeagh Ballywalter Benraw Blackskull Bleary Braniel Bryansford Burren Cabra Carnalea Carrowdore Castlewellan Clandeboye Cloghy Clough Conlig Corbet Corcreeny/Gibson's Hill Crawfordsburn Cregagh Crossgar Cultra Derryneill Dollingstown Donaghcloney Dromara Drumaness Drumbeg Drumbo Drumlough, Hillsborough Drumlough, Rathfriland Dundrum Dunnaval Edenderry Gamblestown Gilford Gilnahirk Gransha Greencastle Greyabbey Groomsport Helen's Bay Hillhall Hillsborough Hilltown Katesbridge Kilcoo Kilcooley Killinchy Killinure Killough Killowen Killyleagh Kinallen Kircubbin Lawrencetown Legacurry Legananny Leitrim Lenaderg Loughbrickland Loughinisland Lurganare Lurganville Magheraconluce Magheralin Mayobridge Maze Millisle Moira Moneyreagh Moneyslane Monteith Portaferry Portavogie Poyntzpass Rathfriland Ravernet Ringhaddy Rostrevor Saintfield Saul Scarva Seaforde Seahill Sheeptown Shrigley Spa Strangford Struell Tievenadarragh Tullylish Tullynakill Waringsford Waringstown Whiterock

Landforms	Ards Peninsula Burr Point Carlingford Lough Cloughmore Copeland Islands Cranfield Point Lecale peninsula Lough Island Reavy Mournes Slieve Croob Strangford Lough

Baronies	Ards Lower Ards Upper Castlereagh Lower Castlereagh Upper Dufferin Iveagh Lower Iveagh Upper Kinelarty Lecale Lower Lecale Upper Lordship of Newry Mourne

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