Page:The National Gazetteer - A Topographical Dictionary of the British Islands, Volume 1.djvu/13

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ABBEY GREEN.
3
ABBEY-MAHON.

of the new way." The living is a rect. united with Kiltormer, in the dioc. of Clonfert. Abbey Green, a vil. in the par. of Lesmahago, in Lanarkshire, Scotland, 6 miles from the town of Lanark, and 22 from Glasgow. Here are the ruins of a priory erected by David I. in 1140, in honour of the holy Machute, whose tomb was here. The priory was subordinate to the abbey of Kelso. The modern village is situated at a beautiful spot on the banks of the Nethan, and has a post office. The chief occupation of the people is weaving.

Abbey Holme, a tnshp. in the par. of Holme Cultram, in Allcrdale-below-Derwent ward, in the co. of Cumberland, 6 miles N.W. of Wigton, and 15 E. of Maryport. The Carlisle and Silloth Bay railway passes through the parish and has a station at Holme. There are still some remains of the Cistercian abbey founded here in 1150 by Prince Henry of Scotland, and St. Mary's church is said to have formed part of the abbey church.

Abbey Hulton, a tnshp. in the par. of Burslem, in the north div. of the hund. of Pirehill, in the co. of Stafford, 17 miles N. of Stafford. Here are remains of an ancient abbey. The population are chiefly engaged in the manufacture of porcelain, which was established by Wedgwood, who was born at the neighbouring village of Burslem, and there brought to perfection his marvellous inventions in pottery and porcelain.

Abbey in Malmesbury, a par. in the hund. of Malmesbury, in Wiltshire, not far from the town of Malmesbury. An abbey of the Benedictine order was established here in the 7th century by Maidulf. It appears to have been one of considerable importance, second, in the west of England, only to Glastonbury. Part of the old church still remains.

Abbey Jerpoint, a par. in the bar. of Gowran, in the co. of Kilkenny, and prov. of Leinster, Ireland, lying on the river Nore, 1 mile S.W. of Thomastown. It was formerly a corporate town. The living is a vic., one of 18 reputed pars., forming the union of Burnchurch, in the dioc. of Ossory, Ferns, and Leighlin. The abbey was founded by Donogh O'Donoghoe, King of Ossory, in the year 1180; and a company of monks of the Cistercian order were brought to it, from a distant part of Ossory. The founder died within 5 years after establishing and endowing the abbey, and his remains were interred there. In 1202 it became the burial-place of Felix O'Dullany, Bishop of Ossory, and at his tomb many miracles were believed to be performed. It was soon an object of ambition with the great families to have tombs in a place so honoured. The last abbot was Oliver Grace, who surrendered the abbey to Henry VIII. at the Dissolution. Its temporalities were subsequently granted to James Butler, Earl of Ormonde. The ruins are extensive, but are fast disappearing. The most perfect of them is the tower. The tombs of the founder, of the Graces, and of the Butlers, may be distinguished.

Abbeyknockmoy, a par. in the bars. of Clare and Tyaquin, in the co. of Galway, prov. of Connaught, Ireland, 7 miles S.E. of Tuam. The native name of the place signifies "hill of slaughter." The Latin name of the abbey signifies "monastery of the hill of victory." Cathol O'Connor, named also Red Hand, King of Connaught, founded it after a battle with the English, in which he defeated them. Cistercian monks were called to it from the abbey of Boyle. In 1620 James I. granted it to the Blakes; from them it passed to the Forsters, in whose family it still continues. A few remains of the abbey exist. Sculptured capitals lie strewn about the churchyard. On the north wall may be seen the tomb of the founder, and some rude frescoes which appear to belong to the 13th century. They are considerably defaced and going to decay. There are about 500 acres of bog in the parish. The neighbourhood is supplied with water from a subterranean stream near the summit of Knockroe hill. The parish has a police station, and petty sessions are held. The living is a rect. united with Killererin, in the dioc. of Tuam, Killala, and Achonry. Moyne and Abbey are the principal residences. Fairs are held on the 24th June, the 21st August, and the 1st November.

Abbey Lands, a tnshp. in the par. and union of Alnwick and ward of Coquetdale, in the co. of Northumberland, 2 miles to the N.W. of Alnwick. It had anciently an abbey of canons. The hmlts. of Broomhouse, Heckley, Heckley Farm and Grange, and Whitehouse, are included in this township.

Abbeylara, a par. in the bar. of Granard, in the co. of Longford, prov. of Leinster, Ireland, 3 miles S. of Granard. It is curiously divided into two nearly equal parts by the parish of Granard, which runs through it from north to south. The eastern half lies on Lough Kemaile, the western on Lough Gownagh. The land is mostly under cultivation, but there are large tracts of bog and some limestone quarries. The living is a vic., in the dioc. of Kilmore, Ardagh, and Elphin, val. £110, and in the patron. of the bishop. There is a police station in the parish. St. Patrick is the reputed founder of the monastery of Lara, which was refounded in 1205, by Lord Tuit, for monks of the Cistercian order, and dedicated to the Virgin. There is nothing left of the building now but one fine arch, several smaller arches, and a winding staircase. Among the gentlemen's seats may be mentioned Fernsborough, a finely planted estate, Newgrove, and Kilrea.

Abbey Lanercost. See Lanercost.

Abbeyleix, a par. and market town, in the bars. of Cullinagh, Clarmallagh, and West Maryborough, in Queen's co.; and the bar. of Fassidinin, in the co. of Kilkenny, prov. of Leinster, Ireland. It is situated on the river Nore, not far from the Dysart hills, 9 miles S.W. of Maryborough, and 59 miles from Dublin. The living is a vic. in the dioc. of Ossory, Ferns, and Leighlin, val. £139, in the patron. of Viscount de Vesci. The town consists of one long street, extending along the old coach-road between Durrow and Maryborough and Dublin. It is neatly built, and has a handsome church, erected a few years ago, in the perpendicular style, with a fine spire. The old church is not generally used. There are two chapels in the town, a market-house, sessions-house, bridewell, an almshouse for poor widows, a dispensary, and infirmary. The chief seats are Abbeyleix House, the residence of the Viscount de Vesci; and Belleview. The parish contains 13,546 acres, of which about 400 acres are bog and 300 acres wood land. There is a curious freestone quarry; much good limestone is obtained, and good potters' clay. The woollen manufactures and the flour-mills furnish occupation for many hands. There is a chief police station in the town. Quarter sessions are held in June and December; Petty sessions, weekly, on Saturday, which is the market-day. Fairs are held on the 26th January, the 17th March, the 5th May, the 20th June, the 20th September, and the 4th November. A monastery is said to have been founded here about the year 600, but nothing more is heard of it till 1183. In that year it was refounded by Conogher O'More, and occupied by Cistercian monks, from Baltinglass, in Wicklow. Here the founder was buried, the house grew famous, and the town became chief in the territory of Leix, now Queen's County. Queen Elizabeth, in the sixth year of her reign, granted the monastery and its possessions to Thomas, Earl of Ormond. It now forms part of the estate of Viscount de Vesci. Of the cathedral of Aghaboe, near Abbeyleix, the chancel is the principal vestige. It was repaired in 1818, and is now used as the parish church of Aghaboe.

Abbey-Mahon, a par. in the bars. of Ibane and Barryroe, in the co. of Cork, prov. of Munster, Ireland. It is situated on the south coast of Courtmacsherry bay, 10 miles S. of Bandon. The living is an impropriate cur., in the dioc. of Cork, Cloyne, and Ross, val. £34, in the patron. of the Earl of Shannon. There is no church in the par., but a private house is licensed for the performance of divine service. It was formerly part of the par. of Lislee, but was separated from it at the time of the erection of an abbey for the Cistercian order. This abbey, which was built close to the shore, was endowed by Lord Barry with 18 ploughlands, and was not