Supplement to the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Editions of the Encyclopædia Britannica/Antrim
Situation and Boundaries. ANTRIM, a maritime County of Ireland, in the province of Ulster, situate in the northern extremity of the Island. It presents a considerable line of coast to the Northern Ocean, and to the Irish Channel. By the former it is bounded to the north, and by the latter to the east. Carrickfergus Bay, and the river Lagan, on the south-east, divide it from the County of Down as far to the south as Spencer’s Bridge. To the south-west it has the same County, which, running to a point, meets Lough Neagh at Shanport. The winding shores of Lough Neagh and Lough Beg form its boundaries on the west, as far as the point where it meets the river Bann; whence this river, taking a northern course, inclining to the west, separates Antrim from Londonderry.
Extent and Divisions. This County lies between 54° 26′, and 55° 12′ 16″ north latitude. Its greatest length from Bangorehead north, to Spencer’s Bridge south, is about 56 English miles; and its greatest breadth, from the Gobbins cast, to Island Reagh Toome west, about 30 miles. Its area comprises 972 square miles, or 622,059 English acres. It contains eight Baronies,—Dunbra, Carey, Killconeray, Glenarm, Toome, Antrim, Belfast, Massarene. All of these, except Killconeray and Carey, are subdivided into half Baronies, called upper and lower. There are also smaller divisions into Constablewicks and Town-lands. As nearly all the names of the Town-lands are Irish, and expressive of the qualities of the land, or of some other local circumstance, it is probable that this subdivision is of very ancient date. Ploughlands were instituted in the reign of Philip and Mary, but this division is now quite laid aside. The number of parishes is seventy-seven. The chief towns in this County are Antrim, Belfast, Carrickfergus, Lisburn, Ballimena, and Ballimoney. It returns five members to Parliament, viz. two for the Shire, and one for each of the three principal towns, Belfast, Carrickfergus, and Lisburn. The assizes, elections, &c. are held at Carrickfergus, and the quarter-sessions at Antrim. The Bishopric of Connor comprehends the whole County, except the parish of Aghalee or Soldierstown, in the Barony of Massarene, which is in the Diocese of Dromore, and the parish or grange of Ballicullen, which belongs to the Diocese of Derry.
Face of the Country. The interior of the County, on the eastern side, is mountainous, destitute of plantations, and abounding in bogs. This character also, in a great degree, applies to the northern side. The Baronies of Belfast and Massarene are the most level and fruitful. That remarkable range of basaltic pillars, called the Giant's Causeway, on the northern coast of Antrim, is described in the original work, under the head Giant’s Causeway. Mountains.The principal mountains are Devis, near Belfast; Slenish, towards the middle; and Knocklayd, in the northern part of the County.
Minerals. Besides basalt, limestone, gypsum, coals, fossil-wood, or woodcoal, sandstone, &c. are found. The fossil-wood, or woodcoal, in most places, is covered with columns of basalt, and is curious, as explanatory of the origin of coal. Notwithstanding the compressed state in which it is found, the bark and knots are quite distinct, and the rings, denoting the annual growth of the wood, may be counted. In some instances, the roots of the trees may be traced. Of the only two coal-mines which are wrought in the province of Ulster, there is one in Antrim, at Ballycastle. The coals are bituminous, and of a bad quality; a great part of them are exported.
Rivers. The rivers of this County are very numerous, but in general small. The most considerable are the lower Bann, which discharges the waters of Lough Neagh into the sea; and the Lagan, which falls into the ocean near Belfast. Lough Neagh, belonging more properly to the County of Armagh, will be described under that article. It may be proper, however, to notice in this place, that of the two Islands in this expanse of water, Ram Island, from its contiguity to Antrim, is considered as belonging to that County.
Rathlin Island. Rathlin Island lies off the northern coast of this County, opposite to Ballycastle. It is about five miles in length, and about three quarters of a mile in breadth. The number of its inhabitants is about 12,000. It is celebrated as having afforded a place of refuge to Robert Bruce.
Climate. No regular and accurate accounts of the climate of Antrim have been kept, except at Belfast; and from these it appears, that less rain falls here than is generally supposed; the annual fall of rain, on an average of six complete years, being only 24.700 inches. The prevalent wind is the south-west. The greatest height of the barometer between the years 1796 and 1809, was 31 inches; the lowest 28 inches. The greatest height of the thermometer, during that period, was 78°.80; the lowest 25. The mean temperature of the northern coast of Antrim, near the town of Ballycastle, in latitude 55.12, as observed in the year 1788, by means of copious springs flowing from limestone soil, was 48°.
State of landed Property. The estates in Antrim are in general freehold, being either immediate grants from the Crown, or held under those grants. The exceptions are the properties under the See of Connor. Some of the estates are very large. The Marquis of Hertford, and the Antrim family, possess the fee of the major part of the County. The former has 64,000 green acres, that is, land capable of tillage, independently of bog and mountain. Most of the Antrim estate is let on perpetuity, in farms worth L. 2000 or L. 3000 per annum. The other great proprietors are the Marquis of Donegal, Lord Templeton, and Lord O’Neil. The estate of Lord Templeton, however, is only leasehold under the Marquis of Donegal, who lets his land for 61 years and a life, but renews at the end of a few years for a fine. By a return to the House of Commons, 7th of February 1816, the number of persons who have registered freeholds in this county, between the 20th February 1807 and the 21st of February 1815, of the value of forty shillings, was 8074; of the value of L. 20, 152; and of the value of L. 50, 227.
Agriculture. The farms in Antrim are in general very small; the average of the rent of the green land is estimated at between 30s. and 25s. the Irish acre. The principal feature in the tillage system of a great part of Antrim, is the potatoe fallow. The small size of the farms, and, in some places, the rockiness of the soil, precludes the use of the ordinary means of culture, and therefore a part of the land is dug with the spade. The quantity of potatoe-land is regulated by the quantity of manure that can be collected. After potatoes, fax is sown, and the quantity of fax ground is regulated by the ability to purchase the seed. A crop of oats finishes the regular rotation. When the ground is exhausted, it is turned to rest, that is, it is suffered to lie till it is covered with natural grass. Such is the most general plan of husbandry pursued in Antrim. In those parts where the farms are too large for the spade culture, the land is ploughed by three or four neighbours uniting their strength; one supplying the plough, and the others bringing a horse, bullock, or even a milch cow. Wheat is a plant of very modern introduction in Antrim, and very little of it is sown. The quantity of seed sown to the Irish acre, varies from 224 to 171 lbs. avoirdupois; and the produce from 2272 to 2135. Bear or bigg is grown only in the colder and higher parts of the County; the seed used is 203 Ibs.; the produce 3500. The quantity of barley used as seed varies from 203 to 209; and the produce from 2982 to 2646. Of oats, the seed varies from 333 to 291, and the produce from 3636 to 3227. Of potatoes, the seed varies from 2392 to 1383, and the produce from 22,248 to 15,183.
Flax. The most important crop in Antrim is flax. The total number of acres supposed to be sown with flax in the year 1809, was 11,000; and the total number of bushels of flax-seed, supposed to have been saved out of the crops, was 3100. The annual average of flax-seed imported into Belfast is 5000 hogsheads, of about seven bushels each. The quantity of seed generally used for an acre is 30 gallons; the produce of seed averages 785 gallons: the average produce of flax is 30 stone per acre.
Live Stock. The cattle in Antrim consist chiefly of milch cows belonging to small occupiers, of a small stunted breed. Sheep are very little attended to; and the few that are kept are of a very inferior kind. Goats are numerous in the mountainous parts of the County. Pigs also are kept in great numbers. During the salting season of 1811, not fewer than 70,000 pigs, weighing at least 200 lb. each, were brought to Belfast for exportation.
Trees. This County by no means abounds with wood: nor are fruit-trees cultivated in great abundance, or with very much success. Of the apple, however, several new, and valuable varieties have lately been introduced, and advantageously cultivated.
Manufactures. Antrim has long been distinguished for its linen manufacture; but latterly, the manufacture of cotton has, in same measure, supplanted it, especially in the vicinity of Belfast. In the year 1800, about 23 years after the introduction of the cotton manufacture, 13,500 people were directly employed in it; and including all manner of persons occupied in it in various ways, the number was 27,000, within a circuit of 10 miles; comprehending, however, the towns of Belfast, and Lisburn. The cotton yam is chiefly brought from Scotland.
Linen Manufacture. The linen manufacture, notwithstanding, is still the staple manufacture of Antrim. It is a peculiarity of this manufacture, as it is established in Ireland, that it does not remove the peasant from the comforts and healthiness of rural life. In Antrim, the weaver and the labourer of the soil are united in the same person. Many weavers have small farms, and only employ themselves in weaving during the intervals of their farming occupations; and almost all who pursue this trade, possess gardens, and ground for potatoes. Many of the houses have three looms, which cost from four to five guineas each: Children are hired to attend a loom at from 13s. to 17s. the half year, with diet, washing, and lodging: they bring a weaver eight guineas per annum. A good weaver will gain 10s. per web, and if he worked every day, he could weave a web in a week. A loom will employ four spinners, who are all females, and will spin five hanks in a week, the price of which is 2s. 8½d.
Food of the Peasantry. The consumption of food per week, by a manufacturing family, consisting of six persons, in this County, is 3½ bushels of potatoes; 14 herrings; 9 quarts of butter milk; and one pound of salt: the cost of which may be estimated at five shillings. The expence of a family, consisting of the same number of persons, the head of which works at agricultural labours, will be 7s. 6d. per week, as he occasionally uses meat, milk, and pork.
Salmon Fishing. There is a considerable salmon-fishing on the coast of Antrim, at a place called Carrick-a-rede. This place is separated from the mainland by a chasm 60 feet in width, over which, every year, at the commencement of the fishery, a bridge formed of two strong cables, and a number of boards, is thrown.
Antiquities. The antiquities of this County consist of cairns, cromlechs, mounts, forts, ecclesiastical and military remains, round towers, &c. There are three round towers, viz. one near the town of Antrim; one at Ardmoy; and one in Ram Island, in Lough Neagh. A few years ago, a double patera of gold, weighing 19 ounces, 10 dwts. was found in this County.
Population. The number of houses in the County of Antrim, in the year 1777, was 22,184; of which 20,519 paid for one hearth; 3667 for two or more; 1066 were newly inhabited; and 3002 belonged to paupers. In the year 1788 the number of houses was 28,254, and the population was estimated at 160,000. At this rate there were about 13 acres to a house, and about 48 persons on the square mile. In the year 1791, the number of houses was 30,314, of which 22,353 paid for one hearth, and 3746 were inhabited by paupers. The number of men returned, in the year 1810, between the ages of 16 and 45, fit to serve in the militia, was 24,425. Mr Dubourdieu, in his Statistical Survey of Antrim, estimates the present population at 240,000.
Antrim is supposed to contain a greater proportion of Protestants than any other County in Ireland; and of the Protestants a very great majority is Presbyterian; being connected with the General Synod of Ulster, or with the Burghers and Antiburghers of the Church of Scotland. This arises from the Scotch extraction of the greater part of the inhabitants of this County. The Catholics principally occupy the mountainous districts. No person of this persuasion possesses landed property.—See Beaufort’s Memoir of a Map of Ireland; Wakefield’s Account of Ireland, Statistical and Political; Newenham on the Population, &c. of Ireland; and Statistical Survey of the County of Antrim, drawn up by the direction of the Dublin Society, by the Reverend John Dubourdieu. (C.)