Lewis Topographical Dictionary - OSi Online Shop

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the finer linens, known as “Coleraines,” but at what
time it was first established here is not precisely known.
The first bleach-green ever known in this part of the
country was established at Bally brittan, by Mr. John
Orr, in 1734, for the bleaching of fine 7-8th and 4-4th
linens. That gentleman having succeeded in establish-
ing a very lucrative trade, other bleach-greens were soon
afterwards formed at Gortin, Ballydivitt, Macosquin,
Drumcroom, Mullamore, Keeley, Aghadowey, Rusbrook,
Collans, Mullycarrie, Island Effrick, Castle Roe, Green-
field, and other places. The quantity now bleached an-
nually exceeds 200,000 pieces; they are of the finest
quality, and four-fifths of them are sent to the English
markets. These linens are woven at the farm-houses
throughout the country; the webs, when finished, are
brought to market in the brown state, and sold to the
bleachers, who assemble on their stands every Saturday
from 10 till 11 o’clock, during which hour more than
1000 webs are generally purchased. This is one of the
very few towns of which the market has not been mate-
rially injured by the recent changes that have taken
place in the linen trade. The bleachers of the neigh-
bourhood also attend the markets of Ballymoney, Dun-
gannon, Fintona, Stewartstown, Armagh, Newtown-
stewart, Strabane, and Derry, for the purchase of brown
webs; but the best markets in Ireland for these goods
are Coleraine and Ballymoney. At Mullamore is a large
establishment for the preparation of warps and yarn for
linen webs, commenced in 1832, by Alexander Barklie,
Esq.; there are at present more than 800 looms in con-
stant operation; the weaving is not done on the pre-
mises, but is given out as task work to men who
weave it at their own houses. The only manufactures
carried on are those of linen, cotton, hard and soft soap,
bleaching salts, leather, and paper. A brewery and
malt-house was originally established by Messrs I. and
C. Galt, in 1770, and after passing through various hands
was purchased by Messrs. O’Kane and Mitchell, the pre-
sent proprietors, who annually consume 200 tons of malt
in the production of 2000 barrels of strong and com-
mon ale.
The town, from its situation on the river Bann, only
four miles from the Atlantic, enjoys important advan-
tages for commerce, but at present its trade is limited.
Its chief imports are timber, iron, barilla, ashes, coal,
and salt; and its exports are linen cloth, pork, butter,
salmon, wheat, barley, oats, potatoes, and whiskey, and
since the construction of the harbour of Portrush, there
has been a considerable trade in live stock, poultry,
eggs, and fruit. The number of vessels trading annually
to the port, including the outer harbour of Portrush, is
about 160, having an aggregate burden of about 13,000
tons. From the 1st of September, 1831, to the 31st of
August, 1832, 36,888 sacks (or 5533 tons 4 cwt.), of
grain and 3491 pigs were shipped from this place.
During the following year, the quantity of grain decreased
to 27,132 sacks, the cause of which may be attributed to
the establishment of markets at Garvagh, Bushmills,
and Ballymoney; the number of pigs shipped during
the latter period increased to 6340, notwithstanding the
establishment of those markets. The quantity of butter
exported varies considerably; since the passing of the
recent act it has decreased from 11,000 to 9000 firkins,
from the same cause. The port immediately adjoins the
town; the entrance to the river is obstructed by a bar
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of shifting sand, over which vessels drawing more than
five feet of water at neap tides, or nine feet at spring
tides, cannot pass; the current of the tide runs past the
mouth of the river, and the rise in Lough Foyle is nearly
twice as great as in the Bann. During winter the navi-
gation of the river is in a manner stopped, the spring
tides occurring too early and too late, before and after
daylight,and a heavy swell of the sea generally setting in
from October till April. To remedy this inconvenience,
a new harbour was constructed at Portrush, about 41/2 miles
distant from the town, at an expense of £16,225. 17. 11.,
raised under an act of parliament in shares of £100
each: the entrance is 27 feet deep at low water of spring
tides, and vessels drawing 17 feet can enter and ride in
perfect safety. A steam-boat, built for this station,
commenced plying between Portrush and Liverpool in
August 1835; and another has since been established
from the port to Glasgow, each of which makes a passage
every week. There is a custom-house with the usual
officers; and there are bonding stores and a timber-
yard. An extensive and lucrative salmon fishery is car-
ried on at Crannagh, on the Bann, under lease from the
Irish Society; there is but one season during the year,
beginning in May and ending on the 12th of August.
The quantity taken is generally about 190 tons the
whole of which is packed in ice and conveyed by smacks
and steam-boats to Liverpool and other distant markets,
where they are in high estimation for their size and
flavour. There is also another salmon fishery on the
Bann, at a part called the Cutts, where the river makes
a rapid fall of 12 feet over a ledge of rocks which the
fish cannot ascend, except when there is a strong fresh
in the river, and where a weir has been placed to inter-
cept them; about 80 tons are annually taken here;
both stations belong to the same Company. There is
also an eel fishery, which commences in September,
when the fish are returning from Lough Neagh and the
rivers, to the sea; they are taken by means of pales and
wattling, constructed so as to converge in the direction
of the current, and having a net attached; this fishery
is worth £800 per annum. Great quantities of eels are
taken and sold fresh in the neighbouring markets, or
salted for winter use.
The market is on Saturday, and is well supplied
with provisions of all kinds. The grain market was first
established in 1819, since which time it has rapidly
increased: it is held on Monday, Wednesday, and Fri-
day, and on an average 3000 tons of grain, principally
oats, are annually sold, of which the greater part is sent
to Liverpool, and some to London, Bristol, and Glasgow.
An additional market for pork and butter is held on
Wednesday. The market-place is situated on the eastern
side of the town, on ground belonging to the corporation,
by whom it was built at an expense of £2744, and to
whom belong the tolls, customs, pickage, and stallage,
amounting to about £300 per annum: it is commodi-
ously fitted up, with separate apartments for the sale of
butter, pork, and meal, sheds for tallow, hides, and flax,
stores and offices for provision merchants, keepers’
houses and every accommodation; and was opened on
the 25th of March, 1830. There are fairs on the 12th
of May, 5th of July, and 1st of November; the principal
is on the 12th of May, for black cattle, horses, and
sheep. A branch of the Northern Banking Company
one of the Belfast Banking Company, and one of the