Garvagh
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Garvagh is a town in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland, 18 kilometres (11 miles) south of Coleraine on the A29 route, the main trunk road between Coleraine and Maghera. It is situated on the banks of the Agivey River. In the 2001 Census it had a population of 1,288 people. It is within the Coleraine Borough Council area. Garvagh is a significant service centre for the surrounding countryside, providing a wide range of services and considerable employment.
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[edit] History
Garvagh was important from very early times, but was destroyed by fire during the Battle of Garvagh, and rebuilt as a Plantation town as its broad main street and neatly planned buildings evidence. It was founded in the early 17th Century by George Canning from Warwickshire, agent for the Ironmonger’s Company of London, it was subsequently developed into a modest size market town by the Canning’s. A striking feature of the town is the stone church tower with an attractive clock and castellations which dominate the main route through the town.
The town has been immortalised in the famous Protestant folk-song "The Battle of Garvagh", which tells the heroic tale of the town's defence in 1813 from the marauding Ribbonmen who were intent on burning the town.
[edit] The Troubles
For more information see The Troubles in Garvagh, which includes a list of incidents in Garvagh during the Troubles resulting in two or more fatalities.
[edit] Places of interest
- Garvagh Museum is a rural Folk Museum situated in the Bann Valley, in the walled garden of Garvagh House, the former seat of the Canning family. George Canning was elevated to the peerage in 1818 and took the title, Baron Garvagh. This walled garden has historic connections with Denis Hempson the great blind harper who lived in 3 centuries, being born in 1695 and dying in 1807. George Canning, Dr Bacon and Squire Gage purchased Hempson's first harp while he was resident in Garvagh. At the entrance to the museum there is a memorial to Hempson in the form of a granite pillar. This unique collection comprises almost two thousand artefacts which trace the history of the Bann Valley from 3000 BC through to the first half of the 20th century.
- Garvagh Forest, the former estate of the Canning’s, covering over 2 square kilometres (0.7 sq mi), is situated on the western outskirts of Garvagh.
[edit] 2001 Census
Garvagh is classified as a village by the NI Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) (ie with a population between 1,000 and 2,250 people). On Census day (29 April 2001) there were 1,288 people living in Garvagh. Of these:
- 22.3% were aged under 16 years and 25.1% were aged 60 and over
- 46.7% of the population were male and 53.3% were female
- 25.0% were from a Catholic background and 74.0% were from a Protestant background
- 3.6% of people aged 16-74 were unemployed
For more details see: NI Neighbourhood Information Service
[edit] People
- George Canning Sr. was born in Garvagh - he was the father of George Canning (1770-1827) Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.
[edit] Education
[edit] References
- Coleraine Borough Council
- Discover Northern Ireland
- Forest Service NI
- Draft Northern Area Plan 2016
- Culture Northern Ireland
