Furnaceland

Furnaceland (English derived place name, meaning "field where the iron was smelted in the furnace") is a townland in the civil parish of Kinawley, barony of Tullyhaw, County Cavan, Ireland.[1] The original Irish place name was Maghernavinagh, which in Gaelic was either Machaire Eanach, meaning "The Plain of the Marsh" or Machaire Mhianach, meaning "The Plain of the Mine"). The town of Swanlinbar is partially situated in Furnaceland.

N87 Bawn Road, Swanlinbar (geograph 3595601)

Geography

Furnaceland is bounded on the north by Hawkswood townland, on the south by Gorteen (Kinawley) and Killaghaduff townlands, on the west by Cornalon and Gorteennaglogh townlands and on the east by Drumconra (or Lowforge), Gortacashel and Uragh (Kinawley) townlands. Its chief geographical features are Furnaceland Hill, which reaches a height of 328 feet, the River Cladagh (Swanlinbar), the Blackwater river which later joins the Cladagh, a forestry plantation and dug wells, including the "Steel Well". Furnaceland is traversed by the national secondary N87 road (Ireland), the local L1031 road, minor public roads and rural lanes. The townland covers 365 statute acres.[2]

History

In medieval times Furnaceland was owned by the McGovern Clan and formed part of a ballybetagh spelled (variously) Aghycloony, Aghcloone, Nacloone, Naclone and Noclone (Irish derived place name Áth Chluain, meaning the "Ford of the Meadow"). The 1609 Baronial Map depicts the ballybetagh as Naclone.[3]

In the Plantation of Ulster by grant dated 26 June 1615, King James VI and I granted, inter alia, The precinct or parcel of Nacloone otherwise Aghcloone to Sir George Graeme and Sir Richard Graeme to form part of the Manor of Greame.[4] A history of Richard and George Graham is viewable online.[5] The Grahams took part in the Irish Rebellion of 1641 and after the war their lands were confiscated under the Act for the Settlement of Ireland 1652.

The 1658 Down Survey map depicts the townland as Enean.[6]

In 1766 Furnaceland was one of the first Methodist communities founded in County Cavan. A Methodist Pioneer: or the Life and Labours of John Smith by Charles Henry Crookshank (1885) states on page 196, "In 1766, however, in connection with the zealous and faithful labours of John Smith, a large number of Societies were formed, including those at Mullalougher, Killashandra, Bawnboy, Belturbet, Cavanagh, Ballyconnell, Swanlinbar, Furnaceland and Gortnaleg."[7]

The 1821 Census of Ireland spells the name as "Mearaveny or Furnish Land and Macraveny and Macreveny and Macreeveny" and states, "contains 148 acres of arable & pasture land & 15 acres of bog- there is also a church & burial ground on same".[8][9][10][11][12]

The 1825 Tithe Applotment Books spell the name as Furnaceland and Maugheraveey.[13][14]

The 1836 Ordnance Survey Namebooks state, "In this land, the iron-works were carried on. There is the ruins of an iron foundary which has not been used these many years".

The Furnaceland Valuation Office Field books are available for 1838-1840.[15]

Griffith's Valuation lists fifty-five landholders in the townland.[16]

Folklore from Furnaceland is found in the 1938 Dúchas collection.[17]

Census

Year	Population	Males	Females	Total Houses	Uninhabited
1841	121	59	62	28	1
1851	122	47	75	25	0
1861	110	56	54	29	1
1871	151	68	83	33	0
1881	151	78	73	38	6
1891	41	23	18	10	0

In the Census of Ireland 1821 there were twenty-eight households in the townland. [18] [19] [20] [21] [22] [23] [24]

In the 1901 census of Ireland, there were nine families listed in the townland outside of the town of Swanlinbar but there is a separate entry for the part lying in the town itself.[25][26]

In the 1911 census of Ireland, there were ten families listed in the townland.[27]

Antiquities

1. A medieval earthen ringfort. The 'Archaeological Inventory of County Cavan' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1995), Site no. 703, describes it as "Raised circular area (int. diam. c. 26m) enclosed by a slight external earthen bank with a deep internal waterlogged fosse. Inside the bank at north and running parallel to it is a short segment of earthen bank - possibly the remains of a hut site. Break in bank at north-east may represent original entrance. Site is overgrown with vegetation".
2. Long Bridge, built c. 1860 to replace an earlier one of 1750.[28]
3. Methodist Manse House, built c. 1890 for the Methodist minister, on land donated by Richard Howe and sold for private use in the 1960s.[29]
4. Swanlinbar St. Mary's GAA Club.[30]
   

   St Marys GAA, Swanlinbar (geograph 3595616)
5. Foot-bridges over the Cladagh and Blackwater rivers.
6. A 19th century cattle-pound.
7. The ruins of Swanlinbar Iron Foundry, founded c. 1700. The history of this is found under the entry for Swanlinbar.
8. St. Augustine's Church of Ireland and Graveyard. It is the oldest building in Swanlinbar, opened on 19 June 1849, as a Chapel of Ease for the convenience of Swanlinbar residents living a distance from the parish church in Kinawley, replacing a thatched building which is shown on Taylor and Skinner's map drawn in summer 1777 and which is referred to in the 1821 census of Ireland as "Macraveny alias Furnishland contains 148 acres of arable & pasture land & 15 acres of bog- there is also a church & burial ground on same".[31] The website www.buildings ofireland.ie describes the building as- Freestanding Gothic Revival Church of Ireland church, built 1849, comprising three-bay nave, three-stage entrance tower at west gable, and chancel to east elevation flanked by vestry lean-tos. Pitched slate roof with clay ridge tiles and cast-iron rainwater goods on iron brackets over projecting eaves course with stone brackets to ends, replacement uPVC rainwater goods to north. Sandstone walls to tower having ashlar finish to upper stages with battlemented parapet and octagonal capstones to corners. String courses marking tower stages with double lancet belfry openings to third stage having timber louvers and hood mouldings with label stops. Single lancets to middle stage. Set-back corners buttresses to ground level stage with coursed rubble sandstone to north elevation and stone shield over entrance with inscription, 'A.D 1849'. Ashlar sandstone to nave front elevation with sandstone string course in line with tower, north elevation having coursed rubble stone, all over bevelled plinth course of larger blocks. Setback corner buttresses with sloped weatherings to all elevations. Paired lancet windows to nave with chamfered sandstone surrounds and hood mouldings on label stops. Foiled triangular opening to apex of east gable, over chancel roof, having timber louvres and sandstone surround. Triple lancet stained glass east window flanked by wall buttresses with weathered gablets, single lancet windows with leaded glass to flanking lean-tos. Pointed arch door opening to south elevation of tower, with chamfered sandstone surround, hood moulding above stringcourse, recent double-leaf door and overlight. Narrower pointed arched doors to chancel lean-tos in similar chamfered surround having original timber double doors with four vertical panels and corresponding fixed timber overpanel. Interior having timber queen-post trusses on rounded braces rising from wall corbels, exposed rafters to nave and chancel. Timber flooring and wainscot to raised pew seating. Choir to east of nave with patterned geometric tiling, flanked by timber pews with pulpit to south and lectern to north. Chancel with patterned tiling and timber furniture. Gallery to rear with timber front of three cross-braced bays with chamfer-stop detail and pronounced cornice profile. Set back from road surrounded by graveyard, bounded by rubble stone walls having curved rubble stone wings flanking entrance with cast-iron double gates supported by ashlar piers. Appraisal- A handsome church designed by Joseph Welland (1798-1860) who in his capacity as architect to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners designed over one hundred churches across the country for the Church of Ireland. This building is well designed and executed and retains its historic form and character and much of its original fabric and interior fittings, including wall monuments of social and historical interest. The church is a key part of the social heritage of the area, and forms a striking landmark on the southern outskirts of the town.[32][33][34][35][36][37]
   

   St Augustine's Church of Ireland, Swanlinbar - geograph.org.uk - 1054612
9. Swanlinbar Church of Ireland rectory. Built c. 1863 and still occupied by the rector.
10. Swanlinbar Wesleyan Methodist Church, built c. 1800 and sold in 1997. The website www.buildings ofireland.ie describes the building as- Attached Georgian Gothic three-bay Methodist church, built c.1800, now disused. Pitched slate roof with clay ridge tiles, rendered chimneystack to south party-wall, recent concrete barge coping to north gable, replacement uPVC rainwater goods on uPVC fascia. Ruled-and-lined rendered walls. Pointed arch window and door openings to street front, having stone sills and multiple paned timber sash windows with switch-line tracery to upper sash. Timber double-leaf door in northern bay with switch-line tracery overlight. Two smaller pointed lancet windows to gable flanking altar with tilting Y-tracery opening light to head over six-pane fixed lights, now blocked up to the outside. Square-headed window to west, door opening to gable, now boarded up. Interior composed of two-bay nave to south having remnants of original furnishings. Set along street building line, raised above pavement level on sloping site. Appraisal- A building of understated simplicity, typical of churches built in rural areas in the early nineteenth century by the Methodist congregation. The church retains an elegant row of Georgian style pointed windows which are a key feature defining the architectural character of the main street of Swanlinbar. The church was closed in the 1960s due to the declining Methodist population and together with the former Manse serves as a reminder of the former religious diversity in this part of the county.[38]
11. Ben View Primitive Methodist Church, now a private residence.
12. Trivia House, Swanlinbar.
    

    Trivia House, Swanlinbar (geograph 3595608)
13. Royal Irish Constabulary Barracks.
14. Swanlinbar Creamery.
15. Swanlinbar Court House.
16. Swanlinbar Fair Green. The 1836 Ordnance Survey map locates this in the adjoining townland of Hawkswood but the townland boundary was moved northwards to include the Fair Green in the 1913 edition.
17. Swanlinbar Protestant Primary School, Roll Number 9,268.[39] In 1865 the teacher, an Anglican, received an annual salary of £23-0s-0d. There were 65 pupils, all girls.[40] In 1874 the teacher, an Anglican, received an annual salary of £24-0s-0d. There were 105 pupils, 30 boys and 75 girls.[41] In 1886 the teacher, an Anglican, received an annual salary of £30-18s-2d. There were 70 pupils, 31 boys and 39 girls.[42] Folklore was collected in the school in the Dúchas collection of 1938.[43]
    

    Swanlinbar National School - geograph.org.uk - 1054611
18. Uragh Girls' National School, Roll No. 8,189. This was situated in Furnaceland, not in Uragh townland (Uragh Boys's School was situated in Gortacashel townland not in Uragh townland). In 1862 the headmistress of the girls’ school was Anne Kierans, a Roman Catholic. There were 89 girls in the school, 30 were Church of Ireland and 59 were Roman Catholic. The Catholic pupils were taught the Roman Catholic Catechism on Saturdays from 11am to 12 noon.[44] In 1865 the teacher, a Roman Catholic, received an annual salary of £26-8s-10d. There were 84 girls.[40] In 1874 the teacher, a Roman Catholic, received an annual salary of £35-3s-4d. There were 93 girls.[41] In 1886 the teacher, a Roman Catholic, received an annual salary of £62-13s-6d. There were 75 girls.[42] In 1890 there were 97 girls at the school.[45] Folklore was collected at the school in the 1938 Dúchas collection.[46] The collection gives a list of the Girls’ School teachers up until 1938- 1. Mrs Anna Ryan (40 years service), 2. Mrs Margaret McBarron, 3. Miss Mary B. McCullagh, 4. Miss Elizabeth G. McCaffery.[47]
19. Scoil Mhuire Swanlinbar National school.[48]

References

1. "Placenames Database of Ireland". Retrieved 29 February 2012.
2. "IreAtlas". Retrieved 29 February 2012.
3. The National Archives (30 September 2009). "Map of Tullyhaw, County Cavan (MPF 1/58)" (PDF). National Archives Dublin. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
4. Calendar of the Patent Rolls of the Chancery of Ireland. - (Dublin 1800.) (angl.) 372 S. 1800. p. 310. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
5. Lloyd D. Graham (9 November 2015). "The Grahams of the 16-17th century Anglo-Scottish Border and their descendants in Rossadown, Co. Laois, Ireland" (PDF). Retrieved 9 June 2019.
6. "Down Survey Maps | The Down Survey Project". downsurvey.tcd.ie. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
7. "History of Methodism in Ireland : Crookshank, C. H. (Charles Henry), 1836-1915 : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming". Internet Archive. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
8. "007246490_00396" (PDF). 11 December 2013. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
9. "007246490_00397" (PDF). 11 December 2013. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
10. "007246490_00398" (PDF). 11 December 2013. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
11. "007246490_00402" (PDF). 11 December 2013. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
12. "007246490_00403" (PDF). 11 December 2013. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
13. "004625688/004625688_00052.pdf" (PDF). 4 July 2012. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
14. "004625688/004625688_00055.pdf" (PDF). 4 July 2012. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
16. "Griffith's Valuation". askaboutireland.ie. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
18. "National Archives: Census of Ireland 1921". census.nationalarchives.ie. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
19. "National Archives: Census of Ireland 1921". census.nationalarchives.ie. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
20. "National Archives: Census of Ireland 1921". census.nationalarchives.ie. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
21. "National Archives: Census of Ireland 1921". census.nationalarchives.ie. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
22. "National Archives: Census of Ireland 1921". census.nationalarchives.ie. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
23. "National Archives: Census of Ireland 1921". census.nationalarchives.ie. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
24. "National Archives: Census of Ireland 1921". census.nationalarchives.ie. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
25. "National Archives: Census of Ireland 1901". census.nationalarchives.ie. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
27. "National Archives: Census of Ireland 1911". census.nationalarchives.ie. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
28. "Long Bridge, Swanlinbar, County Cavan: Buildings of Ireland: National Inventory of Architectural Heritage". buildingsofireland.ie. Retrieved 6 July 2019. Double-arch sandstone bridge, built c.1860, over River Blackwater, consisting of principal arch over the main channel to east and smaller arch over side channel to west surviving from an earlier structure of c.1750. Wide segmental arch to east with soffit and abutments of squared and coursed stone, regular rock-faced voussoirs having dressed arris to arch ring. Earlier round arch to west, with rubble stone soffit and abutments, arch ring of irregular roughly dressed voussoirs. Squared and coursed spandrel and parapet to eastern section, rubble stone spandrel and battered walls to west section. Variety of parapet copings with rubblestone to earlier section, rock-faced blocks to later section, and replacement rounded cement coping to centre. Wing walls angled to approach roads directions. Appraisal- A narrow bridge of robust character, demonstrating the evolution of bridge building construction from the eighteenth to the nineteenth century. The rebuilding of the main arch is typical of the arterial drainage projects carried out by the Board of Works throughout the country, with a particular concentration in Lakeland counties, whereby multiple channelled rivers were rationalised into a single deeper channel to improve land drainage
29. "Old Manse House, Swanlinbar, County Cavan: Buildings of Ireland: National Inventory of Architectural Heritage". buildingsofireland.ie. Retrieved 6 July 2019. Detached L-plan two-storey former manse, built c.1890, with two-storey entrance projection under main roof and lean-to extensions to rear. Now in use as private house. Pitched slate roof with clay ridge tiles, overhanging barges and eaves with exposed timber rafters, and chamfered timber bargeboards. Replacement metal gutters and cast-iron rainwater downpipes, rendered chimneystacks to ridges. Ruled-and-lined smooth rendered walls with plinth course. Square-headed window openings with stone sills and two-over-two timber sliding-sash windows. Pair of fixed timber windows with stained-glass margin panes to front of entrance projection, with larger one at stair landing. Replacement timber and uPVC windows to rear. Replacement timber door to west side of entrance hall. Detached two-storey converted outbuilding with altered openings facing courtyard to rear. Rubble stone retaining wall to ditch along road side. Appraisal- A fine detached house which forms a significant landmark on the road entering Swanlinbar from the south-east. A former manse, it retains its asymmetrical plan, typical of Victorian domestic architecture. The retention of historic features and fabric, such as a variety of timber windows, adds to its character and charm. The former residence of the Methodist minister of Swanlinbar, it is a reminder of the strong non-conformist tradition of the county
31. "007246490_00402" (PDF). 11 December 2013. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
32. FUSIO. "St Augustine's Church of Ireland Church, Church Road, HAWKSWOOD, Swanlinbar, County Cavan". Buildings of Ireland. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
33. "StPeters-Templeport-1777-map". www.swanlinbar-kildallon.kilmore.anglican.org. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
34. "Swanlinbar Group Churches". www.swanlinbar-kildallon.kilmore.anglican.org. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
35. "St Augustines Church". Swanlinbar Development Association. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
36. "Cavan Headstones|cavan-swanlinbar". www.igp-web.com. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
39. "Swanlinbar Group Churches". Retrieved 14 July 2019. A school was also built across the road from St. Augustine's Church, with living accommodation for a teacher at one end. In later years the living quarters were no longer required so this area was added to the school to make it larger. As the school consisted of one large room with a platform at one end, it was also used as a Church hall. Around 1915-16 Miss Gutherie was the schoolteacher and later, Mr. Fred Sheriff from Trivia House became teacher. In 1923 Miss Rosina Milliken came as teacher, and some years later married Mr. John Good. She continued to teach in Swanlinbar until the school was closed in 1962 due to the lack of pupils. Those children remaining went to Ballyconnell School where transport had to be provided for them. Around 1937 the platform was removed from the school, and a new kitchen was built on to the back of the hall, making a larger and more useful hall
40. Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons (1866). Parliamentary Papers. 29. H.M. Stationery Office. pp. 1–64. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
41. Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons (1875). Reports from Commissioners. 25. Ordered to be printed. p. 62. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
42. "Commissioners of National Education in Ireland : fifty-third report, 1886, with appendices : Commissioners of National Education in Ireland : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive". archive.org. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
45. "Enhanced British Parliamentary Papers On Ireland". dippam.ac.uk. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
46. "Uragh (C.) | The Schools' Collection | dúchas.ie". duchas.ie. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
47. "Uragh (C.) | The Schools' Collection | dúchas.ie". duchas.ie. Retrieved 6 July 2019.

External links

• The IreAtlas Townland Data Base