15-516: Gosford Forest Park is a forest park located outside Markethill , County Armagh , Northern Ireland . The park, previously Gosford Demesne, was acquired by the Department of Agriculture in 1958 and comprises some 240 hectares of diverse woodland and open parkland. Gosford Forest Park is also home to Gosford Castle . It was designated the first conservation forest in Northern Ireland in 1986. In
30-515: Is one of the few surviving large regional free standing Courthouses built in the middle century. The building is constructed of random Blackstone with Armagh limestone quoins and dressings. The building was last used as a courthouse in 1952, was purchased by Markethill District Enterprises Ltd in June 1997, after lying vacant for 25 years. The building was restored for use as a community centre. Markethill Swifts F.C. , an association football club, play in
45-590: The Mid-Ulster Football League . The nearest Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) club is at Mullaghbrack . Markethill railway station opened on 25 August 1864, closed for passenger traffic on 1 February 1933 and finally closed altogether on 2 May 1955. It was located on the Armagh to Goraghwood section of line run by the Great Northern Railway of Ireland . Markethill is classified as a village by
60-520: The Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) (i.e. with population between 1,000 and 2,499 people). On census day (27 March 2011) the usually resident population of Markethill Settlement was 1,647, accounting for 0.09% of the NI total. Of these: Schools in the area include Markethill Primary School and Markethill High School . The first significant industrial capacity in the town
75-670: The Plantation of Ulster as a town for Scottish and English migrants. During the Troubles , there were a number of incidents in Markethill, including a number which resulted in fatalities. Nearby Gosford Castle is within Gosford Forest Park. The Ministry of Agriculture bought the estate in 1958, establishing Gosford Forest Park. Gosford Castle is the largest Grade A listed building in Northern Ireland, in 2006 after public consultation
90-569: The Boyd Partnership was selected to restore the castle and convert it into 24 self-contained luxury apartments. The first residents moved in December 2008, restoration is still in progress as of May 2010. Markethill Courthouse, situated at the top of Main Street, at the north entrance to Markethill adjacent to Gosford Forest Park. Markethill Courthouse was built in 1842 to the designs of Thomas Duff, and
105-570: The Cladymilltown Road on the outskirts of the town. Markethill Livestock Sales has been established for more than 45 years. The previous mart premises subsequently became a derelict site. A small business park has been constructed on a section of the former Spence, Bryson & Co. Ltd Linen Mill which contains a number of small business' and start-up enterprises. The business park is administered by Markethill Business Centre on Fairgreen Road. There are several independent businesses located in
120-593: The early 17th century, the Acheson family came to the Markethill area, and built a substantial farmhouse near what is now the town of Markethill . The family came from Monmouthshire and the present Earl of Weymes is related to the Achesons who later became the Earls of Gosford. When they came to the area first, they brought with them 13 families, and some of the family names still survive in the area, including Galbraith and Greer. One of
135-458: The park and also horse-riding and orienteering routes. Markethill Markethill ( Irish : Cnoc an Mhargaidh ) is a village in County Armagh , Northern Ireland . It is beside Gosford Forest Park . It had a population of 1,647 people in the 2011 census . A livestock market is held here three times a week and each summer the world's largest Lambeg drumming contest takes place in
150-415: The town. These include Alexander's of Markethill and Alexanders Furnishings Ltd., established in 1954 and operating from the old Market House, Keady Street with the furniture shop on Fairgreen Road nearby. Dalzell's of Markethill, an electrical appliances company, was established in 1956. Markethill Swifts F.C. Markethill Swifts Football Club is an intermediate-level football club playing in
165-530: The two forts (or rath s) in Gosford Forest was named after the Greer family who farmed the land in that area. The first dwelling place of the Achesons was burned down; this house was near the town of Markethill which the family were responsible for founding. In 1610, the family were granted the lands of the present estate. They proceeded to build another house using locally procured, hand-made, red brick. This house
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#1733094556251180-554: The village. It is home to Kilcluney Volunteers Flute Band, who host the largest band parade in Europe on the first Friday of each June. It is by the A28 road around 10 kilometres (6 mi) south-east of Armagh city , and 18 kilometres (11 mi) north-west of Newry . The village sprang up within the townland of Coolmallish or Coolmillish ( Irish : Cúil Mheallghuis ), on the road between Armagh and Newry . It began to grow during
195-426: Was established in 1888 by DH Sinton who established a linen mill, close to the town's railway station. The mill was purchased by Spence, Bryson & Co. Ltd in 1909 and remained operational until 1991 when it was badly damaged by an IRA bomb. Production at this point moved to a sister factory in nearby Portadown. Today the area is largely focused on agriculture and is centred on the large agricultural mart situated on
210-582: Was named Clonkearney Manor after the townland in which it was built. The path to this site is up near the ponds, but only a portion of the red brick foundations is now visible. This house was reputed to have been burned down during the Williamite wars in the mid-17th century. The estate is now owned by the Forest Service and has a number of visitor facilities and a café. It also houses one of Northern Ireland's largest collections of rare breeds. Gosford Castle
225-536: Was renovated into 23 new homes. In 1989, Gosford Forest Park hosted the Irish Scout Jamboree , "Gosford '89", which was attended by over 3,000 scouts from around the world, including contingents from Canada , Japan and the United States . Facilities in the park include a camping and caravanning site, picnic and barbecue areas, a tea house and shop and a function hall. There are way-marked walking trails in
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