Seaforde
Encyclopedia
Seaforde is a small village
in County Down
, Northern Ireland
. It is within the townland
of Naghan, one mile (1.6 km) north of Clough
on the main Ballynahinch to Newcastle
road. It is part of the Down District Council
area.
The village is clustered round the carish church of 1720 and the demesne walls of Seaforde House. In 1828 the Almshouses were built by Colonel Forde and were intended to house six elderly people and the village courthouse.
, who held the post of Deputy Victualler in Cork
in 1580, as supplier to Queen Elizabeth 1's army in Ireland. The village lands were purchased by Nicholas's fifth son, Mathew Forde (who later sat in the Irish House of Commons
in 1642) as part of a wider acquisition of estate lands in Kinelarty in County Down, which he purchased from Thomas Cromwell, Viscount Lecale between the years 1615 and 1636. Mathew Forde, who also owned properties in Fishamble-street in Dublin, had already purchased estate lands in and around the village of Coolgreany in County Wexford
in 1617. Although Coolgreany was the principal seat of the Forde family during the 17th century, after the Battle of the Boyne
Seaforde became the family's principal place of residence. The family still resides at Seaforde House, which is situated within Seaforde Demesne to the north of the village. The present occupant of Seaforde House is Lady Anthea Forde, widow of Patrick Mathew Desmond Forde J.P. D.L. and daughter of the Earl of Belmore
of Castle Coole
in Co. Fermanagh.
Seaforde is also the birth place of Colonel Francis Forde (1718 to 1770), who fought and served with Clive of India.
lie to the north of the village, in the grounds of Seaforde Demesne, the home of the Forde family since the 17th century. The maze and 5 acres (20,234.3 m²) walled garden are populated by many wandering peafowl. The Butterfly House features hundreds of exotic butterflies flying freely around in a tropical environment.
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
in County Down
County Down
-Cities:*Belfast *Newry -Large towns:*Dundonald*Newtownards*Bangor-Medium towns:...
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
. It is within the townland
Townland
A townland or bally is a small geographical division of land used in Ireland. The townland system is of Gaelic origin—most townlands are believed to pre-date the Norman invasion and most have names derived from the Irish language...
of Naghan, one mile (1.6 km) north of Clough
Clough
Clough is a village and townland in County Down, Northern Ireland. It sits about 3 miles from Dundrum on the A2 road between Newcastle and Belfast. It had a population of 255 people in the 2001 Census...
on the main Ballynahinch to Newcastle
Newcastle, County Down
Newcastle is a small town in County Down, Northern Ireland. It had a population of 7,444 people recorded in the 2001 Census. The seaside resort lies on the Irish Sea coast at the base of Slieve Donard, one of the Mourne Mountains, and is known for its sandy beach and the Royal County Down Golf Club...
road. It is part of the Down District Council
Down District Council
Down District Council is a Local Council in County Down in Northern Ireland. The Council is headquartered in Downpatrick. Other towns in the Council area are Ardglass, Ballynahinch, Castlewellan, Clough, Crossgar, Dundrum, Killough, Killyleagh, Newcastle, Saintfield, Seaforde and Strangford...
area.
The village is clustered round the carish church of 1720 and the demesne walls of Seaforde House. In 1828 the Almshouses were built by Colonel Forde and were intended to house six elderly people and the village courthouse.
History
The village is named after the Forde family, who descend from Nicholas Forde of Dunboyne County MeathCounty Meath
County Meath is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the ancient Kingdom of Mide . Meath County Council is the local authority for the county...
, who held the post of Deputy Victualler in Cork
Cork (city)
Cork is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland and the island of Ireland's third most populous city. It is the principal city and administrative centre of County Cork and the largest city in the province of Munster. Cork has a population of 119,418, while the addition of the suburban...
in 1580, as supplier to Queen Elizabeth 1's army in Ireland. The village lands were purchased by Nicholas's fifth son, Mathew Forde (who later sat in the Irish House of Commons
Irish House of Commons
The Irish House of Commons was the lower house of the Parliament of Ireland, that existed from 1297 until 1800. The upper house was the House of Lords...
in 1642) as part of a wider acquisition of estate lands in Kinelarty in County Down, which he purchased from Thomas Cromwell, Viscount Lecale between the years 1615 and 1636. Mathew Forde, who also owned properties in Fishamble-street in Dublin, had already purchased estate lands in and around the village of Coolgreany in County Wexford
County Wexford
County Wexford is a county in Ireland. It is part of the South-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Wexford. In pre-Norman times it was part of the Kingdom of Uí Cheinnselaig, whose capital was at Ferns. Wexford County Council is the local...
in 1617. Although Coolgreany was the principal seat of the Forde family during the 17th century, after the Battle of the Boyne
Battle of the Boyne
The Battle of the Boyne was fought in 1690 between two rival claimants of the English, Scottish and Irish thronesthe Catholic King James and the Protestant King William across the River Boyne near Drogheda on the east coast of Ireland...
Seaforde became the family's principal place of residence. The family still resides at Seaforde House, which is situated within Seaforde Demesne to the north of the village. The present occupant of Seaforde House is Lady Anthea Forde, widow of Patrick Mathew Desmond Forde J.P. D.L. and daughter of the Earl of Belmore
Galbraith Lowry-Corry, 7th Earl Belmore
Galbraith Armar Lowry-Corry, 7th Earl Belmore was an Irish peer and the son of Major Adrian Lowry-Corry, himself the son of Admiral the Hon. Armar Lowry-Corry ....
of Castle Coole
Castle Coole
Castle Coole is a townland and a late-18th-century neo-classical mansion situated in Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland.Set in a 1200 acre wooded estate, it is one of three properties owned and managed by the National Trust in County Fermanagh, the others being Florence Court and the...
in Co. Fermanagh.
Seaforde is also the birth place of Colonel Francis Forde (1718 to 1770), who fought and served with Clive of India.
Places of interest
Seaforde Maze and Garden and Tropical Butterfly HouseButterfly zoo
A butterfly zoo, or butterfly house, is a zoo which is specifically intended for the breeding and display of butterflies. Some butterfly houses also feature other insects, spiders, scorpions, etc.- History :...
lie to the north of the village, in the grounds of Seaforde Demesne, the home of the Forde family since the 17th century. The maze and 5 acres (20,234.3 m²) walled garden are populated by many wandering peafowl. The Butterfly House features hundreds of exotic butterflies flying freely around in a tropical environment.