Settlement cluster in Bremore

It appears to have been established sometime after 1562 when 'James Barnwell of Brymore and Margaret his wife' were granted the right to build a 'fisher town and pier or harbour' at Bremore. It is mentioned in historical documents in 1592 and again in 1607 is referred to as' le Horde alias le Newhaven of Brymore' and ' Hord alias Newhaven of Brymore' respectively. Newhaven is documented on the Down Survey (1655-6) parish and barony maps as 'On the North of the barony stands a point or North of Land (extending itself into the sea) called New Haven it being by the industrie of the inhabitants of the towne which stands; near this point made a secure harbour for boates and is a considerable place for fishing'. The village (comprising of 6 houses) appears as a crude drawing on the barony map of Balrudery by Thom West Edward Wilson and William ? (T or J)arrand. The village and pier is nicely illustrated (comprising of 5 houses) on the Down Survey (1655-6) barony maps held by the RSAI. Mentioned in Civil survey (1654-6) as 'on Newhaven ten small cottages' (Simington 1945, 4). 'Newhaven Towne' (village). The Civil Survey of Dublin refers to the proprietor of 'Breemore & Newhaven a fishing towne' as 'Matthew Barnewall of Breemor, Irish Papist'. It states that there were ten small cottages at Newhaven at this time. The census of Ireland for 1659 states there were 34 people living at Newhaven. A customs station was located at Newhaven from at least 1684 onwards to monitor the coastline and to try and control the illegal importation and exportation of goods. It is not clear if a customs boat or revenue cruiser was stationed at Newhaven harbour. The Hearth Money Rolls indicate that there were nine houses in Newhaven all with one hearth each. Newhaven is also listed on Herman Molls 1714 map of Dublin several other eighteenth century maps. It is also on Duncan's 1821 of Dublin and therefore may still have continued in use as a harbour throughout the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Newhaven is not recorded on the 1st OS 6' map and therefore appears to have gone out of use by this time. There is no indication of a settlement on Bremore headland by 1841. Geophysical survey (Licence no. 06R0050) delimited the archaeological activity to an area 180m NE/SW and comprises a series of dividing ditches, possible buildings or animal pens visible. These possible bugage plots appear to open onto a metalled trackway (68m l. x 8.5m w.) to the south (Gimson 2006, 8). Compiled by: Geraldine Stout Updated by: Christine Baker Date of upload: 16 April 2015