Bawn in Ballynahown

The 1656 Down Survey map of Kilcleagh Parish depicts a ‘Castle (WM035-010----) in repaire & Towne’ in ‘Ballenihone/Killemoyllchan’ which roughly corresponds with the present demesne lands of Ballynahown Court (NLI MS 723-4). On this map a castle and bawn are depicted in the SW quadrant of Ballynahown townland which does not correspond with the area of woodland to the E of Ballynahown Court. A ‘mill (WM035-011002-) in repair’ is also shown standing along a mill race located in close proximity to the castle and bawn. The terrier of the Down Survey map of Killcleagh parish states that in Ballynahown there was ‘a Castle and a large Bawne in repaire with a good Mill’ (NLI MS 723-4). In 1641 the lands of ‘Ballenihone Killemoyllchan’ amounting to 470 acres of land were in the possession of Catherin[e] Malone al[ia]s Pettit who was listed as an ‘Irish Papist’. The lands of Ballynahown were described in the Down Survey as consisting of a mixture of pasture, meadow, arable and rocky land. The precise location of the castle, bawn, mill and mill race has not been identified within the townland of Ballynahown. Compiled by: Caimin O’Brien Date of upload: 08 August 2014