Saintfield

Saintfield
County Down
Main Street, Saintfield
Location
Location:	54°27’36"N, 5°49’48"W
Data
Population:	3,381  (2011)
Post town:	Ballynahinch
Postcode:	BT24
Dialling code:	028
Local Government
Council:	Newry, Mourne and Down
Parliamentary constituency:	Strangford

Saintfield is a village in County Down, about halfway between Belfast and Downpatrick on the A7 road. It had a population of 3,381 in the 2011 Census.

Saintfield's population is made up mostly of commuters working in both south and central Belfast, which is about 11 miles away. The population of the surrounding countryside is mostly involved in farming.

Running east to west across the A7 is the B6 road, and to the west of this crossroads is Main Street, which takes one towards Lisburn and Ballynahinch, and to the east is Station Road which takes one towards Killyleagh.

History

The area that is now Saintfield was historically called Tawnaghneeve or similar, from the Irish language Tamhnaigh Naomh, meaning 'Holy field' or 'Saint's field'. The village itself though is a later creation.

Saintfield was originally an early 17th-century settlement, from which the parish church survives. The present town form of Saintfield dates back to the early 18th century and the establishment of linen manufacturing and other trades by the Price family. The village had a number of corn, flour and flax mills, the remains of which are visible today, and has retained a tradition of textile manufacture through Saintfield Yarns. The architectural and historic significance of the town centre is reflected in its designation as a Conservation Area in 1997.

United Irishmen Plaque, Saintfield

The rebellion by the Society of United Irishmen in 1798 quickly spread to Ulster. The United Irishmen had been founded in 1791 by liberal Protestants in Belfast, but soon became dominated by Roman Catholics form the south, though in Ulster a leadership of Protestant Presbyterians remained. On 9 June 1798, a British government force was ambushed in a wood near Saintfield. About 100 men were killed altogether, and the United Irishmen emerged victorious. The headstones of men who were killed in this battle can be seen near the river at the bottom of the 1st Presbyterian Church graveyard.

The Lewis Topographical Dictionary (1837) wrote of the Market Hall in Saintsfield:

The proprietor and lord of the manor, N. Price, Esq., improved the town in 1802, when he erected a large market-house and hotel, since which time Saintfield has been rapidly improving, and is now one of the most flourishing towns in the county.

Places of interest

Rowallane Garden

• The Rowallane Garden is situated just outside the village. The exotic gardens were started over 100 years ago, and are now in the care of the National Trust.
• The old White Horse Inn also sits on the main street. Many of the buildings on the main street have old stables and courtyards behind them.
• The Market House (now an Orange Hall) and the Hotel (now a private house) can be seen on Main Street.
• 1st Presbyterian Church on Main Street was built in 1777, but a community of Presbyterian Christians had been worshipping there since the 1600s.
• The Assumption Youth Hall opposite the above church was initially the village's Roman Catholic church and was built at around the same time as the renovated Presbyterian Church in 1777. The chapel was later moved down the road to a bigger site and the former Immaculate Heart Chapel is the Assumption Youth Hall, where local Gaelic cultural activities take place.

Churches

Though a relatively small village, Saintfield has five well-attended churches:

• Church of Ireland
• Presbyterian:
  • First Saintfield Presbyterian Church
  • Second Saintfield Presbyterian Church
• Baptist: Saintfield Baptist Church
• Roman Catholic: Mary, Mother of the Church

Sport

• Badminton; 2nd Saintfield Badminton Club
• Bowling: Saintfield Bowling Club
• Cricket: Saintfield Cricket Club
• Fishing: Carrickmannon Lake
• Football:
  • Saintfield United Football Club
  • Saintfield AYC Football Club
• Gaelic Athletics: St Mochais GAC
• Hockey:
  • Saintfield Mens Hockey Club
  • Saintfield Ladies Hockey Club

Big Society

• 1st Saintfield Scouts, based in Saintfield Parish Hall
• Saintfield Heritage Society (SHS)
• Saintfield Development Association (SDA)

Outside links

("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Saintfield)

• DiscoverSaintfield.com
• Saintfield Heritage Society
• First Saintfield Presbyterian Church
• Second Saintfield Presbyterian Church
• Saintfield United FC

References

• Saintfield Heritage - a publication of the Saintfield Heritage Society. Books 1 - 7. Book 7 ISBN 0-9508620-6-1