Written in 1836
Ardcalf — Ard Coll — The height of the Hazels. It is pronounced locally as Ardcalph. It contains 504 acres and is the property of Mr. Adair. All cultivated except for about 8¾ acres of plantation in its SW part. Barley is grown.
Brittstown — Britt is a family name. But it could be a memory of the wooden tower called a Bretesche which the Anglo Normans erected on top of the Motte nearby. It is the property of the Conynghams. It Contains 155 Acres.
Bryanstown — Baile Bhriain — Brian’s Town. The property of Lord Claremount and contains 275 acres. Leases for 25 years. The highest part of the townland is 445 feet above sea level. There is a quarry in its SW part.
Carrickdexter — De Exters Rock. There is no other name. Here there is an old castle belonging to Lord O’Neill. Contains 374 acres including 95 acres of uncultivated and 22 acres of plantation. This townland has wide divergencies above sea level from 65 feet to 409 feet. Several plantations along the river Boyne. 44 perches south from Drogheda – Navan road is a large limestone quarry. 21 perches north of the river are the ruins of an old castle. About the centre of the townland is an ancient wayside cross.
Cashel — A stone fort – contains 298 acres.
Castleparks — The property of Conyngham and contains 269 acres including about 29 acres of uncultivated land and 20½ acres of plantation. No leases. Craig Baron is the highest part of this townland and is 409 feet above sea level. Most of the north west part is rocky.
Coal Pits — Poll a’Ghuail — Hole of the coal – so called because a shaft was sunk here in search of coal. Contains 116 acres and is the property of the Marquis of Conyngham. Let to tenants at 21/- per Irish Acre.
Commons — Coimin — Sir William Petty’s map called it “The Comon of ye Hill” It contains 234 acres all cultivated. Above its centre is a small gravel pit.
Davidstown — Baile Dhaidhe. Property of Sir Wm. Somerville and contains 203 acres and no leases. Fieldstown — No Irish name heard of here. The property of Mr. Hamilton it contains 54 acres and all is cultivated. It is let to tenants at 24/- to 36/- per acre
Furry Hill — Mullach Altinne – the Hill of the Furze. Conyngham owns it. Contains 136 acres all cultivated.
Harlinstown — Harlin is a family name. Contains 178 acres and belongs to the Marquis of Conyngham. Its roads are in good repair. The village of Harlinstown comprises a few ground floor thatched houses made of mud. Near a junction of the roads from Drumconrath and Kells to Slane. Harlinstown House is a neat ground floor slated farmhouse at an intersection of the road.
Higginstown — Baile Ui Uiginn — 197 acres of well cultivated land, the property of Mr. Rodgers. Let without leases at 20/- to 30/- per acre. The farm produce is wheat, oats, barley, flax and potato. The principle grain market is Drogheda.
Devlin’s Bridge is at the North East on the Slane to Collon road. 14 perches from it is the corn mill, three storied and in good repair the property of John Devlin, the miller. The wheel is an overshoot, 14 feet in diameter and 41 feet in breath. The buckets are 10 inches deep. There are two pairs of stones, each five foot in diameter and the average quantity ground each week is 60 barrels. The miller only grinds his own corn which he purchases from the neighbouring farmers. The amount of cess levied at the spring assizes of 1836 was £10-6-0. The number of cess payers is 14.
Knockerke — Cnoc Adhairce — Hill of the Horn. Contains 465 acres the property of Miss Williams.
Knockmooney — Cnocan mHaonaigh — Mooney’s Hillock. Contains 147 Acres all cultivated. The property of Mr Cammock. The old and new roads from Slane to Collon pass through its west side.
Mooretown — Murthan Na gCrann — Mooretown of the trees. Also called Baile Gan Gortach – the scarce or starving townland. Contains 204 acres, the property of Sir P.Bellew. The village of Mooretown is in its southern part. The lowest part of this townland is 188 feet above sea level. It contains 12 ground floor thatched poor looking cottages. A taste for cleanliness seems absent from this hamlet.
Mulladellin — Mullach Dioluin — Dillon’s Hilltop. Contains 264 acres the property of Conynghams. There is a stone quarry in its Northern part. It is 334 to 497 feet above sea level.
Newrath — Rath Nua – Contains 195 acres all cultivated except for about 6 acres of plantation in its N part. About its centre is a small quarry.
Rathmaiden — Rath Mic Criathain – MacCrehin’s fort. Locally it is called Rathmacreehan. O’Donovan says Rathmaiden is a vile corruption. There are several graves to the people of the name Rigmaiden in the protestant churchyard. It contains 257 acres and is the property of the widow Delaney. In its upper part it has a small stone quarry. There is a small motte in the townland.
Rushwee — Rois Bhuidhe – the yellow wood or shrubbery. Contains 105 acres. All cultivated. No leases. Rents 28/- to 50/- per Irish Acre. Property of the Conynghams. Contains a Roman Catholic chapel and a school. Rushwee village contains some 14 detached ground floor houses.
Slane Castle Demesne — Contains 563 acres and belongs to Conyngham. 19 acres are a portion of the river Boyne. It is let at 40/- and 50/- per Irish acre. The town of Slane is in its south east part, having at its north side Mount Charles, a clump, a neat two story slated house. The river Boyne bounds this townland at its south over which is Slane Bridge on the Dublin Road and 48 perches East is Slane flour mills, in excellent repair. 5 perches further east is the Mill house, a two storied slated house. In the south east of the townland is Janeville Cottage, also two storied and slated. Both of these houses are in very bad repair. On the north side of the village are two limestone quarries.
Slane Village — This is a small neat village, containing 64 houses, a church, chapel and three schools. Five of the houses are three storied, 41 are two storied and 9 are 1 storied. Only one is thatched. The rest are slated. The trades represented are five carpenters, three blacksmiths, one mason, one slater, eight shoemakers, two tailors, one butcher, twelve publicans and eight grocers. There is a fairly comfortable inn which is much frequented by people going to and coming from Dublin, who having to make a journey too long to execute in one day stop a night in Slane. It is a post town and a fair village. A market held on Thursdays was granted by Charles II but this has been discontinued for a long time. The mail coach from Dublin to Derry arrives at 10.30pm . A mailbag from Collon and Drogheda is despatched at 7.00am each morning. Four fairs are held by charter on 2nd April, 2nd June, 12th September and 8th November for the sale of horses, cattle, sheep, pigs, hardware etc. No tolls or customs are extracted. A Strabane and Omagh coach plies through Slane.
Slane and District History Society 