Acton, County Armagh

Acton Lake

Acton (Irish: An Chora Uachtarach) is a hamlet and townland in County Armagh, Northern Ireland, about a half mile north of Poyntzpass. It is situated within the Armagh City and District Council area. It had a population of 72 people (28 households) in the 2011 Census.[1]

History

The village was founded in the 17th century, during the Plantation of Ulster, by Sir Toby Poyntz. He was the son of Lieutenant Charles Poyntz, who, for his military services, obtained a 500 acres (2.0 km2) grant of land that had been confiscated from the O'Hanlons by the English. The Irish called the area An Chora Uachtarach, meaning "the upper weir".[2] There he built a bawn 100 feet (30 m) square, a house of brick and lime for himself, and 24 cottages for so many English settlers. He renamed the place Acton, after the Poyntz family home in Gloucestershire.[3] By 1837 it contained about 50 houses "indifferently built".

References

  1. ↑ "Acton". Census 2011 Results. NI Statistics and Research Agency. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
  2. ↑ Place-Names NI
  3. ↑ Placenames Database of Ireland

External links

Coordinates: 54°31′N 6°38′W / 54.517°N 6.633°W

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