Historic town

The National Monuments Service's description

During the seventeenth century plantation of Donegal, 1000 acres in Letterkenny was granted to Captain Crawford. Near to his house Sir George Merbury 'hath erected a market town called Letterkenny, consisting of 50 thatched houses whereof 13 have clay and stone walls, and one watermill (DG053-044)' (Treadwell 1954-5, 41). This settlement was described in the 1654 Civil Survey of Donegal as 'there is therein a Towne called Litterkenny wch hath a Markett every ffryday,and two faires in the yeare wth a Larg dwelling Stone house (DG053-042002-) haveing a Bawne (DG053-042001-) of fower fla[n]ckers a fair Church (DG043-043001-) And a bridg[e] (DG053-042004-) at the End of the sd. towne over the sd. River of Swolly'. The seventeenth century town of Letterkenny had a constable and stocks (Hunter 1981, 67) which suggests that there was gaol in the old town. According to the Down Survey (1655-6) barony map the barony of Kilmacrenan had 'Three Considerable Townes therein The first being a Markett Towne namely Latterkenny'. The 19th century C of I church known as Conwal church and graveyard appear to have been built on the site of the 17th century parish church (DG053-043001-) and graveyard (DG053-043002-) which contains seventeenth century graveslabs (DG053-043003/004-). Site of historic town can be located on the footprint of the modern town along with evidence of placenames such as Fort Well (DG053-042003-) and Castle Garden which refer to the seventeenth century plantation bawn (DG053-042001-) located in the historic town of Letterkenny. Castle Street running S from the C of I church down towards the Market Square originally ran down to the castle which appears to have been located near the S angle of Mount Southwell. On the latest ed. OS 6-inch maps there is an area marked as Castle Gardens and Fort Well. These two placenames appear to mark the location of the seventeenth century house and bawn. There is a large two storey house beside Castle Gardens which may have been built on the site of the castle. There is a large stone wall enclosing this house which may have been part of the 17th century plantation castle.

Bibliography
Treadwell, V. W. (1954-5), 'The Plantation of Donegal - A Survey', Donegal Annual, 41.
Hunter, R. J. (1981), 'Ulster Plantation Towns, 1609-41' pp. 55-80, in The Town in Ireland (eds.) D. Harkness and M. O'Dowd.

Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien
Date of upload/revision: : 19 July 2010