Wicklow town – Pigot’s Directory of Ireland 1824
In the county of the same name, is a small irregularly built seaport, situated 24 miles south south east of Dublin, eight miles north east of Rathdrum, and 16 miles north of Arklow. It has a court house, gaol, market house, and a handsome stone church; the Catholics, Calvinists and Methodists have each a chapel, and the Quakers a meeting house.
The assizes are held twice a year, it being the county town, and the sessions quarterly. There are two Roman Catholic free schools, in which 200 children are educated in reading, writing, and arithmetic. There was also formerly a Protestant free school, but it has failed for want of funds to keep it in repair and support a master. The barrack is situated in the middle of the town, and holds a company of soldiers; and the inhabitants have a tradition among them, that King James lodged in the front part of it, when he held his court at
Wicklow town, Co. Wicklow from Pigot’s Directory of Ireland of 1824,
Wicklow after the memorable battle of the Boyne. The imports are rock-salt, limestone, coals, and slates; the exports are copper ore, corn, live stock, hides, salt, &c. There are about 40 fishing boats belonging to this port, but the bar has only ten feet depth at high water. The ballast board offered to make a good harbour, if the corporation would give up their harbour dues; but this was refused. The old castle, built on a rock rising perpendicular from the sea, it is said, was once a place of great strength, and built by Maurice Fitzmaurice at the time of Strongbow’s invasion of Ireland; it appears to have been of a triangular form, with the sea on two sides, and a deep ravine with a drawbridge on the other. A new road from Wicklow to Arklow, will, when finished, save the mail five miles, and avoid the mountainous road, which it now travels. The market day is Saturday. Population about 2200.
POST OFFICE – Post Master, Mr. William Nolan. The Dublin Mail leaves at nine in the evening in Summer, and at eight in winter. The Newtown-Mountkennedy, Bray, Rathdrum, and Arklow mails are despatched at the same time. Letters for these mails should be put into the office by half past seven the same evening Continue reading
