History of the Village

History of Village

Up until 400 years ago the site of the village of Hillsborough and the surrounding land revealed forest and swamp with a cluster of wattle huts, on the banks of a winding stream from which the place took its name, Cromlyn, the 'Crooked Glen'. Close by were the ruins of an ancient chapel dedicated to Saint Malachi. In the 16C, records refer to the land as the Territory of Kilwarlin, The area was known as Magennis country, and the old Irish family held power here for generations, controlling the important Pass of Kilwarlin, on the road to Dublin from the north. In 1573, Sir Moyses Hill, an officer in the army of Queen Elizabeth I, arrived in Ireland. He took possession of the village of 'Cromlyn' from the Magenesses in 1611 and this was the first step in a process which would result in the Hill family becoming among the most rich and influential landlords in Ireland. The village takes its name from Colonel Arthur Hill, who completed the building of Hillsborough Fort in 1650.

Hillsborough Fort (1650) was built on the old Magennes Stronghold, and commanded the strategic pass of Kilwarlin. King William of Orange used the fort in 1690, on his way to the Battle of the Boyne. The gatehouse is an impressive 2 storey building with brick dressings, battlements and tall square corner towers. It was given to the state by the Hill family in 1959, and is now located at the entrance to Hillsborough Forest Park which is open to the public and features Hillsborough Lake, home to ducks and elegant swans.

Wills Hill, the First Marquis of Downshire (1718-1793), virtually rebuilt Hillsborough to bring it into the Georgian style, and this has resulted in the settlement being the most complete Georgian village in Ireland today. He built Hillsborough Castle, which became the Hill's family seat in Ireland. Completed in the 1790's, this Irish country mansion, unlike other grand houses of their day, is situated almost on the main street, revealing that the Hill family identified very much with their tenantry. Successive generations spent much of their money on improving the lot of their tenants, especially during the Great Famine of the 1840's, and this has resulted in the family still being held in high esteem in this area. Hillsborough Castle was sold to the new Northern Ireland Government in 1922, following Irish Partition and it became the home of successive governors of Northern Ireland. Now, this 18C country mansion is home to the Secretary of State and is the official residence of the Royal Family when they reside in the province.

The first Marquis of Downshire also restored and enlarged Saint Malachy's Parish Church in 1772. Wills Hill had hoped that this church would be accorded cathedral status, however this honour was granted to the then parish church in the nearby town of Dromore. Nevertheless, St. Malachy's Parish Church, superbly situated on a hillside off the Main Street, is described as one of the best 18C churches in Ireland and widely regarded as one of the finest examples of Gothic Revival architecture in Ireland.

Wills Hill was also responsible for constructing the Market House in 1760 which later became the Courthouse and is now home to the Tourist Information Centre in the centre of the village. The Presbyterian Church in Lisburn Street was originally built in 1832, and rebuilt in 1885.