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Gosford Forest Park | |
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Type | Public forest park |
Location | Markethill, County Armagh, Northern Ireland |
Nearest city | Armagh |
Coordinates | 54°18′09″N6°31′20″W / 54.3025°N 6.5221°W |
Area | c. 240 Hectares [1] |
Created | 1958 |
Operated by | Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council [2] |
Open | Daily (year-round) |
Gosford Forest Park is a forest park located outside Markethill, County Armagh, Northern Ireland. The park, previously Gosford Demesne, was acquired by the Department of Agriculture in 1958 and comprises some 240 hectares of diverse woodland and open parkland. Gosford Forest Park is also home to Gosford Castle. It was designated the first conservation forest in Northern Ireland in 1986.
In the early 17th century, the Acheson family came to the Markethill area, and built a substantial farmhouse near what is now the town of Markethill. The family came from Monmouthshire and the present[ when? ] Earl of Weymes is related to the Achesons who later became the Earls of Gosford.[ citation needed ] When they came to the area first, they brought with them 13 families, and some of the family names still survive in the area, including Galbraith and Greer.[ citation needed ] One of the two forts (or rath s) in Gosford Forest was named after the Greer family who farmed the land in that area.[ citation needed ]
The first dwelling place of the Achesons was burned down; this house was near the town of Markethill which the family were responsible for founding. In 1610, the family were granted the lands of the present estate. They proceeded to build another house using locally procured, hand-made, red brick. This house was named Clonkearney Manor after the townland in which it was built. The path to this site is up near the ponds, but only a portion of the red brick foundations is now visible.[ citation needed ] This house was reputed to have been burned down during the Williamite wars in the mid-17th century.
The estate is now owned by the Forest Service and has a number of visitor facilities and a café.[ citation needed ] It also houses one of Northern Ireland's largest collections of rare breeds.[ clarification needed ]
Gosford Castle was renovated into 23 new homes.[ citation needed ]
In 1989, Gosford Forest Park hosted the Irish Scout Jamboree, "Gosford '89", which was attended by over 3,000 scouts from around the world, including contingents from Canada, Japan and the United States. [3]
Facilities in the park include a camping and caravanning site, [4] picnic and barbecue areas, a tea house and shop and a function hall.[ citation needed ] There are way-marked walking trails in the park and also horse-riding and orienteering routes.[ citation needed ]
Gosford is a waterfront city at the northern end of Brisbane Water on the Central Coast in the state of New South Wales, Australia. The Gosford Waterfront is known for its boating and scenic views on the shores of Brisbane Water. Gosford is the main commercial hub and gateway of the Central Coast. It is situated approximately 77 km (48 mi) north of Sydney and 86 km (53 mi) south of Newcastle. Gosford is located in the local government area of the Central Coast Council.
County Armagh is one of the six counties of Northern Ireland and one of the traditional thirty-two counties of Ireland. It is located in the province of Ulster and adjoins the southern shore of Lough Neagh. It borders the Northern Irish counties of Tyrone to the west and Down to the east. The county borders Louth and Monaghan to the south and southwest, which are in the Republic of Ireland. It is named after its county town, Armagh, which derives from the Irish Ard Mhacha, meaning "Macha's height". Macha was a sovereignty goddess in Irish mythology and is said to have been buried on a wooded hill around which the town of Armagh grew. County Armagh is colloquially known as the "Orchard County" because of its many apple orchards.
Archibald Acheson, 2nd Earl of Gosford,, styled The Honourable Archibald Acheson from 1790 to 1806 and Lord Acheson from 1806 to 1807, was a British politician who served as Lieutenant-Governor of Lower Canada and Governor General of British North America in the 19th century.
Earl of Gosford is a title in the Peerage of Ireland. It was created in 1806 for Arthur Acheson, 2nd Viscount Gosford.
Portumna is a market town in the south-east of County Galway, Ireland, on the border with and linked by a bridge to County Tipperary. The town is located to the west of the point where the River Shannon enters Lough Derg. This historic crossing point over the River Shannon between counties Tipperary and Galway has a long history of bridges and ferry crossings. On the south-western edge of the town lie Portumna Castle and Portumna forest park.
George Montagu, 6th Duke of Manchester DL, known as Viscount Mandeville from 1799 to 1843, was a British peer and Tory Member of Parliament.
William Drogo Montagu, 7th Duke of Manchester KP, known as Lord Kimbolton from 1823 to 1843 and as Viscount Mandeville from 1843 to 1855, was a British peer and Conservative Member of Parliament.
Scouting in Northern Ireland is represented by three Scouting associations:
Markethill is a village in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. It is beside Gosford Forest Park. It had a population of 1,647 people in the 2011 census.
Gosford Castle is a 19th-century country house situated in Gosford, a townland of Markethill, County Armagh, Northern Ireland. It was built for Archibald Acheson, 2nd Earl of Gosford, and designed in the Norman revival style by London architect Thomas Hopper. It is a Grade A listed building, and is said to be Ulster's largest. The Earls of Gosford occupied the castle until 1921, and the estate was later purchased by the Ministry of Agriculture to form Gosford Forest Park. The building subsequently deteriorated and in 2006 was sold to a development company who converted the castle into private dwellings.
Meigh is a small village and townland near Slieve Gullion in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. It had a population of 444 people in the 2001 Census. It lies within the Newry, Mourne and Down District Council area.
Mullaghbrack, Mullabrack or Mullaghbrac is a small civil parish, townland and village in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. The village of Mullaghbrack is on the road between Markethill and Hamiltonsbawn, just north of Gosford Forest Park. It had a population of 54 people in the 2011 census, down from 75 people as of the 2001 census.
Belleeks is a small village and townland in south County Armagh, Northern Ireland. In the 2011 Census it had a reported population of 375. It lies within the Newry, Mourne and Down District Council area and the historic barony of Upper Fews.
Charles David Alexander John Sparrow Acheson, 7th Earl of Gosford is a British peer and artist. He was a member of the House of Lords from 1966 to 1999.
Archibald Brabazon Sparrow Acheson, 4th Earl of Gosford, was a British peer.
Archibald Acheson, 3rd Earl of Gosford KP, styled Viscount Acheson between 1807 and 1849, was a British peer and Member of Parliament.
Sir Archibald Acheson of Glencairn, Lord Glencairn, 1st Baronet, was a Scottish jurist.
Louisa Augusta Beatrice Acheson, Countess of Gosford, was the wife of the 4th Earl of Gosford.
Worlingham Hall is a Grade I listed Georgian country house in Worlingham, 1 mile (1.6 km) to the east of Beccles in the English county of Suffolk. The hall was built in the 18th century, possibly based on an earlier 17th century house, and as of 2014 is a country house hotel.
Killeavy Castle is a Grade A listed 19th-century castle in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. It was built for the Foxall family between 1810 and 1820 and was later designed to resemble Gosford Castle in Markethill, also in County Armagh. Plans for castle's restoration were announced in 2013 with a £1 million grant from Invest Northern Ireland.