Eglinton, County Londonderry facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Eglinton
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 Eglinton
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| Population | 3,571 (2021 Census) |
| • Belfast | 58 mi (93 km) |
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| Country | Northern Ireland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | LONDONDERRY |
| Postcode district | BT47 |
| Dialling code | 028 |
| EU Parliament | Northern Ireland |
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Eglinton is a village located in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It's about 5.5 miles (8.9 km) east-north-east of Derry. Many people who work in Derry live in Eglinton, making it a "sleeper village." The village is also about 9.5 miles (15.3 km) west-south-west of Limavady. It is part of the Derry and Strabane area. The City of Derry Airport, also known as Eglinton Aerodrome, is very close to the village.
Eglinton has a beautiful church, an old market house, and trees around a village green. You can also see four oak trees that came from Windsor Great Park. The River Muff flows through the village. Just south of Eglinton is Muff Glen, a lovely wooded area. If you like watching birds, the mud flats at Lough Foyle are a great spot. Many seabirds and waders come there to feed when the tide is low.
Contents
History of Eglinton Village
The village of Eglinton was first known by different names like Muff or Moigh. These names came from an old Irish word meaning "the plain." This was the name of the land where the village started.
Founding of the Village
Eglinton was founded in 1619 by a group from London called the Worshipful Company of Grocers. This was part of the Plantation of Ulster, a plan by King James I to settle more people in Ulster. In 1609, the Grocers were given a large area of land in Faughanvale parish. They didn't farm the land themselves. Instead, they leased it to Edward Rone in 1615. He agreed to build a strong wall (called a bawn) and 12 houses by 1619.
Edward Rone passed away in 1618. His brother-in-law, Robert Harrington, continued the work. By 1619, a castle-like house and a bawn with four towers were built in Muff. By 1622, all the required buildings were finished.
The Castle and Conflicts
The castle was actually a fortified house with a strong wall. It was attacked in 1641 during the English Civil War. Soldiers from Derry later helped defend it. However, it eventually fell into the hands of the Parliament's army, who took it apart. During the Siege of Derry, King James's troops briefly used the castle while looking for supplies.
The ruins of the castle were still standing until 1823. That's when the current Rectory building was built on the same spot. Today, the only parts left of the old castle are the cellars under the Rectory.
Village Churches
The Church of Ireland built its first church in the village, Faughanvale Parish Church, in 1626. A new, larger Parish Church was built in 1821. The ruins of the old church can still be seen in the nearby graveyard.
The Presbyterian Church also built its first church in 1730. Before this, the people attended church in Derry. The original Presbyterian church was in the Tullanee area, just east of the village. The much larger Faughanvale Presbyterian Church was built in 1894. People who had moved to the United States helped with donations. Nothing remains of the first Presbyterian church, which was located where the church graveyard is now.
Changing the Name to Eglinton
At one time, there were several places called Muff, including one nearby in Donegal. This caused a lot of confusion. So, the people of the village decided to change its name. On August 19, 1858, the village of Muff officially became Eglinton. This was done to honor the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, the 13th Earl of Eglinton. He was visiting the Templemoyle Agricultural School nearby at the time. This school taught new farming methods and was open from 1826 to 1865. The building later became a nursing home in the 1990s.
Old Buildings and Families
One of the oldest buildings still standing is Foyle Park House, built in 1813. David Babington built it after renting land from the Grocers' Company. He planted many trees around the house to shelter it. For a while, Babington used the house as a school.
When Babington's lease ended, the Grocers' Company took over Foyle Park. It became their main office until the 1870s. Then, a man named James Davidson bought the entire village from the Grocers' Company. This included the Foyle Park Estate. The Davidson family owned Foyle Park for over 100 years, selling it in 2011.
Another old building is the Erasmus Smith schoolhouse, built in 1814. It is now a private home. The Grocers' Company rebuilt much of the village between 1823 and 1825. They built the Rectory, a Courthouse (which was also a market house), and a Manor House for their agent. They also built the Glen House. All these buildings can still be seen today. They also built small homes for widows, once called Widow's Row, and houses for tradesmen along Main Street. The Grocers' Company sold the village in 1874 to James Davidson. His family still lives in the Manor House.
Eglinton During World War II
During the Second World War, RAF Eglinton was an important air base. Many Royal Air Force and Royal Navy personnel were stationed there. You can still see some old buildings around the village that show their presence. The airfield was key for flights over the North Atlantic Ocean. These flights looked for enemy submarines and protected ships carrying supplies. Several aircraft crashed near the village and airfield. Some pilots and aircrew are buried in the local church graveyards.
Getting Around Eglinton
- The Eglinton railway station was open from 1852 to 1973.
- The City of Derry Airport, which used to be RAF Eglinton, is very close by.
- The A2 road between the City of Derry Airport and Maydown has been made into a dual carriageway. This road runs between the village and Derry city.
- Derry city buses have stops on Eglinton's main street.
- Trains on the Belfast–Derry line of Northern Ireland Railways pass through Eglinton. However, they do not stop because the station has not reopened yet.
People of Eglinton
Population Information (2021 Census)
On March 21, 2021, there were 3,571 people living in Eglinton.
- About 57.69% of residents were from a Catholic background.
- About 37.19% were from a Protestant or other Christian background.
Population Information (2011 Census)
On March 27, 2011, Eglinton had 3,679 people living in 1,315 homes. This was a 16% increase from the 2001 population of 3,165.
- 25.5% of the people were under 16 years old.
- 9.6% were 65 years old or older.
- 49.8% of the population were male, and 50.2% were female.
- 53.3% were from a Catholic background.
- 42.7% were from a Protestant or other Christian background.
- 4.9% of people aged 16–74 were unemployed.
Famous People from Eglinton
- Jason Smyth: A Paralympic gold medalist, famous for his achievements in athletics.
- Tom Gallaher: He founded the well-known tobacco company, Gallaher Group. His family lived in The Glen House in Eglinton.
Images for kids
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Eglinton Parish Church
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Faughanvale Presbyterian Church
See also
In Spanish: Eglinton para niños
