DRAPERSTOWN

Samuel Lewis

A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland

1837

DRAPERSTOWN, or CROSS of BALLYNASCREEN, a market and post-town, in the parish of BALLYNASCREEN, barony of LOUGHINSHOLIN, county of LONDONDERRY, and province of ULSTER, 30 miles (S. E. by S.) from Londonderry, and 101 (N. by W.) from Dublin, on the road from Newtown-Stewart to Tubbermore; containing 412 inhabitants. In 1818, its name was changed from Cross to Draperstown, in consequence of its principally belonging to the Drapers' Company, under whose auspices a spacious market-house, hotel, and dispensary for their tenants, with surgeon's residence, are being built, chiefly in the Elizabethan style, and of freestone. The market is on Wednesday; and a fair for general farming stock is held on the first Friday in each month, and was established in 1792. The post-office is under Tubbermore, from which it is three miles distant; and here is a constabulary police station. The parochial church and school are situated in the town, and there is a general dispensary.—See BALLYNASCREEN.

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