Lurgan is a prosperous and flourishing manufacturing town in the north-east corner of the County Armagh. It is situated twenty miles S.W. from the city of Belfast, on the line of the Great Northern Railway, and a mile and a-half south from Lough Neagh. The population of Lurgan, according to the last census, was 11.447. The correctness of these figures have been often questioned, the general belief being that the population is over 12,000. The annual valuation of rateable property in the township amounts to £21,571 5s. and this amount is slowly but steadily on the increase. In the year 1831 the population of Lurgan was 3,760 and the rateable property was then £5,576, and since that time both the population and valuation has almost quadrupled.

The municipal affairs of Lurgan are managed by a Board of fifteen Commissioners, incorporated under the Towns Improvement Act of 1854, and the general cleanly appearance of the streets are evidence of the fostering care of the Municipal Board. The town is not picturesque in its appearance, but its fine open main street, particularly from the Church to High Street, is a very observable feature in the construction and formation of the town. The clearance of the old Market House, the last of the buildings that stood in the centre of Market Street, and was known as the Middle Row, has added much to the appearance of the town, in addition to the increased street accommodation available for fairs and markets, the former being held on the second Thursday of each month, and the markets each alternate Thursday. The weekly market and monthly fair are improving, and though the main street is very wide, it is taxed to its upmost, particularly on the days that the fair and market are held together.

The antiquated and unreliable means in the past of obtaining water from public pumps and other sources, has been dispensed with, and the Town Board, in accordance with more enlightened scientific principles, has, at a cost of nearly £30,000, completed new waterworks, from which an unlimited supply of pure water can be obtained from Castors’ Bay, an intake of Lough Neagh. The new works were opened in 1894, and they are pronounced to be the finest in the United Kingdom. The advantages of the water supply for domestic purposes is considerably enhanced, considering the facilities afforded to many industries for their development in the interests of the town.

Brownlow House and demesne, some 500 acres in extent, lying in close proximity to the town, being now in the hands of a local syndicate, improvements and increased building accommodation is expected in the near future. Lurgan may be said to be the cradle of the Linen industry, and to the success and skill of its inhabitants and the surrounding villages in the cambric and damask manufactory, and in later years the handkerchief hemstitching business is to be attributed the onward progress of the town, many manufacturers engaged in these industries having accumulated and amassed princely fortunes. Among the many depots of public industry in Lurgan are the extensive power-loom weaving factories of Mr. James Malcolm, D.L.; The Lurgan Weaving Company, Ltd., and that of Messrs. Johnston, Allen & Co., and the linen and cambric manufactories of Messrs. Robert Watson & Co., John Douglas & Son, Thomas Bell & Co., Mathers and Bunting, McCaughey & Co., James Clendinning & Sons, Richardson, Sons & Owden, and the hemstitching factories of the Lurgan Hemming and Veining Company, John Ross & Co., Thomas Faloon, James B. Hanna, J. Maxwell & Co., Murphy & Stevenson, and Mercer & Brown.The Banking Companies represented in Lurgan are the Ulster, the Northern, and the Belfast, each establishment having a branch office.

The Church of Ireland, standing in the centre of the town, is a large and commodious Gothic structure, and has a fine peal of eight bells, in addition to an illuminated clock, and from its commanding position is visible for a long distance. There is also a handsome and spacious Church of Ireland Mission Hall and Schoolhouse in John Street. There are, besides Lurgan College and the Model School, a large number of National Schools available for instruction, two of these being in immediate connection with St. Peter’s Church and St. Joseph’s Convent. There are also commodious houses of worship for Presbyterians, Methodists, Baptists, and Society of Friends, the Salvation Army, and Roman Catholics. The Town Hall is in Union Street, and contains a Lecture Hall, with platform at end with foot lights; a minor hall above large hall, and in the basement Town Clerk’s Office. Free Library and Museum Room attached, which was inaugurated during the year. The Mechanics’ Institute is a handsome structure, situate at the corner of Market Street and Union Street, and adjoins the Town Hall. In this building the Masonic body met. A new Masonic Hall is in contemplation, and will soon be added to the number of our public buildings. In connection with the institute there is a billiard-room and a well-equipped reading-room and library. The Petty Sessions are held in the County Courthouse fortnightly, the district embracing a large portion of the County Down. The Quarter Sessions for the northern portion of the County Armagh are also held four times a year in the County Building, William Street.

CLERGY AND GENTRY.
Allan, William James. Linwinney House
Bell, Samuel A. (J.P.). Bellvue House
Bell, Samuel (jun.). Solitude
Brownlow, Claude (J.P.) Brownlow House
Cuppage, Rev. Adam. Silverwood
Greer, Mrs. Wilderness
Greer, Mrs. Woodville
Harper, Rev. T. B. Rector of Ardmore
Johnston, John (J.P.) Chairman of Lurgan Board of Guardians. Hill Street
Kennedy, Rev. C. W. The Manse. Shankill
Liddell, William (J.P.). Banoge House. Donacloney
Liddell, William (jun.) Winona. Donacloney
Malcolm, James (J.P., D.L.) High Street
Murphy, Joseph (J.P.) William Street
McClure, W. W. (J.P.) Hill Street
McGlynn, B. (J.P.) Market Street
McNally, John (J.P.) Avenue Road
O'Hare, Rev. James (P.P.) North Street
O'Laughlin, R. S. (D.D.) The Rectory
O'Neill, W. J. (C.E.) Mile House
Waring, Colonel (J.P., D.L., M.P.) Waringstown

TOWN COMMISSIONERS
Malcolm, James (D.L.) Chairman. Gilchrist, John. McCaughey, John (J.P.). Dickson, John. Malcolmson, John. White, William. McGeown, Robert. Reburn, Thomas (J.P.). Mathers, Robert. Hopps, Thomas. Hazelton, Robert. Stevenson, A. W. Thompson, J. A. (V.S.). Dobson, John. Fleming, W. J.

TOWN CLERK:
Pollock, F. W.

TOWN SURVEYOR:
Shillington, Henry.

MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH:
Agnew, Dr.

SANITARY SUB-OFFICER AND TOWN CONSTABLE:
Dunwoody, J.

POST OFFICE
McLeary, Anna, Postmistress.
Lindsay, Mrs. Post-Office. Market Street

COURT HOUSE, Market street,
Malone, Mrs. Caretaker
Magahan, Frederick W. Clerk of Petty Sessions

CONSTABULARY

Gray, Alexander. District Inspector
Kirwan, James. Head Constable

Edward Street Station
Gallagher, Sergeant James
O'Farrell, Sergeant Thomas

Queen Street Station
Lockhart, Sergeant John
Lawlor, Sergeant James

Union Street Station
Harte, Sergeant Owen
Irwin, Sergeant W. J.
Kelly, Sergeant Henry
Richardson, Sergeant Robert

Ballinary Station
Walsh, Sergeant David

Derryadd Station
Pepper, Sergeant William

DISPENSARY

UNION WORKHOUSE
Calvert, James. Master
Calvert, Mrs. Matron
Darling, Dr. Medical Officer
Donaldson, James. Clerk
Donaldson, Edwin J. Assistant Clerk
Jones, Robert. Rate Collector
Taylor, John. Rate Collector
Twinam, R. Rate Collector

STAMP OFFICE, Market street,
Lindsay, Mrs.

BANKS

Belfast Banking Company, Market street.
Rogers, W.E. Manager.
Northern Banking Company, Market street.
Megarry, Henry. Manager.
Ulster Banking Company, Market street;.
Henderson, J. Manager
Lurgan Loan Bank Hill Street.
Baird, James
Lurgan Loan Bank North Street.
Hand, James

GAS WORKS, William street,
Tallentire, W. Manager.
Megahan, Fred W. Secretary.

PLACES OF WORSHIP

Parish Church,
O'Loughlin, Rev. R. S. (D.D.). Rector.
Langford, Rev. C. F. Curate.
Gahan, Rev. T. Curate.
Smythe, Mr. Organist.

1st. Presbyterian Church, High street.
Berkeley, Rev. L. E. Minister

2nd. Presbyterian Church, Hill street.
Kennedy Rev.C.W. Minister

Methodist Chapel, High street.
Oliver, Rev. James. Minister.
Whitaker, Rev. J.G. Minister.

Methodist Chapel, Queen Street
Moran, Rev. J. H. Minister.

Roman Catholic Chapel, North Street
O'Hare, Rev. James (P.P.)
McConville, Rev. M. B. (C.C.)
McConville, Rev. P. (C.C.)
McAllister, Rev. Daniel (C.C.)

Baptist Chapel, Union Street
Boyd, Rev. J.

SCHOOLS

Dougan, G. Inspector of National Schools. Doagh Road

Lurgan College (Under Watt's endowment, stands on the Lough Neagh Road)
Kirkpatrick, W. T. (M.A.) Head Master
Johnston, John (J.P.) Trustee
Malcolm, James (D.L.) Trustee
Vint, J. H.Trustee
Crawford, William (J.P.) Trustee

Free School
O'Loughlin, Dr. R. S. Dean of Dromore (D.D.), Patron
Howell, R. Teacher
Howell, Mrs Teacher

Hill Street National School
Kennedy, Rev. C. W. Patron
Shields, W. Teacher Boy's
Pollock, Miss Teacher Girl's

Model School
Speers, Solomon. Head Master
Keatley, W. G. First Assistant.
Collins, Eliabeth. Head Mistress Girl's School.
Greer, Julia. First Assistant, Girls' School
Gray, Mrs. Head Mistress, Infants' School.
Brown, Miss. First Assistant, Infants' School

St. Peter's National School
O'Hare, Rev. J. (P.P.). Patron,.
McConville, John. Teacher.

Lurgan National School
Hamill, Rev. Thomas (M.A.). Patron.
Shields, R. Teacher.
Cooney, Mrs. Teacher.

Ragged School
Marshall, Mrs. Teacher.

SCHOOL ATTENDANCE COMMITTEE
Malcolm, James (D.L.). Chairman
Pollock, John W. Secretary
O'Loughlin, Rev. Dr.
Hamill, Rev. T. M. (M.A.)
McCaughey, John (J.P.)
Magennis, Dr. E. (J.P.)
McNally, John (J.P.)
Thompson, John A.
Jordan, James
English, Mr. Hugh

RAILWAY STATION
Scarlet, J. Station Master.
Patrick, R. Head Porter.

MECHANIC'S INSTITUTE
Malcolm, James (D.L.) President.
Watson, C. Secretary.
Carson, William Librarian.

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