The Ordnance Survey Memoirs are a uniquely detailed source for the history of the northern half of Ireland immediately before the Great Famine. They were written in the 1830s to accompany the 6" Ordnance Survey maps, but with one exception were not published at the time. In this new edition they act as a nineteenth-century Domesday book and are essential to the understanding of the cultural heritage of our communities. The Memoirs document the landscape and situation, buildings and antiquities, land-holdings and population, employment and livelihood of the parishes.
This volume contains the Memoirs for four coastal parishes in east Antrim, covering the village of Whitehead and smaller areas of Ballycarry and Glynn. This region, straddling both Larne and Belfast Loughs, was well furnished with mills and landing-places for goods, while its gentlemen's seats contrasted well with the rich antiquities of the countryside. Social life is equally well documented, with details of public societies, schools and emigration. Together these Memoirs provide a unique insight into life in this area over one hundred and fifty years ago.