Hamiltonsbawn or Hamilton's Bawn is a village in County Armagh, Northern Ireland, five miles (8 km) east of Armagh. It lies within the civil parish of Mullabrack and the Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon District Council area. It had a population of 895 people (343 households) in the 2011 census.
History Name The name Hamiltonsbawn is associated with John Hamilton (–1639), a brother of Sir James Hamilton (–1644), who owned large estates in the area and reportedly established a number of settlements in County Armagh and County Cavan. Hamilton, who is reputed to have founded the settlement in the 17th century, had a fortified house and defensive courtyard (or bawn) in the area. The bawn was destroyed during the Irish Rebellion of 1641.
Pennsylvania connection The township of Hamiltonban in Adams County, Pennsylvania, was founded by a relative of John Hamilton in the mid-late 18th century, and reputedly named after Hamilton's Bawn.
Transport history Hamiltonsbawn railway station opened on 25 August 1864 and was closed on 1 February 1933. The Armagh rail disaster of 1889, which resulted in the deaths of at least 80 people, occurred on a stretch of the Newry and Armagh railway line near Hamiltonsbawn.
Amenities The local primary school, Hamiltonsbawn Primary School, is located on the Annareagh Road.
Notable people Seth Dunwoody, cyclist Vicky Irwin, rugby player with the Ireland women's national rugby union team Holly Lester, electronic dance music DJ
See also List of towns and villages in Northern Ireland Newtownhamilton, a village in County Armagh also associated with the Hamilton family
References
External links
Placenames Database of Ireland - Bábhún Hamaltún / Hamilton's Bawn Armagh towns (archived 2002)