Discover Hilltown

Hilltown brings together themes from different eras: the history of a planned village, church buildings, a prehistoric tomb and a historic smuggling route. If you are planning a stay, these different highlights can help you choose a destination.

Churches and Village History

St. John's Parish Church was completed in 1766 and was the first building constructed in the planned village of Hilltown. Its construction date and early place in the village plan connect two aspects: the church is part of the history of the town’s planning as well as Hilltown’s architectural history. The interior features neoclassical woodwork and original pews. These design features complement the building’s historic role and give the interior a distinct focus alongside its completion date.

Main Street and Landscape

The buildings on Hilltown’s Main Street are mostly two storeys high and have slate roofs. Their height and roofing material offer different clues to the character of the street. Unlike individual churches, the focus here is on the streetscape as a whole. The landscape is another point of reference: part of Hilltown lies within the Mournes Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The street architecture and the town’s partial location within this area offer different perspectives on the place.

More Traces of the Town’s History

Ruins and a historic cemetery are all that remain of the old Clonduff Parish Church. This sets it apart from St. John’s: at Clonduff, the focus is on the ruins and cemetery, while at St. John’s it is on the completion date and interior. The Market House is also part of Hilltown’s architectural history. It was built by the Marquess of Downshire.

The Goward Dolmen is the remains of a portal tomb dating from 2500 to 2000 BC. It is estimated to weigh about 50 tonnes. The date range places the monument in its historical context, while the weight estimate gives an idea of its scale. This makes it possible to compare the dolmen with the town’s later buildings: it represents a much earlier period of history than the churches and the Market House.

The Brandy Pad was a historic smuggling route associated with the transport of brandy and spirits from the coast to Hilltown. Hilltown served as a preferred distribution point. This connection adds the historic movement of goods between the coast and the town to its architectural and church history.

Festival Dates in Hilltown

The Boley Fair Street Festival in Hilltown runs from the Friday before the second Tuesday in July to the second Tuesday in July. As the annual dates may change, check the current programme before travelling. The festival period spans several days, not just Tuesday.

Discover more destinations: Newry, Warrenpoint, Crossmaglen, Kilkeel.

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