County County Armagh Sovereign state United Kingdom Dialling code 028 | Country Northern Ireland EU Parliament Northern Ireland | |
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Postcode district BT35 (Newry, South Armagh) Weather 3°C, Wind NW at 8 km/h, 97% Humidity | ||
Acton is a hamlet and townland of 22 acres in County Armagh, Northern Ireland, about a half mile north of Poyntzpass. It is situated in the civil parish of Ballymore and the historic barony of Orior Lower and within the Armagh City and District Council area. It had a population of 72 people (28 households) in the 2011 Census.
History
The village was founded in the 17th century, during the Plantation of Ulster, by Sir Toby Poyntz. He was the son of Lieutenant Charles Poyntz, who, for his military services, obtained a 500 acres (2.0 km2) grant of land that had been confiscated from the O'Hanlons by the English. The Irish called the area An Chora Uachtarach, meaning "the upper weir". Before it was named Acton, the townland was known as Curryotragh. There he built a bawn 100 feet (30 m) square, a house of brick and lime for himself, and 24 cottages for so many English settlers. The Poyntz family were anciently feudal barons of Curry Mallet in Somerset, England, later of Iron Acton in Gloucestershire, after which Acton, County Armagh, was named. By 1837 it contained about 50 houses "indifferently built".