| (Magill's
Ford.)
Read about Gilford in 1881 from:
SLATER'S Royal National Commercial Directory
of Ireland
The town of Gilford sits astride
the Upper River Bann between the towns of Portadown
and Banbridge, so it is in
both Couny Down and Armagh. The name Gilford is an abbreviation
of Magill's Ford referring to a Captain John Magill of Gillhall
near Dromore (See
Gilhall Estate) who was granted a large parcel of land during
the plantation of Ulster 
There was probably a small settlement
associated with the ford from very early times, the first mention
of milling in Gilford dates to 1691,when Sir John Magill grandson
of Captain Magill granted by lease, to Thomas Purdy for the tuck
mill and corn mill of Gilford, together with the land on which the
present mill stands. The Purdy family were obviously successful
in their business in Thomas purdy's will dated 21st August 1728
he left the mills and lands to his sons James and John after his
mothers day.
The completion of the Newry Canal in 1741
which passed Gilford at a distance of about 1½ miles at Madden
on the Tangragee Road brought great advantages from a transportation
point of view. However after about 1775 the Purdy's began to dispose
of their property, by 1792 the majority of the milling and linen
business in Gilford was in the hands of one George Law, Law expanded
the business considerably, building a Beetling Mill south of the
location of Gilford Castle. He extended the weir on the river increasing
the power output available from the river. After his death in 1802
his property became the subject of a law suit between members of
his family, eventually his nephew Hugh purchased the property.
By 1836 a new name became involved in Gilford's
business community, Hugh Dunbar decided to open a spinning mill
in the town after involvement with several partners the business
came to be called Dunbar McMaster and Co. The new spinning mill
began production in 1841amid a flurry of publicity, the building
of the mill heralded the beginning of a period of unprecedented
house building in the town.
Gilford Mill went from strength to strength
at the end of the 19th century it was considered one of the foremost
mills not only in Ireland but in the British Isles. There is little
point in me writing a condensed and possibly confused account of
the mill at Gilford when you can read an excellent article by The
Craigavon Historical Society, click the links at the bottom of this
page.
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