Saintfield.

Saintfield takes its name from the Irish (Tamhnach Naomh) as Field of the Saints, the village is situated on the A7 about 11 miles from Belfast. The town dates from the 17th century plantation when the Price family helped to established the linen industry in the area.

Today Saintfield is largely a dormitory town of Belfast with a high proportion of antique shops testifying to the affluence of the population which in 2001 was 2951.

The town of Saintfield in County Down is probably best remembered for a battle which bears the towns name, The Battle of Saintfield took place on Saturday 9th June 1798 when an army of citizens both Catholic and Protestant defeated a 300 strong force under Colonel Granville Staplyton, consisting of Newtownards Yeomanry cavalry and 270 York Fencibles, and two light cannon.

Previously the house owned by the McKee family had been burned together with its occupants. The McKee's, a family loyal to the crown were deeply unpopular in the area, about one year earlier they had provided information to the authorities which had led to the arrest of a Presbyterian minister named Thomas Ledlie Birch and some members of his congregation.

A large crowd gathered outside the McKee house, the story relates that shots were fired from within the house hitting some of those outside, this held the crowd back for a time, a fiddler by the name of Orr is said to have made his way to the back of the house with a ladder, and set the roof on fire, the house was destroyed and eight members of the family inside killed.

The United Irishmen's Rebellion of 1798 was unsuccessful for many reasons one of which was that The English had set up a an extensive network of informers who were paid handsomely for the information they provided, so it wasn't long before they were aware of the situation in Saintfield and Colonel Staplyton was dispatched to the area with his forces.

It isn't clear who was leading the Irishmen, however they anticipated the arrival of the army and were waiting in ambush, Stapylton had as would have been the practice, sent scouts ahead but on return reported nothing suspicious. The column marched onward when they reached a wooded area, the Irishmen who had been hiding there set upon the soldiers and overwhelmed them even though most of them were only armed with pikes.

Over fifty soldiers were killed before Stapylton managed to bring his cannons loaded with grapeshot into play, this took the edge of the the attack and which the British used to make a more or less orderly retreat.

The success of the rebellion in Down was to be short lived, only a few days later the rebel army after initial success were defeated at The Battle of Ballynahinch.

The Battle of Saintfield is largely regarded as a victory of the United Irish cause. Mementos of the battle turned up in the 1950s, two skeletons, a sword and bayonet belonging to one of the York fencibles were found in the area.

Many of the dead from both sides of the battle were placed in a mass grave within the grounds of the nearby Presbyterian church. Although there is a plaque signifying the location of these graves, the area seems largely neglected with what appears to be temporary vehicle access over the belligerents final resting place.