MILFORD, COUNTY ARMAGH

'Milford' is a small village in County Armagh, Northern Ireland, one mile from Armagh city. It grew up around the linen mill owned by the McCrum family in the 19th century. It had a population of 393 in the 2001 Census. It is situated in the Armagh City and District Council area.
Milford takes its name from a large corn mill, the remains of which stand on Maggy’s Burn at the bottom of the steep main street of the village. The ford crossed the stream. Milford is an immaculately preserved example of a model Plantation of Ulster village. Linen was the industry here and the Mill is still standing.

Contents

History

Sport

Education

References

See also

History

It was the linen industry of the 19th century, which resulted in Milford growing up around the mill built on the River Callan by William McCrum in 1808.

Sport

William McCrum who inherited the village from his father also founded Milford Cricket Club and Milford Football Club for the benefit of himself and his workers. His lasting legacy was the invention of the penalty kick which was adopted by the Irish Football Association at its 1889 meeting on McCrum's proposal and introduced throughout football in 1890.
Until recent years the village of Milford consisted of three streets of terraced houses but in modern times several new housing estates have been built. In the summer of 2005 another estate is being built on one of a number of fields which is locally believed to have been the site of the original football pitch where Mr McCrum had some of his workforce practice the original penalty kicks. The developer has said that he would be sympathetic to the idea of a plaque recording the link with the penalty kick.
The village has a strong cricketing pedigree.

Education

★ Aghavilly Primary School

References

★ NI Neighbourhood Information Service

★ Milford History

★ Culture Northern ireland

See also

★ List of villages in Northern Ireland

★ List of towns in Northern Ireland