Laois Ireland

Sir Henry Bennett, Lord Arlington founded this in 1666 in a curve of the Barrow River. After the Jacoite wars, the lands were handed over to General Rouvigney, Earl of Galway. He established a thriving colony of French Huguenots in the town with separate chapels and schools for the English and French. Coupled with education (with 16 schools eventually) the town became a centre for silversmiths and banking. The estate Rouvigney sold to the London Hollow Sword-blade Company was later passed to the Dawson family and remained with them until the late nineteenth-century. Georgian, Huguenot and Victorian architecture of exceptional quality are assets of this town. There is an annual French Festival held in this town.

Posted on April 16th, 2008 under Town. Tags: Barrow River, Earl of Galway, English, French, French Festival, French Huguenots, Jacoite wars, Lord Arlington, Rouvigney, Sir Henry Bennett, Town Portarlington. Comments: None