PRICES LONG AGO
The following prices of commodities available in South Lisburn if changed into modern currency provide real food for thought.

JANUARY 1738
English Coal 16/- per ton
Black Soap 17/- per Firkin
Tanned Leather 6d per pound
New England Flour 12/- per hundredweight
Brandy and Rum 4/6 per Gallon
Oat Meal 6/- per hundredweight
Iron 15/- per hundredweight

JANUARY 1750
Vinegar 1/6 per gallon
Green Tea 8/8 per pound
 Rough Tallow 3/10 per stone
Candles 4/4 per dozen
Wheat 6/- per hundredweight

JANUARY 1843
Hay 15/- per hundredweight
Sugar 9/- per pound

RURAL WAGES 1N 1915
Servant boys able to do all kinds of farm work were engaged for a period of six months at a wage equivalent to 50p in modern currency per week. Girls able to cook and do all domestic labour received the equivalent of 30p per week.

LIVESTOCK PRICES 1910
Ponies £12;  Donkeys 15/-;  Goats 2/6;  Pigs £7; Hackney Horses £30; Harness Horses £50.

HILLSBOROUGH
Several centuries ago, about 4 miles south of Lisnagarvey - now called Lisburn - a cluster of mean wattle houses sprawled a stone's throw from the track that wound through the wooded countryside to Dublin: it was called Cromlyn, which means 'The Crooked Glen'. The surrounding territory was the stronghold of the Magenneses, hereditary Irish Chieftains, who demanded, and doubtless received, allegiance from all those who scraped a living from their small holdings.

Into this area, at the beginning of the 17th Century, rode Moyses Hill, a Devon man, who had come to Ireland as an Officer in the army of Essex which the first Elizabeth had sent to quell the turbulent O'Neills. After the wars Moyses decided to remain and lived variously at Malone and Hillhall, where he died in 1630. Finally the Hills settled near Cromlyn and it was Peter, Moyse's son, who laid the foundation of what we now know as the town of Hillsborough and who was responsible for The Fort being erected at the same time.

From then onwards the family grew and prospered, becoming one of the largest landowners in Ireland. In 1717 Trevor Hill was elevated to the peerage and 1769 Wills Hill was created Marquis of Downshire, which title the family holds to this day.

The Hills were benevolent landlords, liberal in outlook and men of culture, and cared for their tenants well. They built schools and gave generously of their land and wealth for the benefit of local inhabitants. Thus, as well as building a Parish Church of singular grace and beauty they also helped to establish the Presbyterian Church on the Northern outskirts of the town, a Catholic Church at Reilly's Trench on the Moira Road and a Friends' Meeting House in Park Street.

Long before the Hills were ever heard of there was a pre-Reformation Church in Cromlyn-the ruins can still be seen in the grounds of Hillsborough (formerly Government) House. Arthur Hill built a new Church in 1636 on the present site but it stood for only 5 years before being burnt down. The present Parish Church, a good example of Gothic Revival architecture, was started in 1662. It has many outstanding features - a stained glass window designed by Joshua Reynolds, a collection of exquisite silver which visitors may see by arrangement, and two superb organs. It was here that Sir Hamilton Harty learnt his skills as his father William was Church Organist and the house in which they lived still stands in Ballynahinch Street.

In 1662 Hillsborough became a Borough by Charter of Charles II and to this day there is a Corporation Pew before which the great silver mace is laid each Sunday. Charles II also made Arthur Hill the Hereditary Constable of The Fort and gave him command of twenty warders with a daily payment of sixpence each. Today tradition is kept alive by one warder who still parades on ceremonial occasions in the scarlet and white uniform worn by "The Castlemen".

The Fort adjoins the Church and has recently been restored by The Historic Monuments Department. It used to guard the pass on the Dublin Road and King William lodged there for several nights on his way to the Boyne. Here he granted The Regium Donum-a gift of money-to the Presbyterians, in recognition of their loyal support and a tablet set in The Fort wall commemorates this act.

Another building of antiquity is the Court and Market House which stands in the Square in front of Hillsborough House. The magnificent wrought-iron gates of the latter were brought from their original position at Rich Hill Castle.

Today many of the gracious Georgian buildings for which Wills Hill was largely responsible can be seen in all their original elegance. It was Wills who started to build the house at the top of the hill but he died in 1793 and never saw it completed. Before moving there the family lived in what is now known as The Large Park though no trace of this house now remains. The Park is now used by the Department of Agriculture and Forestry and has been developed into a Forest Park with pleasant picnic places and lakeside walks which is open to the public throughout the year.

In the 19th Century Hillsborough continued to flourish and boasted an Assembly Room, a Reading Room where people could pursue the newspapers and periodicals and a Coffee House. It also had a brewery built in 1800 opposite the Church, a distillery in nearby Culcavey and a railway opened about 1863, so could not be said to have lacked in amenities. This then is Hillsborough's past.

But what of its present and future?
The people who live there are justly proud of their heritage and while keeping up with the times try to ensure that the inevitable march of progress does not trample the essential charm and character of the town underfoot. Some of the old houses have been turned into shops but these on the whole incorporate the original architectural features and blend happily into their surroundings. Tourists are well catered for by up-to-date shops and can browse at their leisure in those selling antiques, pottery, tweeds and elegant clothes. In 1971 the Old Shambles was skilfully and lovingly converted into an Arts Centre which immediately became a focal point for everyone interested in painting and sculpture. Unfortunately because of the prevailing unrest it proved impossible to mount subsequent exhibitions but the public can relish in anticipation the resumption of activities there.

Some people will already know that 1975 has been designated as European Architectural Heritage Year by The Council of Europe, and Hillsborough feels honoured to have been selected as one of four Ulster projects for this year. This means that it will be linked with 17 other countries in Eastern and Western Europe in a concerted effort to awaken the interest of European people in their common Architectural Heritage!

This is a big responsibility too, and already a great deal of detailed work has been undertaken by a team of dedicated architects and planners. They can accomplish only so much of course: the rest must be up to those whose properties are involved. The results are already noticeable, thanks to the ready co-operation of many house and shop owners. Take a walk up Main Street some day and see how the best paints in the buildings have been emphasised by subtle colour schemes and the uniform sheets of plate and frosted glass have been replaced by doors and windows in the Georgian style. The aim of Heritage Year is not to make the chosen areas into Museum pieces but rather to conserve and re-adapt beautiful old buildings so as to give them a living role in ordinary society.

It is easy to think of towns solely in terms of bricks and mortar and these are important, of course. But the very essence of a town is its people-this is what it's all about-and if European Architectural Heritage Year 1975 can achieve only one thing, if it can encourage and teach the ordinary man in the street to open his eyes and really notice his environment, to assess whether he likes or dislikes what he sees and to take steps to preserve it if he finds it pleasing, then we can rest assured that the Hillsborough of the future, even though different will be as good as the Hillsborough of the past and that our children's children will take pride in knowing that they are a pant of it.
M.M.

LOOKING INTO THE FUTURE
Future development will concentrate within the large settlements such as Hillsborough and Ballynahinch and also within the Belfast Urban Area which incorporates Lisburn. Indeed very substantial areas of land within the Lisburn boundary at Ballymacross and Knockmore have been zoned for housing and industry. Smaller settlements such as Ravarnette, Drumbo, Plantation and Hillhall are designed to consolidate the existing village form by allowing a limited amount of development. In Ravarnette two local housing schemes comprising 44 houses were completed in 1957 and 1964 and lay-outs for a further 56 houses have been recently granted planning approval. The Northern Ireland Housing Executive expect that 15 of these new houses will be built by 1976 with the remaining 41 completed by 1980. When this housing construction is complete the total population of Ravarnette could increase from the present level of 200 to approximately 480 persons. The present planning Authority feel that pressures for further housing development should be strongly resisted so that the existing village character will be maintained.
A. J. PARSON,
(Planning Officer, Downpatrick).