Griffith's [Tenement] Valuation

Griffith's [Tenement ]Valuation 1848-64

In contrast to the earlier Townland Valuation of the 1830s, the later valuation of Ireland undertaken during the period 1848–64 gives a more complete list of occupiers of holdings and houses - thus the term tenement which is used here in its medieval meaning - a holding - as opposed to its more modern meaning of a tenement building. This valuation is better known as Griffith’s Valuation after the Commissioner of Valuation, Sir Richard Griffith, who, incidentally, was also in charge of the earlier [Townland] Valuation of the 1830s.

Note that the North Antrim area was valued between 1859 and 1861. The original Valuation Books are available in manuscript form at PRONI, catalogued as VAL/2/B. Bound and printed summary versions of the Books are also available on the shelves of the Public Search Room, PRONI and in many libraries. These volumes are arranged by Poor Law Union within counties. There is an index at the front of each volume which enables searchers to identify the page or pages in which a specific townland may be found.

I have included a PDF file which contains copies of the indexes to the Poor Law Unions that cover the North Antrim area. You will find this file at the c.1860 Griffith's [Tenement] Valuation link in the left-hand menu. Here you will also find a database which contains an Index of names listed within each townland in the c.1860 Griffith's Printed Valuation for North Antrim.

Accompanying the valuation books are the valuer’s annotated set of Ordnance Survey maps, showing the location of every property. These maps are also available at PRONI. The six inch maps covering the countryside are known as the VAL/2A series and the larger scale maps covering towns are known as the VAL/2/D series. The sheet numbers of the six inch map or maps covering each townland are given in the index mentioned above.

At the Localities link in the top menu, by way of example, I have provided copies of pages from the Printed Valuation and copies of the accompanying valuation maps for:

Fifteen townlands in the Seacon/Ballywattick/Ballycormick area near Ballymoney.
Fifteen townlands in the Roseyards/Killyramer/Kilraghts near Ballymoney.
The Glebe, Townparks and streets in the town of Ballymoney.

Incidentally, you can now see a copy of the Griffith's Valuation page for any townland within the North Antrim area [or indeed anywhere in Ireland] and access the relevant valuation map at the askaboutireland.ie website. This means that you will be able to locate any house and farm within any townland c.1860.