Agherton Parish, Portstewart

 Another memorial stone from Agherton old churchyard in Portstewart:

FM3a, 85mm; HP5+ on Foma 133 paper.

Samuel Lewis' Topological Dictionary of Ireland lists Agherton (or Ballyaghran) as having 2,746 inhabitants in 1837.  The church (which is now a ruin) was built in 1836 at a cost of £960, paid for by monies raised locally and a loan from the Board of First Fruits.  Lewis identified a number of gentlemens' seats, including Flowerfield, which is close by the graveyard.  As he puts it, 'there are also several villas and handsome bathing lodges at Portstewart, a pleasant and well-attended watering place'.  There's a few more villas now, mostly overlooking Portstewart Bay towards Donegal.  As the saying goes, if you have to ask the price, you probably can't afford one.