1838, 1845, 1863 Cork Grand Jury Presentments Featuring Sand Quays, Strands

One of the factors that fueled the extraordinary population growth in West Cork pre famine was the availability of seaweed and sea sand.   This facilitated potato growth.  The advent of guano in the 1870s and chemical fertilizers gradually killed of the trade.  There were revivals in World War 1 and 2.

Cormac Levis in a booklet published by Aughadown I.C.A . some years ago documents the trade, the boats and the families involved.

This listing is taken from the Presentments forwarded to the Cork Grand Jury for approval.  It was thought that all re 1891 records were destroyed in the Cork Court House fire.  Many other surviving record were destroyed by Cork County Council in 1967 when they moved to the new County Hall. However a number of presentment books have emerged and are now in the Cork Archives.  http://www.corkarchives.ie/

 

They go into extraordinary detail of proposed roadworks.  In these case it shows the importance of the sand trade and the extension of the business deep into  areas such as  Macroom, Enniskeen from Innishannon Sand Quays and other strands  Some strands feature strongly such as the Red Strand near Clonakilty.   There are various accounts of hundreds of horses and carts  at these strands drawing sand.  The best was the Bantry Bay coral dredged and landed at various piers.  This trade lasted to the mid 1950s and the Carroll family had a number of  boats.

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1838, 1845, 1863 grand jury presentment sand quays, strands

 

Cork Grand Jury:

 

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1uGCxYYvCGNEbpzypv-6tdTnz78HsuF_YJELLh9ezWvM/edit

 

Lease of 1836, Reenvanagh, Whiddy Island, ‘Covenant to lay out by Lessee (Tobin)Ten Boat Loads (each containing thirty horse loads) of Best Coral Sea Sand Annually of Premises under a penalty of £10.

 

16th October 1861, Donemark, Bantry, 16 acres to let prime land suitable for potatoes or corn, Four Boats of Sea Sand Will be Given.

Sand Boat Landing Sand from Carbery Island, Dunmanus Bay, Sandboat Being Built By Jack Attridge, West Cork and Threshing Machines.

 

Carrigín Cool na h-Orna, Rossmore, Durrus, West Cork, a hint of Pre-famine Agriculture and other Incorporeal Hereditaments.

 

1812, American Edward Wakefield, Travels in Bantry. ‘Miserable Hogs, Long Legged, Narrow Backed Ill Shaped Level of Animals, Lord Bantry Introducing Devonshire Cattle, Marine Sand Coral and Manure.

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