The

Police and Town Commissioners in Newry Dympna Tumilty

In 1828 “An Act for the lighting, watching, and cleansing of cities, towns corporate, and market towns in Ireland” was established. This Act originated in Newry, where it was first implemented, and Newry became a model for municipal administration throughout Ireland.

Twenty one Commissioners of Police were chosen to implement this Act. The Commissioners employed eleven officers called the Town Watch and paid their salaries from local taxes. The duties of the Town Watch included patrolling the town, lighting street lamps every evening and keeping the streets clean and free from obstruction. They also dealt with minor crimes and disorderly behaviour.

On 6th February 1865 the Towns’ Improvement (Ireland) Act was adopted. The Board of Police Commissioners were dissolved and eighteen Town Commissioners were appointed in their place. Newry was divided into three wards, north, south and west, and the first Chairman was John Moore.

Over the next number of years, the Town Commissioners turned their attention to improving the poor sanitation in Newry through the construction of sewers and introducing health regulations for public places, shops and workplaces. These measures taken to tackle disease were very successful, with the number of reported cases of fever falling from 238 in 1864 to 48 in 1868.

In the early 1870s the next major challenge to face the Town Commissioners was that of the supply of water to the town. Newry had around 200 wells but the water from some of them was not fit for human consumption. The Town Commissioners, along with Bessbrook Spinning Company, began negotiations and put forward a Bill to promote Camlough as an ideal location for a reservoir. In the House of Lords, two days were spent on the Bill when John James O’Hagan argued Newry’s case for ten hours. The Bill was passed and became law on 14th August 1871 as the Newry Improvement and Water Act.

The introduction of this Act saw many responsibilities given to the Commissioners, specifically maintaining and building public roads, bridges and other public works, and also, the control of six marketplaces. For the first time the Commissioners were given an official seal.

One of the last acts undertaken by the Town Commissioners was the construction of the Town Hall which is situated on the Clanrye River, the old county border. Work was completed in 1893.

The Town Commissioners were dissolved in 1898 when a new Local Government Act was introduced and local Councils were established.