Loughgall Country Park
Situated just 5 miles from the City of Armagh and within easy reach of the M1 Motorway, Loughgall Country Park extends to approximately 188Ha and includes a variety of landscapes, including some historic features, telling of the former Demesne landscape which the Country Park has inherited. With the main gates into the Demesne situated in the heart of the small and picturesque village of Loughgall, it is clear to see the once grand Demesne that was an integral part of the village of Loughgall.
The Demesne landscape was established in or shortly after 1610 by an Englishman called Anthony Cope. Although Mr Cope may have never visited Ireland, his two sons did arrive in the early 17th Century to facilitate English settlers. Both sons lived on the land and at some point in the late 1600’s the Demesne was split between the two branches of the Cope family, resulting in the defined townlands of Drumilly and Loughgall. Today the Country Park extends across both townlands but takes in name from the latter. While the main house of Drumilly is no longer present, evidence of the two Demesnes can be seen though the duplication of historic features within the Country Park including two ice houses, two walled gardens and two lime kilns.
The cache
A cache placed in the obvious spot