Bray Genealogical Records

Bray Birth & Baptism Records

Ireland Civil Registration Index (1845-1958)

An index to births, marriages and deaths registered with the Irish government. Provides the child's name, date of registration, place of registration, mother's maiden name and a reference to order a certificate with further details.

Births & Baptisms in Ireland (1620-1922)

A collection of almost 4 million birth and baptisms records from civil, Catholic and Church of Ireland registers.

Catholic Birth & Baptism Registers for Ireland (1763-1912)

Digital images of registers recording the birth and baptism of Catholic families' children. They record around 550,000 births and baptisms, which can be searched by a name index.

British Civil Service Evidence of Age Index (1752-1948)

An index to evidences provided to the British Civil Service Commission to establish the age of prospective and current civil servants. The index includes date & place of birth and provides a reference to surviving documents.

Ireland Birth & Baptism Index (1620-1881)

An index to over 5 million births and baptisms recorded in Ireland. These are predominantly from the 19th century.

Bray Marriage & Divorce Records

Dublin, Ireland Probate & Marriage Licence Index (1270-1858)

Index entries extracted from wills, letters of administration, acts of probate, marriage licenses, and other records within the Diocese of Dublin.

UK Divorce Records (1858-1911)

Digital images of documents from civil divorce cases. The cases cover both the cause of the case and the outcome, such as division of property and visitation rights. These records also contain details of illegitimate children. Cases can be searched by a name index.

Ireland Civil Registration Index (1845-1958)

An index to births, marriages and deaths registered with the Irish government. Provides the child's name, date of registration, place of registration, mother's maiden name and a reference to order a certificate with further details.

Ireland Marriages (1619-1898)

Transcripts of more than 850,000 marriage records, including parents' names when listed in the original document.

Catholic Marriage Registers for Ireland (1775-1912)

Digital images of registers recording the marriages of Catholics in Ireland. They record around 150,000 marriages, which can be searched by a name index.

Bray Death & Burial Records

Ireland Civil Registration Index (1845-1958)

An index to births, marriages and deaths registered with the Irish government. Provides the child's name, date of registration, place of registration, mother's maiden name and a reference to order a certificate with further details.

Titanic Deaths at Sea (1912)

Details of crew and passengers who died aboard RMS Titanic. Information given includes date, place & cause of death; gender; age; nationality; profession; and residence.

Marriages in Walker's Hibernian Magazine (1771-1812)

An index to around 13,000 marriages of the upper class of Ireland recorded in a magazine.

Registers of Deaths of Passengers at Sea (1854-1908)

Registers compiled from the logs of ships registered in Britain & her colonies. These records are indexed by named and are connected to original images of the registers. They list the name of the deceased, the date they died, their gender, age, cause of death and the name of the ship they died on.

Irish-American Death Notices (1845-1909)

Transcriptions of over 35,000 death notices of Irish who died in America and other parts of the world.

Bray Census & Population Lists

Censuses of Ireland (1821-1911)

An index to several million names in records delineating families and including important personal details, such as religion, occupation and place of birth.

Ireland Electoral Registers (1885-1886)

An index to and digital images of registers recording people eligible to vote. The records list name, residence, qualification to vote, ratable value of property and sometimes a description of their property.

British Phone Books (1880-1984)

Directories containing over 275,000,000 entries. As well as name, address and phone number, occupations are often recorded. A useful census substitute.

Ireland Census Search Forms (1841-1851)

Over 135,000 surviving extracts from the 1841 and 1851 censuses of Ireland.

Surviving Irish Census Extracts (1821-1851)

An index to almost half a million surviving extracts from largely lost Irish censuses. These records show families, with relations and important genealogical information.

Newspapers Covering Bray

The Daily Herald (1926)

A London newspaper that later became The Sun.

Reynolds's Newspaper (1850-1900)

Originally founded as a chartist organ, the newspaper became a liberal platform.

Farmer's Gazette & Journal of Practical Horticulture (1845-1870)

Digital images of a newspaper that circulated through Ireland, promoting agriculture, gardening, commerce and manufacturing. It is fully text searchable.

Lloyd's Weekly Newspaper (1842-1900)

A popular illustrated, liberal newspaper; one of the most popular in Britain.

Northern Whig (1832-1870)

Digital images of a liberal, unionist newspaper published in Ireland. Pages can be searched by article text.

Bray Wills & Probate Records

Dublin, Ireland Probate & Marriage Licence Index (1270-1858)

Index entries extracted from wills, letters of administration, acts of probate, marriage licenses, and other records within the Diocese of Dublin.

Irish Wills Index (1272-1886)

An index to over 100,000 Irish wills.

WWI Irish Soldiers Wills (1914-1920)

Transcripts of over 9,000 wills penned by Irish privates and non-commissioned officers during World War I.

Ireland Wills and Administrations Index (1858-1920)

A name index connected to images of Ireland's civil probate registers. It lists the name of the deceased, residence, status or occupation, type of probate, date of probate and names of the executors or administrators.

Diocesan & Prerogative Probate Indexes (1595-1858)

An index to around 365,000 documents relating to the distribution of deceased person's real and personal estate.

Bray Immigration & Travel Records

Passenger Lists Leaving UK (1890-1960)

A name index connected to original images of passenger lists recording people travelling from Britain to destinations outside Europe. Records may detail a passenger's age or date of birth, residence, occupation, destination and more.

Irish Famine Immigrants (1846-1851)

A record of over 600,000 immigrants arriving in the United States; being predominantly those escaping the Irish famine. Records may contain numerous useful details, such as age or year of birth, native county and intended destination.

Migration from North America to Britain & Ireland (1858-1870)

A list of over 40,000 passengers traveling from North America to the British Isles. Details of passengers may include: occupation, nationality, gender, age, martial status, class, destination, and details of the vessel they sailed on.

Irish Immigrants to Western Canada (1826-1847)

Details of over 700 poor Irish settlers in the Newcastle district of Canada. Contains details of the land they occupy, family and live stock.

Australian Convict Transportation Registers (1791-1868)

Registers recording those who by their criminal deeds were sentenced to be transported to Australia. Records include name, date & place of conviction, term of sentence, ship sailed on, departure date and the name of the colony they were to be sent to.

Bray Military Records

British Army WWI Pension Records (1914-1920)

A variety military service, medical, award and general documents detailing WWI army soldiers who claimed a pension for disability. Contains a great deal of biographical and genealogical details, including physical description and disabilities. Digital images, searchable by a name and place index.

Attleborough In War Time (1914-1918)

A history of the town during WWI, with a list of men and women who served and notes of those who lost their lives.

WWI Commonwealth Casualty Lists (1914-1920)

A list of over 1.3 million British and Commonwealth servicemen who were injured during World War One.

Royal Artillery Attestations (1883-1942)

Detailed records of 858,171 Royal Artillery personnel. The records contain genealogical, biographical and military details.

Royal Tank Corps Enlistment Records (1919-1934)

Digital images, searchable by a name index, of 88,096 records detailing biographical, genealogical and service details of the men of the Royal Tank Corps.

Ireland Electoral Registers (1885-1886)

An index to and digital images of registers recording people eligible to vote. The records list name, residence, qualification to vote, ratable value of property and sometimes a description of their property.

Petty Sessions Order Books (1828-1912)

An index to millions of names occurring in minor Irish legal records. The index is linked to images of the original registers.

Ireland Poverty Relief Loans (1821-1874)

An index to and images to various records, including loan application forms. These may list name, residence, names of relatives, loan particulars and more.

Irish Prison Registers (1790-1924)

A index to over 3.5 million names occurring in Irish prison registers. Details provide vary, but may include: name, age, place of birth, abode, religion, occupation, education, physical description, next of kin and details of crimes and sentences Contains images of the original registers.

Famine Relief Commission Papers (1844-1847)

Digital images of thousands of letters and documents detailing the state of Ireland during the famine. The documents can be searched by a name index of over 10,000 people.

Bray Taxation Records

Griffith's Valuation (1847-1864)

An assessment of property in Ireland for taxation purposes. Provides descriptions of properties.

Tithe Applotment Books (1821-1843)

Records detailing occupiers of land in pre-famine Ireland. Contains a description of lands and other details. Original images of the records can be searched by name and place.

Ireland Tithe Applotment Books (1814-1855)

Lists of occupiers of Irish land and tithes to support the established church; arranged by parish.

1831 Tithe Defaulters (1831)

A list of people who refused to pay an annual tax to the Anglican church in Scotland.

Bray Land & Property Records

Landed Estates Court Rentals (1850-1885)

Records detailing tenancies of over 500,000 Irish people. In some cases details may be provided back to the 18th century.

Irish Landowners (1876)

The name and address of people who owned two or more acres of land in Ireland.

Griffith's Valuation (1847-1864)

An assessment of property in Ireland for taxation purposes. Provides descriptions of properties.

Reports from Committees of Fictitious Votes (1837-1838)

Essentially an electoral roll, listing those who were eligible to vote, their occupation, residence and entitlement.

Tithe Applotment Books (1821-1843)

Records detailing occupiers of land in pre-famine Ireland. Contains a description of lands and other details. Original images of the records can be searched by name and place.

Bray Directories & Gazetteers

Thom's Official Directory of Great Britain & Ireland (1914)

A directory of the court, parliament, aristocracy, mayors, civil service, military, militia and banks in the British Empire.

Thom's Official Directory of Ireland (1910)

A directory containing all manner of facts and descriptions of public and other important institutions. Contains various lists of the nobility, gentry and other Irish citizens. Searchable by an index of over 130,000 people.

Kelly's Clergy Directory (1909)

A directory of the Church of England, its institutions and ministers.

Slater's Royal National Directory of Ireland (1894)

A directory listing over 345,000 people in Ireland. Also contains details of public institutions, public houses, churches etc. as well as descriptions of settlements.

Thom's Official Directory: Ireland (1894)

A directory of the court, parliament, aristocracy, mayors, civil service, military, militia and banks in Ireland. Contains a directory of over 120,000 businesses and residents.

Bray Cemeteries

Cantwell's Memorials of the Dead (1500-1900)

A name index connected to transcriptions of gravestones and other monuments primarily in counties Wexford & Wicklow. This database contains over 60,000 names.

Billion Graves (1200-Present)

Photographs and transcriptions of millions of gravestones from cemeteries around the world.

Mausolea and Monuments (1500-Present)

Profiles of several hundred mausolea found in the British Isles.

Maritime Memorials (1588-1950)

Several thousand transcribed memorials remembering those connected with the nautical occupations.

Irish Records Index (1600-1874)

An index to around 100,000 various births, marriages, deaths, burials, cemeteries, wills, immigration, census extracted from Irish sources.

Bray Obituaries

United Kingdom and Ireland Obituary Collection (1882-Present)

A growing collection currently containing over 425,000 abstracts of obituaries with reference to the location of the full obituary.

Quakers Annual Monitor (1847-1848)

A collection of 364 obituaries of Quakers from the British Isles. The volume was published in 1849 and includes obituaries of those who died in late 1847 through 1848.

British Medical Journal (1849-Present)

A text index and digital images of all editions of a journal containing medical articles and obituaries of medical practitioners.

Irish Independent Newspaper Obituaries (2001-2002)

This database contains extracted genealogical information from the obituaries of the Irish Independent newspaper.

Bray Histories & Books

County Wicklow Church Photographs (1890-Present)

Photographs and images of churches in County Wicklow.

Geograph: Photos of the UK and Ireland (2005-Present)

A growing database including millions of photographs of the United Kingdom, Isle of Man and Ireland catalogued by latitude & longitude and OS grid reference.

Attleborough In War Time (1914-1918)

A history of the town during WWI, with a list of men and women who served and notes of those who lost their lives.

Lawrence's Photographs of Ireland (1870-1910)

An indexed collection of 21,000 photographs covering all of Ireland.

UK Photos (1857-2005)

A collection of 220,000 professional photos covering most towns and villages in Britain, and parts of Ireland.

Bray School & Education Records

Ireland National School Registers (1860-1920)

An index to and images of registers recording 100,000s of Irish schoolchildren. Registers may list name, year of birth, year of registration, age, religion, address, occupation of parent or guardian, name of current and previous school, parish, number of days attendance, class enrolled into, results of exams and date of leaving.

Alumni Dublinenses (1593-1846)

A register of faculty and students educated at Trinity College Dublin. Entries include the individual’s full name, date of entering the college, age of entering, father’s name and address, the degree they received and their graduation date.

Cambridge Alumni Database (1198-1910)

A searchable database containing over 90,000 note-form biographies for students of Cambridge University.

Registers of Queen's Colleges Ireland (1849-1858)

Registers recording students who attended a series of non-denominational schools throughout Ireland.

British Army Schoolchildren and Schoolmasters (1803-1932)

Transcripts of over 27,000 entries from admissions, apprentice, and schoolmaster ledgers of the Royal Military Asylum in Chelsea and Royal Hibernian Military School in Dublin.

Bray Occupation & Business Records

Ireland Mines Index (1896)

Profiles of coal and metal mines in Ireland.

British Postal Service Appointment Books (1737-1969)

This collection gives brief details on the appointment of over 1.4 million people who worked for the Post Office. Includes references to corresponding data in the Postmaster General’s minute books and is a starting point for research in the rich archive of the British Postal Museum.

Kelly's Leather Trade in Ireland (1915)

A database containing names extracted from Kelly's Directory of the Leather Trade. Contains name, occupation and residence.

Medical Directory for Ireland (1858)

A book containing details of the medical establishment in Ireland, with a list of over 2,700 medical practitioners in Ireland.

British Masters and Mates Certificates (1850-1927)

Records relating to merchant seamen of the British Isles. They may record, date and place of birth, address and details of their maritime career.

Pedigrees & Family Trees Covering Bray

Burke’s Landed Gentry of Ireland (1899)

The first edition of an exclusively Irish directory of the landed gentry printed by Burke's. This publication provides heraldic, genealogical and biographical details on Ireland's foremost untitled landowners. Searchable by an index of over 80,000 names.

FamilySearch Community Trees (6000 BC-Present)

A searchable database of linked genealogies compiled from thousands of reputable and not-so-reputable sources. Contains many details on European gentry & nobility, but covers many countries outside Europe and people from all walks of life.

Dod's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage of Britian (1902)

A book containing genealogies and biographies of Britain's titled families.

Dod's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage of Britian (1885)

A book containing genealogies and biographies of Britain's titled families.

Irish Pedigrees, Vol. I (0-1880)

Genealogies of notable Irish families, with biographical details and notes on Irish clans and surnames.

Bray Royalty, Nobility & Heraldry Records

Burke’s Landed Gentry of Ireland (1899)

The first edition of an exclusively Irish directory of the landed gentry printed by Burke's. This publication provides heraldic, genealogical and biographical details on Ireland's foremost untitled landowners. Searchable by an index of over 80,000 names.

FamilySearch Community Trees (6000 BC-Present)

A searchable database of linked genealogies compiled from thousands of reputable and not-so-reputable sources. Contains many details on European gentry & nobility, but covers many countries outside Europe and people from all walks of life.

Irish Pedigrees, Vol. I (0-1880)

Genealogies of notable Irish families, with biographical details and notes on Irish clans and surnames.

Irish Pedigrees, Vol. II (0-1880)

Genealogies of notable Irish families, with biographical details and notes on Irish clans and surnames.

Debrett's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage (1921)

A dictionary of families elevated to the peerage of Great Britain & Ireland. It includes genealogies and biographical details.

Bray Church Records

Irish Catholic Church Directories (1836-1837)

A directory listing all the members of the clergy and parishes in Ireland. Also includes details on clergy in the Empire.

Congregationalist Ministers Index (1650-1972)

Biographical details of around 32,000 Congregationalist ministers in the British Isles and further afield.

Crockford's Clerical Directory (1929)

A directory listing Anglican parishes and other divisions of the Church or England hierarchy and their various religious officers. The directory covers the UK and Anglican churches throughout the world.

Clergy List of 1897 (1897)

Brief biographical details on all Anglican clergy in Britain & the Episcopal Church in Scotland.

Clergy List 1896 (1896)

Brief biographical details on all Anglican clergy in Britain & the Episcopal Church in Scotland.

Biographical Directories Covering Bray

Dod's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage of Britian (1902)

A book containing genealogies and biographies of Britain's titled families.

Dod's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage of Britian (1885)

A book containing genealogies and biographies of Britain's titled families.

Chalmers' General Biographical Dictionary (1013-1812)

Detailed biographies of thousands of notable Europeans with details on ancestry.

Dictionary of National Biography (1005-Present)

An index of names connected to over 60,000 biographies of notable British and Irish people from arguably the world's most respected biographical compendium. Gives details on ancestry, careers and personal wealth.

Kelly's Handbook of 1892 (1892)

Brief biographical notes on around 10,000 of Britain's foremost nobles, landowners and professionals.

Bray Maps

Ireland Ordnance Survey Maps (1824-1846)

Digitalised copies of detailed maps covering around 99% of the country.

Taylor & Skinner Road Map of Ireland (1777)

289 maps depicting routes through Ireland.

A Vision of Britain (1190-Present)

A sprawling website setting out and describing the historical divisions of Britain. Also contains countless maps of various sorts. Covers the UK, Ireland, Isle of Man & has fleeting details of other localities.

Speed's Maps of Britain (1612)

County and national maps covering the British Isles, extracted from John Speed's landmark work, Theatre of the Empire of Great Britain.

Old Maps Online (1497-2010)

An interactive index to thousands of maps covering the world, continents, countries and regions. The majority of maps cover Britain and Ireland.

Bray Reference Works

Building History Research Guide (1066-Present)

A comprehensive guide to researching the history of buildings in the British Isles.

Surname Origins (1790-1911)

A service that provides advanced and custom surname maps for the British Isles and the US.

Heraldry Clipart (1189-Present)

A growing collection of heraldic and related clip art that can be used to reconstruct a families' arms. Includes packs for British, German, Austrian, Spanish, Italian, Danish, Polish, Portuguese, French, Swiss and Dutch arms. Images are available in a variety of formats including vectors.

Trade Union Ancestors (1799-Present)

A sprawling site that lists British trade unions, histories of some unions and outlines how to locate records relating to trade union ancestors.

Measuring Worth - GBP (1245-Present)

A calculator measuring the changing value of the British Pound using two price indices.

Historical Description

BRAY, a market-town and post-town, and a parish, in the half-barony of RATHDOWN, county of WICKLOW, and province of LEINSTER, 14 miles (N.) from Wicklow (by the sea road), and 10 (S. E. by S.) from Dublin; containing 3509 inhabitants, of which number, 2590 are in the town.

This place derives its name, originally Bre or Bree, signifying a "hill" or "headland," from the precipitous promontory of clay slate and quartz, called Bray Head, which rises immediately on the south of the town to an elevation, of 807 feet above the level of the sea, and from the singular indentation of its summit forms a well-known landmark to mariners. The manor, or lordship, of Bray, with, all the territories of the O'Tooles, was granted, in 1173, by Richard de Clare, Earl of Pembroke, lord-deputy, to Walter de Riddlesford, one of the earliest of the Norman adventurers, to be held of the Crown by three knights' service, to be performed at Dublin. This grant, together with the seigniory of Castledermot and extensive privileges, was confirmed to him by John, Lord of Ireland, who subsequently granted him an annual fair to be held at Bray, with free warren and other privileges. Among the earliest notices of this place is the record of a grant of a burgage, with a portion of arable land, to the abbey of St. Thomas, near Dublin, by the same Walter de Riddlesford, whose estates, on failure of male issue, were at his death divided between two coheiresses; and in 1215 the abbot of St. Thomas obtained a grant of all the lands held by Walter de Riddlesford in fee, in the town of Bray, at a yearly rent of 3 and a fine of 60 marks. The town was frequently assailed by the mountain septs of the O'Byrnes and O'Tooles, to whose territories it was contiguous, and who, on the 16th of April, 1316, destroyed the castle; but they were on the same day attacked and defeated by Edmond Le Boteler. A fierce conflict took place near the town, in 1402, between these septs and the citizens of Dublin, headed by John Drake, their provost, on which occasion, according to Ware and Camden, 4000, but according to Hervey de Marlbrigge, 400 of the former were, slain. At the dissolution of the religious houses, the possessions of the abbey of St. Thomas were granted to Sir Thomas Brabazon, whose descendant, the Earl of Meath, is the present proprietor in fee of the greater part of the town.

The town is situated on the Dargle or Bray river, which here forms a boundary between the counties of Dublin and Wicklow, and after passing under an old bridge of five arches, connecting the portions of the town which lie on different sides of it, falls into the sea a little below this place. That part of the town which is on the Wicklow side of the river consists of one long street of irregularly built houses, at the head of which are two smaller streets, one branching off on the left, from which the lower road to Wicklow is continued over the hill of Windgates; and the other on the right along the road to the glen of the Downs, and together containing about 450 houses. That part which is in the county of Dublin is called Little Bray; it forms part of the parish of Old Connaught, and contains about 230 houses and cottages, and 1168 inhabitants. The houses in both are in general neatly built, and the town has a cheerful and interesting appearance; it is neither paved nor lighted, but the road is kept in good order. The surrounding scenery is exceedingly romantic, and combines with its short distance from Dublin to render this place a favourite resort during the summer season for seabathing.

A number of thatched cottages of great neatness, and containing, exclusively of offices, from three to eight rooms each, have been appropriated to the accommodation of visiters, to whom they are let furnished at rents varying from £40 to £50 and more for the season. The hotel and posting-house, conducted by Mr. Quin, jun., is fitted up with every regard to the superior accommodation of families and visiters of the highest respectability; hot and cold sea water baths may be had at all hours without delay, and the house has long been a favourite resort of parties on excursions of pleasure, and of wedding parties to spend the day in festivity and in the enjoyment of the beauties of the surrounding scenery. A spacious gravel walk, half a mile in length and perfectly straight, has been made from the rear of the hotel through the private grounds to the sea, forming a beautiful promenade, and commanding fine views. On the Dublin side of the river a race-course has been formed and races are held annually.

The trade, exclusively of what is requisite for the supply of the town, consists principally in the importation of coal, timber, slates, and limestone, in which two vessels of 70 tons each, one of 50 tons, and one of 25 tons, belonging to the place, are regularly employed.

There is a very extensive brewery, with a malting store, capable of producing 300 barrels weekly; and near the brewery is a large flour-mill. The small haven is very incommodious, having a bar at the entrance, and only eight feet of water at spring and five feet at neap tides: from a change in the channel of the river, an outer beach has been formed, which breaks in some degree the violence of the sea. A plan for its improvement was suggested by the late Mr. Nimmo, who proposed to construct a pier of about 30 perches in length at the mouth of the river; but it has not been carried into effect. The river abounds with excellent trout, which are taken in great quantities and sent to Dublin and different parts of the country, and even to London. The market is on Tuesday and Saturday, and is abundantly supplied with provisions of every kind of the best quality. Fairs for friezes are held on Jan. 12th, May 4th, Aug, 5th, and Nov. 12th, and are attended by all the Dublin dealers; and fairs for cattle are held on the 1st of March, May, and July, Aug. 15th, Sept. 20th, and Dec. 14th.

A constabulary police force has been stationed here, and also in Little Bray, the old castle in the latter having been fitted up as a barrack. A coast-guard station has also been fixed here, forming one of the five that constitute the district of Kingstown, to which use a martello tower near the mouth of the river, in which four guns are mounted, has been appropriated. There is also a martello tower on the strand near Bray Head, occupied by a private of the artillery. Petty sessions for the division are held in the school-house in. Little Bray, every alternate Saturday; and the Earl of Meath as lord of the manor of Kindlestown, holds a court here by his seneschal every month. By an inquisition taken in the reign of Chas. I. it appears, from various records, that the town had been in times past incorporated and endowed with many privileges.

The parish abounds with interesting and strikingly diversified scenery, and is embellished with numerous seats and pleasing villas. Kilruddery, the splendid mansion of the Earl of Meath, situated about one mile south of the town, was erected in 1820, on the site of the old family house, from a design by Mr. Morrison.

It is an elegant structure, in the later English style of architecture; the entrance is under an octangular tower crowned with a cupola in the centre of the north front, opening into a spacious hall, in which are tastefully displayed several suits of armour and various warlike instruments brought from foreign countries; the saloon, drawing and dining rooms, and other apartments are richly and tastefully embellished and furnished in a style of costly magnificence. The demesne, which comprises more than 900 acres, is richly wooded, and is bounded on one side by the little Sugar Loaf mountain, and on the other by the rugged heights of Bray Head; in the pleasure grounds is a circular sheet of water surrounded with a fine hedge of beech, 20 feet high, through which are several entrances; and not far from it is the theatre, a quadrangular area enclosed on three sides by tiers of seats, and in which plays were formerly acted.

Shanganagh, the residence of Gen. Sir G. Cockburn, is described in the article on Rathmichael. Bray Head, the seat of G. Putland, Esq., is finely situated near the foot of the promontory of that name, in a well-planted demesne of about 650 acres: the mansion is a chaste and elegant structure of the Tuscan order, with an embattled roof, from which are obtained extensive views of mountain scenery and of the sea; from the drawing-room antechamber is a noble conservatory of polygonal form, erected at an expense of £5000, and containing a fine collection of the most choice and rare exotics; the pleasure grounds and gardens are laid out with the greatest taste and kept in the finest order, presenting one of the principal attractions in this truly picturesque and much frequented part of the country.

There are numerous handsome villas situated in grounds tastefully laid out and commanding very fine views: the principal are St. Valorie, the residence of the Hon. P. Cecil Crampton, third Justice of the Court of King's Bench; Springfield, of Alderman West; Fassarow House, of H. Crampton, Esq.; Old Court, of Major Edwards; Rich View, of Capt. Kettlewell; Fairy Hill, of P. W. Jackson, Esq.; Killarney Cottage, of -O'Reily, Esq.; Vevey, of the Misses Weldon; New-Court, of Mrs. McMahon; Fairy Hill (Bray), of J. Quin, Esq.; Prospect Cottage, of C. Tandy, Esq.; Riversdale, of C. La Grange, Esq.; Le Yalle, of Miss Draper; Fassarow Cottage, of Capt. Sitwell; Navarra, of Mrs. Brady; and Glenbrook, of J. H. Brush, Esq.

The living consists of a rectory and vicarage, in the diocese of Dublin and Glendalough; the rectory is in the patronage of the Crown; and the vicarage, which has been from time immemorial united to the vicarage of Old Connaught, is in the patronage of the Archbishop.

The tithes of this parish amount to £230, and of Bray, Old Connaught, and Rathmichael (which last was separated from the union in 1826), to £430. The church, a plain building with a small spire, situated on the verge of an eminence overhanging the river, was erected in 1609, and enlarged, by aid of a loan of £1020 from the late Board of First Fruits, in 1818. There is no glebe-house: the glebe comprises nine statute acres of excellent land. In the R. C. divisions this parish is the head of a union or district, comprising also the parishes of Powerscourt, Kilmacanogue, and part of the parish of Delgany, and containing three chapels, situated respectively at Bray, Kilmacanogue, and Castletown: the chapel at Bray is a spacious and handsome edifice, erected in 1833, and embellished with an altar-piece presented by Gen. Sir G. Cockburn. There is a place of worship for Presbyterians. There are two national schools; and a school, in which more than 100 children are clothed and educated, is supported by Mrs. Putland: in these schools are about 120 boys and 220 girls. An infants' school, held in a spacious building erected in 1829 by the late Viscount Powerscourt, is supported by private contributions; and there are also three pay schools, in which are about 57 boys and 25 girls, and a Sunday school. A building, originally intended for a barrack, has been converted into an hospital for cholera and fever patients, with a dispensary, erected by a grant from the Association for the Suppression of Vice and individual subscriptions. In Little Bray is a neat range of building, erected by subscription, part of which is used as school-rooms, and part as a savings' bank for the parishes of Bray, Delgany, and Powerscourt. A provident society was established in the town in 1832; a loan society has been lately instituted; and a manufactory of flax and wool is supported entirely by Mr. and Mrs. Putland, in which more than 40 poor women are employed; the materials, when wove into linens and linseys, are distributed gratuitously among the poor of the neighbourhood.

One-third of the produce of an estate in the county of Longford, bequeathed to the parishes of Bray, Delgany, and Powerscourt by F. Adair, Esq., and amounting to about £60 per annum to each, is distributed among the poor.

Besides the remains of the castle at Little Bray, there are the ruins of two others in the parish; one in the grounds of Old Court, consisting of a tower, With some fragments of the walls. Near these is a rude pyramidal block of granite, on which are some faint traces of ancient sculpture, which, from a print taken before it was so much mutilated, appears to have represented the sacrifice of a ram; on the top of it is a cavity apparently designed for the reception of a cross.

The remains of the other castle, at Fassarow, which was demolished by Cromwell, are not in any way remarkable; coins of William have been found near them, on the road to Old Connaught, where is an ancient cross with a rudely sculptured representation of the Crucifixion.

Under Bray Head are the ruins of an ancient chapel, 40 feet long and 18 feet wide; it is built in a north and south direction, with a circular-headed window at each end, and the doorway on the east side; and near the glebe land is an ancient burial-ground. On levelling a bank of sand near the sea, in 1835, to make an approach to the demesne of Mr. Putland, several human skeletons of large dimensions were discovered, lying regularly east and west, with a stone at the head and another at the feet of each, but which crumbled into dust on exposure to the air; several Roman coins of the Emperor Adrian were found at the same time, and are now in Mr. Putland's possession. There are medicinal springs in the grounds of Kilruddery and Old Court.

Topographical Dictionary of Ireland (1837) by Samuel Lewis; Courtesy & copyright of Mel Lockie

Most Common Surnames in Bray

RankSurnameIncidenceFrequencyPercent of ParentRank in Wicklow
1Byrne2441:296.17%1
2Doyle1621:447.75%2
3Murphy1531:4613.91%3
4Kelly1071:6610.73%4
5Brien721:9913.98%8
6Nolan661:10810.23%7
7Smith611:11622.93%23
8Toole521:13711.38%9
9Farrell511:13914.21%13
10Murray491:14515.26%17
11Bryan431:16543.88%96
12Kenny411:17311.58%14
13Reilly401:1779.73%10
14Carroll381:18713.29%21
14Kavanagh381:1874.04%5
16Ryan371:19216.30%30
17Ledwidge361:19787.80%270
18Martin351:20327.34%65
19Johnston341:20944.74%137
20Bourke321:22227.83%76
20Lynch321:22218.39%45
20O'Brien321:22212.36%24
20Redmond321:2229.41%16
24Robinson311:22946.97%175
25Dempsey301:23726.32%77
26Traynor291:24528.43%89
26Whelan291:2458.45%15
28McDonnell281:25420.14%59
28Quinn281:25410.98%25
28Wilson281:25417.61%48
31Allen271:26318.00%50
31Hall271:26320.93%64
31Lee271:26331.03%115
31Moore271:26311.64%28
35Cullen261:2733.64%6
35Roberts261:27350.00%225
35Scott261:27350.00%225
38Clarke251:28413.44%37
38Kinsella251:2848.65%19
40Keenan231:30923.23%95
41Butler221:32320.37%82
41FitzPatrick221:32312.22%40
41Forde221:32341.51%220
41Naylor221:32381.48%391
41Neill221:3235.56%11
41O'Connor221:32328.95%137
41Short221:32323.66%106
48Hamilton211:33826.92%133
48Humphries211:33891.30%435
48Lawless211:33821.43%96
48Tobin211:33836.84%207
48Walker211:33823.08%109
53Clifton201:35595.24%472
53Connor201:3559.05%33
53Dunne201:3555.12%12
53FitzSimon201:355100.00%497
53Jones201:35510.20%35
53Neary201:35568.97%368
53O'Reilly201:35525.00%125
53O'Toole201:35512.74%49
61Burke191:37410.61%41
61Cranley191:374100.00%524
61Thompson191:37424.05%129
61Whiston191:37442.22%252
65Casey181:39466.67%391
65Egan181:39475.00%423
65Field181:39485.71%472
65Foley181:39412.59%58
65Long181:39427.69%179
70Browne171:41822.67%143
70Connolly171:41816.19%85
70Harrison171:41839.53%261
70Keogh171:4185.41%18
70McCann171:41844.74%289
70Sullivan171:41827.87%194
70Waldron171:41821.25%125
70White171:4188.81%36
78Berry161:44472.73%454
78Boyd161:44450.00%334
78Brady161:4446.90%28
78Collins161:44421.05%137
78Cunningham161:44422.22%155
78Daly161:44428.07%207
78Devitt161:44430.19%220
78Dowling161:44413.68%73
78Fortune161:44431.37%234
78McCarthy161:44453.33%355
78McGrath161:44416.84%103
78Noctor161:44440.00%276
78Walsh161:4446.53%27
91Barry151:47320.00%143
91Fleming151:47310.20%51
91Giles151:47371.43%472
91O'Neill151:4736.61%30
91Power151:47332.61%249
96D'arcy141:5077.73%39
96Duffy141:50713.59%87
96Keegan141:50715.73%112
96Kennedy141:5074.95%22
96MacDonnell141:507100.00%669
96Moran141:50711.48%69
102Campbell131:54621.31%194
102Farrelly131:54672.22%541
102Fisher131:54615.66%121
102Greer131:54665.00%497
102Hayden131:54611.11%73
102Howe131:54676.47%572
102Lennon131:54610.57%68
102Loughlin131:5467.74%46
102Lyons131:54630.23%261
102Sinnott131:54618.57%160
112Barnewell121:592100.00%742
112Bolger121:5928.76%62
112Bolton121:59227.91%261
112Booth121:59240.00%355
112Carton121:59229.27%270
112Curley121:59254.55%454
112Dillon121:59230.00%276
112Evans121:5927.14%46
112Harold121:59275.00%606
112Hughes121:5926.45%37
112Kenna121:59223.53%234
112Lawler121:59212.37%101
112Mills121:59242.86%380
112Mooney121:5929.92%70
112Morgan121:59231.58%289
112Nangle121:59270.59%572
112Richardson121:59213.48%112
112Smyth121:5926.82%42
130Archer111:64547.83%435
130Blackburne111:64547.83%435
130Cleary111:64510.68%87
130Coleman111:64516.67%175
130Dalton111:64519.30%207
130FitzGerald111:64516.92%179
130Flannigan111:64591.67%742
130Fox111:6457.64%57
130Hickey111:64515.71%160
130Hyland111:64521.15%225
130Kilbride111:64526.83%270
130Leonard111:64527.50%276
130McFarland111:64591.67%742
130Morton111:64537.93%368
130Plunkett111:64528.21%284
130Stewart111:64539.29%380
146Bird101:710100.00%843
146Budds101:710100.00%843
146Clifford101:71045.45%454
146Coghern101:710100.00%843
146Devlin101:71030.30%327
146Donegan101:71015.87%186
146Doran101:7105.68%42
146Gray101:71035.71%380
146Henry101:71062.50%606
146Ivory101:71037.04%391
146Larkin101:71030.30%327
146Lowe101:71031.25%334
146McDermott101:71029.41%319
146McGarry101:71071.43%669
146Raverty101:710100.00%843
146Reynolds101:71020.00%238
146Scarff101:71090.91%790
146Ward101:7109.90%91
146Young101:71033.33%355
165Acton91:78950.00%541
165Bailey91:78934.62%405
165Balance91:789100.00%912
165Barrington91:78969.23%707
165Carey91:7899.68%106
165Corcoran91:78932.14%380
165Corrigan91:78918.00%238
165Craig91:789100.00%912
165Douglas91:78917.31%225
165Furlong91:78911.84%137
165Handy91:789100.00%912
165Hayes91:78912.50%155
165Hoey91:78950.00%541
165Jackson91:7899.89%109
165Killeen91:78933.33%391
165Laughlin91:78964.29%669
165Leary91:78923.08%284
165Malone91:78912.00%143
165Mason91:78911.69%136
165McEvoy91:78916.67%219
165Millar91:78964.29%669
165Mostyn91:789100.00%912
165O'Meara91:78975.00%742
165Pluck91:78937.50%423
165Rourke91:7899.57%104
165Salmon91:78952.94%572
165Sloan91:78990.00%843
165Statton91:789100.00%912
165Thomas91:78925.00%304
165Tully91:78990.00%843
165Usher91:78950.00%541
165Vickers91:78920.45%257
165Waters91:78917.65%234
198Andrews81:88788.89%912
198Cahill81:88719.51%270
198Cannon81:88740.00%497
198Carr81:88710.13%129
198Coffey81:88714.04%207
198Coghlan81:88742.11%524
198Donoghue81:88730.77%405
198Edwards81:88733.33%423
198Fanning81:88726.67%355
198Fields81:88738.10%472
198Griffin81:8877.27%80
198Harris81:88717.78%252
198Hart81:88744.44%541
198Heffernan81:88725.00%334
198Irwin81:88738.10%472
198Kearns81:8876.35%67
198Kerse81:887100.00%976
198Lacey81:88714.29%211
198Mahony81:88734.78%435
198Malley81:887100.00%976
198Manley81:88714.55%214
198McCabe81:88710.67%143
198McGee81:88744.44%541
198McKenna81:88740.00%497
198Meyer81:887100.00%976
198Miller81:88732.00%415
198Mullen81:88721.05%289
198O'Hanlon81:887100.00%976
198Quillinan81:88780.00%843
198Shea81:88718.18%257
198Stalton81:887100.00%976
198Wailes81:887100.00%976