The Fourmile

The Fourmile House at Donaghmore was one of the many inns on the turnpike road between Dublin to Belfast in the mid-1700s. Coaches began using the route in the 1740s and resting places were essential for the comfort of travellers and horses. In the late 1700s, the Fourmile House was kept by Alexander Stewart and his wife and was an important stopping point for travellers and locals, with United Irishmen and militia frequenting the inn.

In 1807 presentments were made at the Down Assizes for improving and altering the coach road. This included a new line of road between Newry and Frankfort, by the Sheepbridge, west of the original road. 

With the new section of the road built, the old Fourmile House became redundant, and a new one was established. This included a shop, post office and public house, with a Session Room to cater for large parties. A new hotel was opened by the proprietor, David Woods, shortly after he took over the business in 1840. The post office is mentioned several times in the diaries of James Harshaw. It was an important means of conducting business and keeping in touch with friends and family, especially those who had emigrated to America.

During the Famine, a depot was established there by the Board of Guardians of the Newry Union, to distribute Yellow Indian Meal, which was delivered weekly. Meetings of the subscribers to the Donaghmore Dispensary, located in a building on Woods’ farm, were also held there. Presentment Sessions, for the Barony of Upper Iveagh (Upper Half), made up of local magistrates and cess-payers took place half yearly.

The Fourmile House was a focal point for the local community and gatherings and events were held at the venue, such as ploughing matches and the annual Donaghmore Farming Society Cattle Show. Auctions were held on the last Wednesday of every month for the sale of livestock and agricultural stock. 

The site was a meeting place for Orange Order processions. The Morning Herald (London) edition of 15 July 1848 notes that 30 or40 Orange lodges from Warrenpoint, Newry and Loughbrickland assembled at the Fourmile House, “the multitude computed at several thousands”. The lodges marched to a nearby field on the Donaghmore Road for their demonstration.

After 70 years in the Woods family, by 1910, the pub had closed and there were plans to close the shop and post office. The McClean family, whose farm was across the road, agreed to take over the business and built a new shop and post office to accommodate it. The family already ran a blacksmith shop at the site, mainly engaged in repairing farm machinery. The two business had run side by side since the early 1800s, with an early Ordnance Survey map from 1832 showing a smithy on the site. A weighbridge across the road weighed coal, animals and carts taking hay, straw, turnips and potatoes to Newry market.

As well as sending and receiving post, the introduction of a square wooden telephone box, enabled locals to make phone calls. Mrs McClean contacted the operator and gave the required number. At the end of the call, she would ask for the cost of the call, which the customer paid, and recorded it in the phone call book. 

The shop and post office continued to be the hub of the local community for around half a century, before its closure. Further upgrades to the A1 in 2005 saw a new section of dual-carriageway built to the west, bypassing the Fourmile once again.

The Museum is currently offering free tours of the main exhibition galleries on Wednesdays at 2.00 pm. These must be booked in advance by calling our Education Officer at 0330 137 4422. 

Newry and Mourne Museum is open Tuesday – Saturday 10.00 am – 4.30 pm. Please call 0330 137 4422 or email museums@nmandd.org for further information.

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