THE TOWNLAND OF ALTATURK

The townland of Altaturk is in the parish of Kildarton in Armagh County. It
is labelled number 1 on the map. (H922455)

The Environment and Heritage Service Sites and Monuments Record (2002) notes
the following in this townland:

Rath of the Early Christian Period
SMR NO: ARM 012:009
GRIDREF: H92324525
CONDITION: SOME REMAINS
“Slightly to the E of the top of a small drumlin. The roughly circular
interior is relatively level, measuring 37m N-S & 39m E-W. On the N &
W is a quite substantial bank 0.8m high and upto 3.5m wide, surmounted by
a hedge. On the E & S the perimeter is defined by a scarp which falls
c.1.2m to the surrounding ground level. A ditch preserved on the N & W
measures 3-4m wide & 1.4m deep below ground level, and up to 2m below
the bank. The site appears to be levelled out of the hillside.
BIBLIOGRAPHY: PATERSON, T.G.F. NOTES, VOL.135.”

“Allen’s Field Forth” or “Allen’s Forth”, an enclosure
of uncertain period.
SMR NO: ARM 012:075
GRIDREF: H9245
CONDITION: NO VISIBLE REMAINS
Not precisely located.
BIBLIOGRAPHY: PATERSON, T.G.F. NOTES VOL.135

Paterson (Armachiana, Vol. 16, p.21) notes:

Altaturk. “The height of the boar”. The prefix “alt” is pretty generally spread throughout the country and forms the first syllable of about 100 townlands in the four provinces. In Armagh, for instance, we have Altnamackan (the hill of the wild parsnips) and Altanaveigh, which may mean ‘the cliff of the ravens’. It also occurs as a combination in Drumaltnamuck ‘the ridge of the glen of the pigs’. The wild boar (torc) formerly abounded. Boars are often mentioned in old poems and tales and the pursuit of them was one of the amusements of the people. Altaturk must have been a resort of such animals as also Drumhirk – ‘the ridge of the boar’ – a townland near Keady.

PRONI records: T.387 (Rent roll of Earl of Charlemont estate.); OS/6/2/12/1 (Surveyed 1835. Engraved 1835.); OS/6/2/12/2 (Surveyed 1835. Revised 1860. Engraved 1860 (Stat file copy).); OS/6/2/12/3 (Not Received.); OS/6/2/12/4 (Surveyed 1835. Revised 1905-06. Reprinted 1931-1947. Published 1931 with mss markings in red and stamped references 2566, 2567, 2573.); OS/6/2/12/5 (Surveyed 1906. Revised 1948. Levelled 1888 and 1906. Levels revised 1949. Published 1953. (2 copies) – 1 being reprint 1953, 56, 61).); OS/6/2/13/1 (Surveyed 1834-35. Engraved 1835.); OS/6/2/13/2 (Surveyed 1834-35. Revised 1860. Engraved 1863 (Stat file copy).); OS/6/2/13/3 (Surveyed 1834-35. Revised 1905-06. Published 1930.); OS/6/2/13/4 (Surveyed 1905-06. Revised 1954-55. Levelled 1888 and 1892 and 1902, 1905-1906. Levels part revised 1948. Published 1958. (2 copies).); VAL/1B/230 (1st valuation records.); VAL/12B/10/25A, VAL/12B/10/25B, VAL/12B/10/25C, VAL/12B/10/25D, VAL/12B/10/25E (Valuation annual revision list.); VAL/2B/2/28C (Griffith valuation list.).