St James and the Diamond give Moy a historic village centre; The Argory adds a country house on the River Blackwater to this picture. St James was built in 1819 and is a Grade I listed building, more than 200 years old. The Argory, at 144 Derrycaw Road in Moy, is an Irish country house dating from the 1820s, overlooking the river. The church and country house represent different scales: St James forms the centre of the village plan, while The Argory and its estate offer another perspective.
The Village Centre and Its History
The village plan was laid out in 1764 to a design by the Earl of Charlemont, with St James at its centre. The Diamond, a central tree-lined square, is the focal point of the settlement. Notable features of St James include its stained-glass windows, including a large south transept window above Lady Charlemont’s door. Moy Gates and Screen mark the entrance to the now-vanished Roxborough Castle.
Moy brings together different scales of local history: the design concerns the village layout as a whole, while the windows and gates highlight individual architectural details. The Diamond also has its own story: it is said to have been modelled on the Lombard village of Bosco Marengo, which the young Viscount Charlemont visited during his Grand Tour.
Another strand of history leads to the Moy horse fair. A monthly horse sale organised in Moy in 1761 is considered its beginning; over the course of its history, the fair became one of the largest horse fairs in Europe. The fair’s origins and the 1764 village plan place different aspects of local history in the same decade.
The Argory: Country House and Landscape
The two buildings are close in date: St James was built in 1819, while The Argory dates from the 1820s. The Argory estate covers 315 acres and features oaks, chestnuts, beeches and impressive avenues of lime trees. The house and its trees give visitors a different focus from Moy’s village centre.
The River Walk at The Argory follows the River Blackwater around the estate and crosses Bond's Bridge, a bridge from the industrial era. In addition to the main car park, visitor facilities include a nature-themed wooden play area and picnic lawns; balance bikes are available at visitor reception. The riverside walk and the other facilities offer two distinct ways to enjoy a visit.
Visitor Information
Outside service times, St James may be opened to visitors by calling the number displayed on site. Check this option before you travel.
At Moy Antiques, you can browse at your leisure among numerous old-world-style cottages. Check current visiting arrangements before you travel.
Discover more destinations: Fivemiletown, Dungannon.
Return to the main travel overview: Dungannon.
