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The Association of British Counties

Gazetteer of
British Place Names

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Longkesh, Down

Longkesh is a village, lying along Kesh Road to the south of Down Royal Race Course in County Down. It is within the townland of Maze, in the civil parish of Blaris. RAF Long Kesh, east of the village operated from 1940-1947. In 1971 the disused airfield became Long Kesh Detention Centre, from 1976 HM Prison Maze ("the Maze"), used to house paramilitary prisoners during the Troubles. The Maze Presbyterian Church, at the southern end of the village, opened in 1859, with a major renovation in 2004. Maze Orange Hall dates from 1890. The village is within the council area of Lisburn and Castlereagh.

Primary Name(s): Longkesh
Variant Name(s):  Long Kesh   The Long Kesh (Historic)
Place Type: Village
Historic County: Down
Lat, Long: 54.483796,-6.119583
Grid Reference: J 2192 6111
Townland: Maze TD
Civil Parish: Blaris CP
Council Area: Lisburn and Castlereagh CA
Police Area: Northern Ireland PA
Devolved Legislature: Northern Ireland Assembly
GBPN ID: 321911

 GBPN URL: https://gazetteer.org.uk/place/Longkesh,_Down_321911
 Wikidata: https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6674039