White Abbey

White Abbey is a townland (of 406 acres) in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The shoreline village spelt Whiteabbey, was established within the townland of White Abbey in the late 19th century. Today, it is a location within the borough of Newtownabbey. White Abbey is part of the civil parish of Carnmoney and the historic barony of Belfast Lower.

History

White Abbey's name is derived from a Roman Catholic Premonstratensian abbey which existed in the area in the Medieval period, the monks of which are said to have worn white robes. All traces of the abbey are now gone although the site, in a field beside the grounds of Whiteabbey Hospital at Doagh Road, remains undeveloped. It can be viewed from the adjacent Abbots Cross Garden Village. The site of the Premonstratensian Abbey is designated as a Scheduled Historic Monument at grid ref: J3497 8198.

In the first half of the 19th century, the village of Whiteabbey was home to a large bleach works and was an important landing site for coal shipments bound for Belfast. Remnants of the old pier can still be seen in the sea. The importance of Whiteabbey declined after the channel into Belfast harbour was widened and straightened allowing larger ships to reach the city directly.