ARTHURSTOWN, or KING'S-BAY, a post-town,
in the parish of ST-JAMES, barony of SHELBURNE,
county of WEXFORD, and province of LEINSTER, 9¼
miles (S. E. by S.) from New Ross, and 80 (S. by W.)
from Dublin; containing 170 inhabitants. This place is
situated on Waterford harbour, three miles below the
junction of the rivers Barrow, Suir, and Nore, and derives
its origin and name from its proprietor, Arthur, first and
present Lord Templemore, whose seat is here, and by
whom it has been mostly built within the last few years.
The trade consists principally in the importation of coal
and culm from South Wales, and slates from Bangor;
and the exportation to Waterford of corn, pigs, butter,
eggs, honey, and poultry. It has a commodious quay,
with a gravelly strand open to Waterford harbour; and
a pier of millstone grit found in the quarries here, 306
feet in length, and originally intended for the accommodation
of the boats employed in the fishery, has been
constructed at an expense of £3000, of which £700 was
granted by the late Fishery Board, and the remainder
was defrayed by Lord Templemore. Vessels of 100 tons'
burden can come up close to the pier, but the entrance
has lately become partially choked with an accumulation
of mud, which requires speedy removal, and the adoption
of some plan calculated to prevent a recurrence of
the obstruction. The bay is subject to a heavy sea
during the prevalence of south, south-west, and northwest
winds. This place is a chief constabulary police
station, and a station of the coast-guard. There is a
dispensary, and a fever hospital was also built, but the
Grand Jury, on application being made for its support,
deemed it unnecessary. See JAMES-ST.