The Heart of the Borough

Market Square ! The Centre of Lisburn ! On the old maps "The Market Place" with the Market House. The stage on which many stirring events were enacted in the dim and misty past.

Where our forefathers perhaps dangled at the end of a rope, or stood in the ranks of the yeomanry and fired a feu de joie. Who knows.

This was the site of the original market place and the market continued here since it commenced until the 1930s, when the Urban Council had it removed to Smithfield. The part of the square so used was roughly the shape of a triangle with points at the Corner Cafe, Tweedy Acheson and Nicholson.

An area at the taxi-stand on the south side of the assembly rooms could also be used. The site was suitable when times were more leisurely, when motor traffic was non-existent or only a trickle, but as the number and speed of vehicles increased it had to be transferred to a more suitable position:

If you look at some of the Council stalls in the area now used as a market place, you will see they are on wheels. These stalls used to be stored in the Butter and Egg Market, now the Post Office and once the Linen Hall.

On Tuesday mornings they were wheeled up to the square, used by the market traders and then wheeled back again. One man I remember, sold delft. He had a humorous line of patter, and be would throw a plate up in the air and catch it on another plate. He never made a mistake !

The market stalls and people usually overflowed its limits all around, and if any of Millar and Stevenson's breadcarts were in front of their shop (now Belfast Banking Company) it was difficult for other vehicles to get past, for they were going both ways.

There was no one-way traffic then-it was a very lively sight on a Tuesday.

What a change now-a car park ! Is it really necessary? Could we not have instead another lovely flower-bed like the one as you enter Bangor from Belfast? It would create such a favourable impression on visitors and, indeed, on ourselves.

Open spaces can be beautiful and lend dignity to the surroundings. They me an essential part of planning. Roll on the proposed pedestrian precincts, where the shopper can move around freely and safely, and so that they will have no difficulty in carrying their cash to the banks. Have you counted the number of banks lately? There's no poverty in the Lisburn area, and a good job too !

Another pleasant memory is of Coulson's garden at the rear of their premises in Market Square. Now Central Chambers. This little garden had a path lined with small trees, topped and grown bushy and led down to the works office and hand-loom weaving factory, now all gone and another car-park has developed.

Market Square c. 1884 Please Click

These car-parks are like a cancer eating away at the open spaces, until, if we allow it to happen, there won' t be an open space left: Can someone suggest a cure?

Have you observed Mr. Smartt's premises above the shop? One of the oldest buildings, and, such a nice oriel window. Look at the, old roofwork, small slates at the ridge and gradually getting larger towards the eaves-gutter.

This house used to have a garden at rear which had that lovely dark red rhubarb growing, which made such, lovely rhubarb tarts really mouth-watering.

But you have to be inside this house to realise how artistic and comfortable was the architect's conception of what a home should be. Mr. and Mrs. Smartt, very wisely, have not changed the interior design, but have added modern furnishings which enhance the old-fashioned beauty.

In the front sitting-room there are two large wall paintings, that is, oil paintings directly on the wall, instead of wall-paper., One, is of "Isole Bella," an island on lake Maggiore, Switzerland, and the other the "Island of Gozo," near Malta.,They were painted by a former resident of the house.

There is a tradition that this house is one of a very few which was not burned down in the. accidental. fire of 1707, when the town was destroyed, The Savings Bank was said to be another house not burned. If you look at the front wall of this bank, you will see a date-stone with the letters "MM" and the date "1709." The tradition may be quite true.

Mr. Smart and, his good wife can sit in this lovely interior surrounded by old-world-charm and watch the,ceaseless frenzy of today rushing past the oriel window. What a change for them when the pedestrian precinct finally evolves and Market Square becomes its old quiet self.

Maybe we might even have the market back on special occasions, for old times' sake?

Please read the poetry on the plaque on the north wall of the Corner Cafe. It is most interesting, but where was it placed originally?

I am sure there is a good story here if we only knew.

In 1819 there were 45 householders in the Square, and with the exception of two ladies and two gentlemen, who apparently had no occupation, they all had a business of some kind: five publicans, two muslin manufacturers, one linen damask manufacturer (Coulsons) three woollen drapers, two inn-keepers, one surgeon (Dr. Musgrave, at the Savings Bank site), one spruce-beer maker, three pawnbrokers, and one baker (just like today), and one retailer of delft, and a few others.

But to all the businessmen Market Square was the place where the money was made.

As we are dealing more with places than people we have just scratched the surface of the history of Market Square, and we must push on.

The streets off Market Square which we have not mentioned previously are:-Market Lane, Market Street and Railway Street. We will have a look at Market lane, a very old thoroughfare, in existence before the other two streets and indicated on the Town Plotte of Lisnegarvey, 1620.

It led from Market Square to a lane at the far end of Hill Street, which lane ran down to the Lagan River. There may have been a ford here as the road to Dublin, the old Hillsborough Road, was beside the river on the other side. Also, there was a fort at the top of the Hill street, and the lane to the river must have been used at that time. The Fort area is now a housing estate.

I think there is some confusion about the name of Market Lane. Some call it Market Lane and some Piper Hill.

From my examination of the old maps, I find that the portion from Market Square to Linenhall Street is Market Lane; the portion from Linenhall Street to Back Lane (Laganbank Road) was Piper Hill, and the rest, the high part, was named as a continuation of Piper Hll or the Hill Street.

The few houses on the left just past Bank Lane, were known as "Hillmount Row." This was before "Sinclairs Row" was built on the other side.

The old houses which were in Market Lane and those just opposite Linenhall Street had cellars, used as stores or weaving shops. I have been down in these cellars, but alas! there were no weavers and no weaving.

Market Lane Please Click

The entrance to the cellar was gained by the lifting of a trap door in the kitchen or hall floor, which revealed wooden steps, and you went down to the earthen floor.

These houses are now down, but you can see where the ground floor door and window openings have been bricked up in the existing portion of the front wall on the left.

This wall is all that is left of the Market Lane houses. In 1919 there were 21 houses in Market Lane and 23 in Piper Hill. Hill Street is not mentioned in the directory.

The sight of the soldiers in their gaily-coloured uniforms must have been commonplace in Piper Hill and Market Lane in those early days, coming and going to the barracks in Barrack Lane, and the sound of the bugle must have reverberated round the houses.

If there are any such things as ghosts they should be here.

In the year 2000, maybe there will be a pageant and the soldiers will again march down Piper Hill, one of them "with his bead tucked underneath his arm," If he is not there, I'll feel like asking for my money back.

Next, Market Street. What can we say about Market Street? Not much, I'm afraid. Just a connecting link between Market Square, Smithfield and the Markets. There was a row of dwelling-house shops on each side. It was named "The Old Shambles" at one time and a part of it "The New Shambles."

This name referred to the slaughter houses in Browns Entry. A kind of commercial slaughtering place with the By-wash receiving the effluent and taking it to the Lagan. The Shambles were erected in 1796 by the Marquis of Hertford.

From 1929 to 1939 the private slaughter houses were more scattered and were usually behind the butchers' shops. The owners were: John Magee, Bridge Street; Pat Laverty, Bow Street; Jacob Green, Bow Street; John M. Cummins, Bow Street; Robert McMullen. Causeway end. William Drake had a slaughter-house behind No.13, Bow Street; Wm. Laverty, Chapel Hill; Drake Brothers' premises at Smithfield (wool shop now). It is still there.

There is no slaughtering of animals in Lisburn now.

Market Street is not mentioned in the 1819 Directory. I am of the opinion that Market Street was never looking so tidy and prosperous as it does today. The Presbyterian Church alterations have been a great help in making a very nice entrance to the street.

The Christian Workers' Union Hall was, in 1914, "The Lisburn Electric Picture Palace;" and before that it was a Methodist Chapel, The original chapel was built about 1774 and rebuilt 1789. It was in 1789 that John Wesley preached in it.

   Oldest Fireplace in the Town

  Photograph

Since writing the previous chapter I have in the meantime made a discovery, or perhaps I should say, I have followed up clues about, of all thing, the history of an old fireplace.

How old, who can say, but certainly before 1782 ! What started me off on the trail of this ancient housewarmer2 Gather round while I tell.

While looking over the books in the Library in Railway Street, I picked up a book of Denis O'D. Hanna�s, `The Face of Ulster;' and found a reference to Lisburn. He mentioned that a house in Market Square, Lisburn, had been known as "God's Providence House;" as it had survived the great fires and was probably the only house to do so.

As the position of this house was not actually indicated, I wrote Mr. Hanna and in a reply he sketched the Market Square and the position of the house.

It was on the site of Messrs. Tweedy, Acheson & Co.'s shop in the centre of the square, and it was said to be the only house in that Square that survived the fires of the 1641 rebellion.

Mr. Hanna also mentioned that as a boy, his father, who was a Lisburn man and an historian, took him into the cellars of some of the shops on the north side of the square (Smyth Patterson side) and showed him the marks of the fires and 1641 damage.

We had now found, we hoped, the site of "God's Providence House." Was there any further evidence of the existence of a house on this site at this late stage that would defy contradiction? Read on:

The above information caused me to think back some twenty-five years ago, when, as a Public Health Inspector I had occasion to carry out an inspection under the floors of these premises, including this very shop.

At that time I had noticed an old fireplace, dilapidated and rusty, but had not given it much thought, but now it assumed greater Importance. I would have to make further investigations.

Calling with John Chapman, Castle Street, we had a good look at several photos of the square in early times and also a copy of the well-known painting of the Lambeg and Lisburn Volunteers on parade in the square in 1782.

All these pictures had the old buildings in the background, and there is a chimney to be seen in the middle of the roof directly above the basement fireplace, But at approximately 1908 extensive alterations were carried out to the upper portion, windows and roof work and a flat roof with an iron railing surround added. (Not the present roof, which was built after a serious fire some 20 years ago)
.

The main thing to us was: the chimney had gone! During the alterations the chimney had been removed, after one hundred years at least.

I next called with Mr. Acheson at the shop and after a conversation, he was enthusiastic in helping with the investigation. He had the floor-boards lifted, and down again I went and there was the old fireplace, still looking the same as when I last saw it. It really gave me a thrill this time to look at it and think that it may have been there since before 1707. It was certainly there in 1782.

  The chimney is clearly seen in the painting of that date.

  What is the fireplace like? Here's a description:

  The fireplace has not got a chimney stack-that was removed during the alterations, and the fireplace finishes at the flooring joists above, at a height of approximately six feet from floor level, and the stone wall at the back of the fire is used as a support for the shop floor.

Between the jambs or sides, the opening for the fire is five feet, the jambs are fifteen inches thick and the depth to the back of the fire is eighteen inches. There are four iron firebars in the grate thirty inches long and about one and a half inches thick, and twelve inches from top bar to bottom of fire.

There is a space of twelve inches below the fire. The height of the fireplace can only be guessed as the top has been removed.

The wall at the back of the fire is made with basalt or whinstone and is over two feet thick. The jambs are of a reddish brown brick and stone. The hobs are fifteen inches from jamb to fire-bars.

The stone-work and brick-work is very rough and any covering material has fallen away. There may have been a covering of slate, as there are thick slabs lying around in the debris on the floor which is about an average of eighteen inches thick.

It would be worthwhile to sift through this collection of rubbish and earth.

Taking into consideration that men have been down here working at various times, it is remarkable that there is any of the old fireplace left. The floor of this room has been covered with a cream-coloured tile twelve inches square and onee and a half inches thick.

These tiles have been added at a later date. In the outside stone walls there are bricked-up openings.

This basement or room must have been a living-room, the large fire-grate, the tiles and the bricked-up openings would point to this.

I have been in the cellars of the Castle Street and Seymour Street old houses and they did not have a fireplace. They were used as wine cellars or store-rooms.

On the site of the public conveniences there was once a pork butcher, Mr. James Frazer, an Urban Councillor. Many people will remember him. Below his shop was a cellar from the front of the building to the rear.

 There was a filled-in well under the footpath at the front. Mr. Frazer cured his pork meat in this cellar, and it was "lovely grub.'

There�s nothing like it now. Of course the pigs were fed on -spuds and buttermilk and yellow meal in those days and the pork meat from Frazer's was a feed for the gods. There was no fireplace, however, in the cellar.

How far back in time does this old fireplace go? It is very difficult to say. It may go back to 1707 and even before that date. Why was it not destoyed in the big fire of 1707?

The theory is, that being on an island and completely detached from the other burning buildings, the open roads and the square acted as a fire-break and the flames did not reach the centre of the square. It seems a fairly reasonable assumption.

Here is what I think, and some questions!

This is a very old fireplace, probably from around 1707. At least from 1782. It was in a living-room. It should be preserved, and perhaps reconstructed where it now is. Is it the oldest fireplace in Lisburn? Any challengers? Was the tiled floor once level with the street?

In shoveling some of the debris away to let the "Star" photographer get a picture, I found two bottles. The bottles were beside the fire. One was a Grattan's s dark green, thick glass, mineral bottle, with a rounded bottom.

This round bottom prevented you from standing the bottle on end and it had to lie on its side. You see, in those days the mineral bottles were corked, a thin round piece of wood placed on top and wired down with very thin wire. This was all done to prevent the cork from shrinking and permitting the gas to escape. This bottle could date from 1825, when Grattans commenced the mineral water business.

The other glass bottle is pale green, roughly made almost circular but flat, with neck for, say, half-inch cork. A typical bottle for a hip pocket. Each of these bottles holds a half-pint.

I would say the flat one was for spirits. The occupier must have been a liberal-minded person. Could any spirit connoisseur give a probable date for the hill-flask?

I'm sure there me other things of interest under the debris, and a search will require to be organised.

At the same time, 1903, a plan was also approved for Mr. Duncan to place seven lamp-posts (ten feet tall), spaced across the front of the shop and at the edge of the footpath.

They were to light the shop windows, hold up a long sun-blind, and, would you believe it? to act as hitching posts to which you tied your horse.

There was a loose ring attached to the posts about three feet from the ground and marked on the plan as "bridle rings:" So, if you were coming in on your horse or in a trap, every convenience was provided at Duncan's in the Square.

No talk about traffic wardens in those slow-moving days !

I wonder are there any of Duncan s lamps decorating your garden or driveway. Have a look for the rings or ring-hole.

As a footnote it may be worth while to state that George Duncan took over these premises in 1835 from James Brook. Mr. Acheson, the present owner, has a copy of a small bill or poster (10� x 8� ") which announced the change of ownership. Mr. Acheson acquired these historic premises in about 1941.

This investigation has been a combined effort: Mr. Hanna, Mr. Chapman, Mr. Acheson and myself. I appreciate their valuable assistance. Mr. Hanna's remark in his book about "God's Providence House" bas certainly started a train of thought which may keep going for some time. I hope so.

Now to unhitch my horse from that lamp-post. "Come on boy, hop, hop!" We will now go down Railway Street.

A "Working-Class" Street

Now for a talk about Railway Street, the Schoole-room Lane of a long time ago, and then Jackson's Land of a later period.

Three known changes of name for this now important street. The last change to "Railway Street" took place approximately one hundred and twenty years ago.

Jackson's Lane began at Market Square and ended at Michael Jackson's land on the Magheralave Road. It was the Magheralave Road from there on-Jackson's lane was about the Friends' School playing-fields.

There were 43 dwelling-houses in the lane at the Market Square end in 1919, and they were very different houses and occupiers from those of today.

It was really a working-class lane, like the Market Lane and Piper Hill of the same period. It would be a most interesting study to discover just how the change gradually took place and today's Railway Street took shape.

There were about two hundred and fifty persons living in the lane at this time, probably in thatched cottages. The Friends' Meeting House had been there since 1674 and is a store-house of the history of the local Quakers. It was the only building of note here in 1819. The present meeting-house dates from 1853.

It had an entrance or lane from a point at the Northern Bank, Market Square, and down behind the shops in Railway Street to the church. If you go into Young's Yard in Railway Street, you will see on the left an old stone and rubble wall and an entry or back passage. This was the church lane.

A break-down of the class of persons in the lane can be judged fairly well by the occupations of the resident householders.

Here they are in 1819; two gardeners, seven weavers, fourteen labourers, two shoemakers, one bleacher, one button-mould maker, one coach driver, one hairdresser, one carpenter, one baker, one wheelwright, one blacksmith, two servants, one bookbinder, one waiter, one ostler, one tobacco spinner, one schoolmaster, and Sarah Haggarty, Jane Moore and Bridget Kearns, whose occupations were not listed probably widows.

The schoolmaster was named James Cunningham, and on one of the old maps a school is indicated about the site of Railway Street Presbyterian Church, hence the old name, "Schoole-room Lane." I don't however think that he had anything to do with this very old school.

Just give a thought to Jackson's Lane with its small houses and workers of almost every occupation needed to provide the wants of a small town. But I'm intrigued with the "Button Mould Maker." Probably a highly-skilled craftsman, making moulds for metal buttons, perhaps wills a raised design like those on the Volunteers' uniform. David Hamilton had to know his job. And the �tobacco spinner,� Michael Gribben, did he make those long, thick coils of rope-like chewing tobacco which used to be seen in the shops? Did he work at home or did he travel to Belfast? And the "ostler" or "hostler," Peter McCloskey, did he refresh the horses at John McComb's "Hereford Arms" or George Moores "King's Arms" in Market Square? You can just imagine him puffing and blowing, undoing the harness, bringing out buckets of wafer, and amid many "Whoa there's" tying on the nosebag of corn.

Yes, there was plenty of bustle and excitement, stamping and rattling when the coach arrived with its passengers and his friend, Wm. Mooney, coach driver, also of Jackson's Lane, up on the box and coming down for something to warm him up. 

All this now only to be seen on Christmas cards. And do you know, a good job too. It was a tough life.

At this time Wallace Avenue was still gardens and fields, and Bachelors Walk a country lane, with a stream coming across the fields, now Wallace Park, taking the overflow from the town reservoir (the duck pond), and running down the side of the walk to join the by-wash in Antrim Lane.

Colonel Graham's gardens were on the other side. It must have been a delightful place for a stroll of an evening.

On the 22nd April, 1899, the last of the old trees which used to adorn the streets of Lisburn was removed. It stood in the Bachelors Walk, and it is said it was planted on the day of the coronation of Queen Victoria in 1837.

But change was on the way, and rapidly. The work of making the Ulster Railway single track line from Belfast to Lisburn commenced in 1837, and the trains began running in 1839. It took two years to do the seven and a half miles with pick and shovel, and horse and cart.

There was one stop for "one minute" at Dunmurry. A level crossing was made across the line at the bottom of Jackson's Lane. A new age had arrived at one shilling first class, sixpence second class, children half price, and 3,000 people travelled amidst great excitement on the first day.

When it became known that the trains would run on Sunday. there was a great outcry, "souls were going to the devil at sixpence a time." However, it all died away and the railway became a safe investment. There were three locomotives with highly expletive names, "The Express;' "The Fury," and "The Spitfire" Each weighed fourteen and a half tons and cost �.1,760 with tender; twenty-five miles per hour top speed.

When did Jackson's Lane become Railway Street? In the book of the estate, maps showing the vacant Town Parks (rented land from Sir Richard Wallace), the map of 1843 shows the name "Jackson's Lane;" and in 1844 the name is changed to "Railway Street."

Many other old names must have done the same as the "iron monster" gradually covered the land.

Surely it's time now for another change of name! What about "Gough Way" in memory of the first principal of Friends School (The Hill School of the early days), whose grave is just over the wall in the Friends' graveyard, next to the meeting-house, since 1791.

Have you ever been in this little cemetery between the Meeting House and the Nursery School? No. You didn't know it was there! Well, come with me for a walk round this miniature haven of rest and take a close look at the headstones.

The high wall, about fourteen feet, effectively shuts off the sight of Railway Street, but not the noise. The tall houses on the other side of the road throw back the sound of the traffic. This sacred plot measures approximately twenty yards by twenty-six yards and was probably first used as a burial ground by the Quakers after the original Meeting House was built in 1674.

There is a straight line of smallish headstones standing up side by side and at a right angle to Railway Street. There are eighteen of them. There are also three others in a separate grave with iron railings lying flat and one other lying flat in another grave plot.

Of the eighteen headstones, fifteen are Richardsons, one Clibborn, one Malcolmson, and one John Gough. The inscriptions on the stones merely give the barest details, for instance, here is the oldest: `John Gough Born 1721, Died 25th 10th Mo. 1791:'

All the stones give the same bare, brief and unemotional details of the deceased. The name of the month is not mentioned, only the number. The three flat stones in the one grave are for the Gregg family and the other by itself is for Ellen Robson, died 1872, aged 61 years.

The oldest person laid to rest is Mary Ann Gregg, 92 years of age. The youngest, Anna Catherine Richardson, aged three months. Her mother, Catherine, died the month previously,

Oh, by the way, all the Christian names on the headstones are those that have been with us for a long time: John, Henry, Jonathan, Harriet, Henrietta, Samuel, Joseph, James, Sarah, etc., and one inscription reads: "William Richardson and Elizabeth Joseph his wife." Rather unusual.

If you are really interested, it's wonderful the information to be found in a graveyard.

It must have been sometime after the advent of the railway in 1839 that thirteen houses were built in what was called "Wards' Borough;' at about the present site of Wardsborough Road. The name remains but the houses have gone.

These houses are mentioned in the 1862 Valuation lists, and on the estate map of 1876.

Railway Street began to take on its present appearance with the rebuilding of Friends Meeting House, 1853, Railway Street Presbyterian Church, 1863, Railway Hotel (Robin's Nest), about 1870; Orange Hall, 1871; Railway Bridge, about 1877; Court House, 1884; Temperance Institute, 1890, the year Sir Richard Wallace died.

Have you noticed the little drinking fountain in the wall of the Institute? Pinkish, polished granite, with the date in the top corners, and the plaque of the "Cyclists Touring Club." Anyone know anything about this club?

Try and imagine the bottom of Railway Street in 1846. There was the level crossing over the single track railway. Once over, you had a choice of four roads, all meeting at this point close to the railway. First on the immediate left, a road going to the Antrim Road (the North Circular Road had not been made).

This road was level with the railway and went out on to the Antrim Road about what was the goods entrance. The Magheralave Road was a public road and was the second. The third road was a private road called "The Hill School Avenue," and these two went up Pennington's Hill side by side.

The fourth was "The Dean's Walk," a public right-of-way going to the Belfast Road beside the railway cutting with grazing fields on its left. No Wallace Park then.

The Hill School Avenue had a gate lodge at the level crossing and went straight from there up to the cottage in the school grounds and then turned left to the Quaker School on Prospect Hill. You may stand on this road inside Friends Grounds (it runs parallel to Fort Hill which was made later), and if you look down towards the station you will see that it is directly in line with the road.

Where you are standing is what is left of the original road made by the Quakers in 1767. The part with the gate lodge at the level crossing was removed when the two roads were re-routed and carried over the railway by a bridge.

This is just a little of the history of this old street, for them is much more to be told. History is forever being made, for what we do now is the history of tomorrow. I wonder will it be to our credit. "A hae ma doots:"  

Miss Stannus c. 1890 Please Click

Have a good look at the buildings I have mentioned, and also at the houses from top to bottom and from front to back, even to the boot scraper beside some of the front doors, a sign of the old mud roads.

And admire the little gardens still left behind some of the tall houses. Don't forget the Friends' Cemetery. It may be a sobering influence.

In looking at the old estate maps I noticed an interesting piece about the cricket field. In 1855 the field was rented as a grazing field to John Finlay and then transferred to James Kidd in November.

In 1857 it was in James Kidd's name until November, when it was rented to the Cricket Club. The acreage was: one acre, three roods, 36 perches, and a further one acre and eight perches was added to it from land rented by Pat Gelstone, making a total of three acres and four perches.

Pat Colston had grazing land surrounding the cricket field, including what is now the tennis courts.

In 1877 Joseph Kam was stated to be the secretary of the Cricket Club and the area was then three acres and five perches and held on an annual rent of one shilling.

Street Names of a Bygone Age

You may remember that in my chapter on Railway Street I mentioned that its name had been changed from Jackson's Lane, and I suggested that a further change could be considered which would be appropriate to its position as a leading thoroughfare. 

Since then I have been doing some research and have found on old maps and records names for streets, roads and lanes which are no longer remembered, but which were the official and local names for the highways of Lisburn of a bygone age.

This desire to change an old traditional name for another more up to date still persists and is happening quietly today. A well remembered name with perhaps a lifetimes associations and memories disappears.

For instance, do you know where Largymore Drive is? Quite recently it was Plantation Lane and further away in 1837 it was "The Clogher Hill Road." If in that early period you were going to Plantation or The Clogher, your route was Hillhall Road, Clogher Hill Road, turn left up what is now Plantation Avenue, and on up over the hill.

It is good to see "Plantation" being preserved as part of the new title because of its link with the tradition of the neighbourhood-come to think of it, Largymore Drive has a lot in its favour.

It was in Plantation Lane, in a thatched cottage belonging to James McNally that the last of the handloom weavers in Lisburn, who had a loom in the house, ceased to weave about 1935. I remember being in his weaving room after a heavy rainfall had flooded his cottage and seeing the bobbins and other odds and ends floating around.

Shortly after, he left and went to work in Lurgan. The last, as far as Lisburn was concerned, of a dying home craft. The end of an era. I believe you can now take it up as a hobby. The horse has followed the weaver.

The Lisburn Historical Society has a hand-loom given by Sir Ivan Ewart, but it has yet to be erected and put in working order. A souvenir of Lisburn's one-time staple industry. In the 1819 street directory of Belfast and Lisburn there were over one hundred weavers mentioned as householders in Lisburn. Many of them and other members of their families, working for William Coulson in Linenhall Street and Market Lane and at Sprucefield.

Other weavers had their own looms and received the raw materials and wove the brown cloth at home, like the man in Plantation Lane. The whole countryside at this early period was peopled with small farmers who had weaving as a supplementary means of really keeping alive.

Life was very tough, and those long, low thatched cottages, so picturesque now, had "the shop," as the weaving-room was called, in the end room, and the whole family helped with the weaving.

Take a walk out the winding Broomhedge Road, which was, at one time, the only road to Moira, and have a talk with some old inhabitant, and you'll hear the story at first hand.

I've got completely away from my subject of street name changing, but before we return to it I would like to say a word about, the Causeway End, which is, in my opinion, the oldest road in the Lisburn area.

It is unique in structure and in the type of dwelling still there to be seen, and the beautiful views away to Slieve Croob and the Mournes on one side and Colin and Divis on the other.

It is an Esker, that is, a pile of sand and gavel left at the end of the glacial period twenty thousand years ago. There are other eskers in other parts of Ireland, some of which are also used as roads.

It is the townland of Knockmore, which is the "Great Hill;" probably from the height of the Causeway which stuck up out of the low land and bogs through which it runs. The sand pit at Aickin's Hill, at the borough boundary, which is now being filled in, will give you some idea of the depth of the sand and gavel. 

It is called Causeway End, but where does it start? Down about Finaghy, and extends right through to just past Brokerstown Road. I remember a drain being laid in what is now the Fire Authority gateway in Castle Street and the trench was dug through sand and fine gavel, the soil of the esker. 

Do have a walk along Causeway End, take it easy, and look at the mixture of modem dwellings and the sometimes venerable, very old ones. The houses seem to suit the road very well. They are not all nice, some are really poor, gone beyond recall. But some are real fairly-tale material and fitting subjects for the artist.

Until recently, the people got their water supply front springs and a stream alongside. There is a well in the valley opposite No. 106 which has never been known to run dry, and is still running.

Before I retired I had the privilege of recommending that a watermain be laid along the road, which was afterwards done. One day I was along making an inspection and went down to see the well and to my surprise some ducks, having a bathe, flew out with a great flutter and quacking. It made the water-main idea more urgent.

There's always a snag somewhere, isn't there? More of the road is a 30 miles an hour speed limit, but a part is de-restricted and you can now speed up and hurry past what the people call "The Dump." This is, of all things, a car cemetery, and other activities which seem to be going on.

It's a complete surprise and is a terrible let-down for those persons who are keeping their holdings in such lovely condition. Can anything be done?

Changes are afoot up Causeway End these days. Planners with maps have been around. Factories and houses have been mentioned. Progress is about to raise its head and look around at this almost idyllic scene.

Are we to lose this little piece of Knockmore or can anything be done to make it even more attractive, more a beauty spot, a tourist attraction, or am I just talking blethers.

Something has been done! or at least recommended. In the Belfast Urban Area Plan, it is stated: "Causeway End Road to be preserved as a wooded green finger'-and if you don't believe me, call at the Town Hall, Castle Street, and you will see the map yourself.

Don't wait until the bulldozer is pushing in your back door, it'll be too late. Great changes are foreshadowed for all the Lisburn area, and you are involved.

My goodness! When I get on a hobby-horse, I don't know when to get off. Once more to the changelings, and we'll take them more or less in alphabetical order. The present name first and the former names after, with a date here and there as I have noted on the maps.

Antrim Road-Glenavy Road, 1838; Antrim Street-Antrim Lane, 1819; Ballynahinch Road-Black Loanen, 1946; Barrack Street-The Rookery, 1862; Basin Lane-Beggar Lane, 1819.

This lane at No. 9 Seymour Street led up to the basin or town reservoir, now the pond in Wallace Park. From the basin a part of the town got a supply of water in wooden pipes-tree trunks with a hole bored up them. Sir Richard Wallace received payment for the water supplied.

Bow Street-Bow Lane, 1819; Canal Street-Track Line, Lane or Road, 1819; Castle Street-The High Street, 1650; Cromwell's Highway -Trumbles Highway, 1833; Trumills Highway, 1868, and Trimbles Highway, 1914. It was the road joining Hillhall Road to Saintfield road before Mercer Street was built, and, of course, Cromwell never was here.

Dog Kennel Lane-Kennel Road, 1841; Kennel Lane, 1859; Lovers' Lane, 1900. The Killultagh Hunt Club had their kennels at the Duncan's Road end.

Graham Gardens-Tanyard, Tanyard Lane. Had private houses, tanneries and a brewery which turned out over 5,000 barrels of beer yearly.

Gregg Street-Bridge End, Bridge End Hill, 1819. Used to be the road to Belfast. Was in line with the original bridge over the Lagan. Stannus Place houses were parallel with the old street named Bridge End.

Grove Street-Kennedy's Avenue or Road. Samuel Kennedy, of Grove Green, had a flour mill on the site of a bleach green about 1817. Kennedy's Avenue-May have been a private road, as there was a gate lodge-like house inside the wall until fairly recently, at the Grand Street end.

This house is on the 1836 map. Some of the older people of Grand Street will remember it.

Haslem's Lane-Hazel Lane, Haslim's Lane, Haslam's s Lane, 1819.

Hillhall Road-called "Old Turnpike;" at the M1 end.

Herons Folly-Herons Alley; Hill Street-Piper Hill, 1819; Hillsborough Road-Dublin Road, 1835; Howard Street-Phillips Court, 1968.

Lagan Bank Road-Back Lane, 1940; Longstone Street-Longstone, 1819; Manor Park-Johnstons Lane, 1840; Market Square-The Market Place, 1650; Market Street-Old Shambles and New Shambles.

Millbrook Road-Mill Read. The road to the corn mill later used and very much enlarged for linen manufacture by Richardsons of Glenmore. It had one of the largest waterwheels in the country to work the "beetling engine." Call down and see the ruins.

Lower Millbrook - Kilrush. In P. H. Joyce's "Irish Place Names," he gives the meaning of "Kilrush" as "The Church of the wood or peninsula." I wonder is there a church buried beneath that great untidy pile called Kilrush graveyard. Perhaps you have never been in Kilrush graveyard? You couldn't care less? Well, I suppose that's the attitude that has brought this old graveyard to its present state of broken headstones, overgrowing bramble (the blackberries were delicious) and general appearance. Although, mind you, it is in better shape now than some years back. The barbed wire and good fencing have stopped the rot, but I'm afraid, too late.

However, it is worth a visit and you can get the key of the gate at the Town Hall. There are some fine yew trees and a large tree which looks a fine specimen (I'm no good at tree names) and some headstones, though lying in sixes and sevens are worth reading. There is one to Elizabeth Johnston of Bridge End Hill, so the name "Gregg Street" was still not in general use even at 1860 when she died. Remember, the old bridge was still in use until 1880, when the Union Bridge was built.

The oldest readable headstone which I saw was one to a person named Chapman, 1728, but there are very old stones half buried and with inscriptions gone. There is a very ornate memorial to the Beatty family, erected 1838. The inscription is on a large slate inserted slab, and is as good as the day it was cut. The slate headstone seems to be out of date now. Not flashy enough.

I was looking for a headstone which was in memory of a black servant who had been brought from Africa by one of the wealthy residents of the neighbourhood and who died of consumption. I saw this stone thirty years ago, but it must be overgrown, as I couldn't find it, and, of worse, there are the iron railings round graves with the shield with the name of the owner. The iron lasts a long time, even when neglected for as long as one hundred years.

All was peace, except for some noise from a nearby workplace and a barking dog that followed us around, hoping we would play with it. We didn't; you would break your leg over the humps and hollows if you tried to walk fast, let alone run.

Coming away and looking back, I thought of Gray's Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard, which I had learnt at school, and here is a verse:

Beneath those rugged elms, that yew trees shade,
Where heaves the turf in many a mould�ring heap,
Each in his narrow cell for ever laid,
The rude forefathers of the hamlet sleep.

We locked the gate and stole quietly away. 

Largymore Drive-Plantation Lane, Clogher Hill Road, 1837; Pond Park Road-Stoneyford Road, 1846; Railway Street-Jackson's Lane, 1843; Schoole Room Lane; Ridgeway Street-Pump Lane.

Saintfield Road-Largymore New Road, 1843; Seymour StreetBelfast Gate, 1819; Sloan Street-New Bridge End Road, 1880; Smithfield Street-Church View; Tonagh Avenue-Priests Lane, 1855; Maginnis Lane.

Warren Park-Sandy Lane, Dorgan's Lane, New Lane; Woodland Park-McKee's Lane, 1849; McKey's Lane, 1851; Garrets Lane, 1855: Second Sandy Lane, 1835; Thornleigh Drive-Dummy's Lane, Dumble's Lane, Dumvilles' Lane.

The lane is marked as a public right-of-way on the 1876 Wallace Estate maps. There were quite a number of such rights of way, but they have long since disappeared. Can rights of way become extinct? This lane joined Causeway End at Aickin�s Hill to the Antrim Road. Perhaps the new development will follow the old pathway.

Young Street-Old Hillsborough Road, 1839; Meeting House Lane, off Hillhall Road-Campbell's Lane, 1839-Wesley Street, Fort Street, Low Road, Grand Street-The Lower Road.

Benson Street was known as "The Fairy Well" and Fairywell Street.

And so the change goes on and on, but it happens so slowly and quietly we don't notice it. However, do please have a long look at the Planning Proposals in the Town Hall and get to know what the future holds in store.

I have just received a copy of "The Ulster Link," the monthly magazine of the Northern Irish in Australia and New Zealand. It is the August edition, 1970, and it has specially featured Lisburn history, and gives the names of Lisburn and district people who have gone to live in Australia and New Zealand.

There is a letter about one, William Hicks, born in Lisburn, who died on January 28, 1867, at Sydenham, Belfast. He was buried in Kilmsh graveyard. I saw his grave the day I got "The Ulster Link:" A coincidence.

Help for the Widows from the Canon

In the times when the Welfare State was undreamt of, every family had to rely on their own efforts to feed and clothe themselves and store up something for the "rainy day," or it was the workhouse when hard times arrived, which was very often.

In the 1800s times were very bad, unemployment was rife, sickness everywhere and typhus fever stalked the land, killing more than the famine. It was a terrible period in Irish history during the "hungry forties:"

In a "Concise History of Lisburn, and Neighbourhood," it states that "John Handcock imported from Philadelphia two hundred tons of Indian meal, the first sample of that article ever seen in Ulster."

He also brought over five hundred barrels of American flour and both were sold at cost price to the "more distressed families in Lisburn." Hancock Street reminds us of this family.

Of course there were other people who formed relief committeeas and assisted the poor and distressed in many ways.

This brings me to the "Widows Houses" on the Belfast Road, built at this time to house elderly widows. One was under the control of the church and the other, private individuals.

In 1928 the rector of Lisburn Cathedral, Canon Taylor, was in charge of the Widows' House which was on the now vacant site between the Methodist Manse and the entrance to Forthill School, Seymour Street. And Miss Pim, of Ogles Grove, Hillsborough, was the person to whom repairs, et cetera, were referred at the other Widows' House, which was on the triangular piece of land at the junction of Belfast Road and Belsize Road.

There is now a notice put up by the Woodlands Hotel on the site, and below it is the heap of stones and rubble which was the house.

A word about the construction of these Widows Houses would bring back memories to those who knew them and be of interest to others.

Canon Taylor's house was of peculiar construction. It had a slated roof, eight separate compartments, each with a bed-sitting room, fireplace and door to the outside, the only door.

There were two storeys and had four rooms up and four down. As the ground fell away to the rear, the top four apartments were level with Seymour Street and the bottom four apartments level with Eagle Terrace, and looked in that direction. Thus were housed the eight widows, rent free.  

Methodist Church c 1884 Please Click

Miss Pims' Widows' House was a single storey, square shaped, slated building which housed four windows in four apartments. Each had a fireplace. The front door opened on to a passage which led to the rear door and there were two apartments on each side with a door which opened to the middle passage.

Miss Pims's houses were built by James Williams in 1826, and the Widows' Houses at the Methodist Manse were built by the Marquis of Hertford in 1832 at a cost of �120.

The Widows' Houses are no more; the necessity for them is no longer with us. With the coming of the Welfare State benefits, the old people can pay their way and are welcome to stay at home.

Before Miss Pim's house was finally demolished, there was a tragedy. The house had become derelict and was being used by itinerants, and one winter, two of them, a man and a woman, were found dead in one of the rooms. A sad end; death from exposure. The Council had the house demolished.

Footnote: Amongst the heap of stones is the date stone which was above the front door. It will be uncovered some day and perhaps the Lisburn Historical Society will get it as a memorial of a worthy expression of help in those dark and dismal times.

In my travels along the highways and byways where the people of Lisburn lived and died, I have thought, where are they all now, where did they find a place for them finally?"

This brought me to the subject of cemeteries, graveyards or burial grounds, where these worthy people were laid to rest, and a desire to visit them.

I must confess I am a person who almost enjoys a walk amongst the headstones. I do not think so much of the people as dead, but rather of persons who have been alive and going about their daily duties and homely tasks and enjoying life, and who are now enjoying it more abundantly.

The graveyards used by the Lisburn people were principally as follows: Old Blaris, Lambeg, Cathedral, Derriaghy, Chapel, Lisburn Cemetery and Hillsborough Parish Churchyard.

As we have already visited Kilrush and Friends' Railway Street, we will leave them out, but keep them in memory; they are well worth a visit.

Now for our walk round and a chat with the caretakers, who really are the men who know what is going on and what is most interesting. There have been books written about some of these graveyards and the adjoining churches- especially the churches-for those who would like to study their history.

We, however, are just passing in and out; we are not staying-  at present !

Our first visit is to Blaris Old Cemetery, and the first thing that strikes you as you approach is the newly-painted gate and the cottage inside. A real picture of what a prosperous Irish cottage should be: clean, neat, in good order, no litter, with a well-kept flower and vegetable garden in front and the "street" or road to the cemetery between the cottage and the garden.

The Hillsborough Rural Council are indeed fortunate in having such an industrious man and wife, Mr. and Mrs. McCarthy, in their cottage. Mrs. McCarthy's family, the McCamleys, now spelt "McCambley;' have been in occupation of the cottage for about one hundred and seventy years, that is, since 1800. A truly worthy record of service by a family.

People have been decorated for less useful service.

I was surprised to hear that just inside the gate to the cemetery, on the right-hand side, are the graves of some of the 1798 rebels.

Tradition states that there were four rebels who were brought from Belfast, with their coffins, in a cart. They were shot outside the cemetery, placed in the coffins and buried. There is no memorial. I�ll have to find out more about this interesting story. It could be true.

Human life was of little importance in those days, you could be hanged for stealing five shillings worth of goods.

The graves are like those of Kilrush and came into being in probably the same manner. They are scattered about, and up and down at all levels, but mostly well attended.

As the cemetery is still in use, there are some very nice modern memorials and this small burial place is still very much "alive" if that's the right word. It�s a very fine example of an old graveyard when the ecclesiastical building has crumbled into stones and earth, and is no longer visible.

There is a part of a wall, creeper covered, which is said to be all that is left of the sacred edifice which was in use when the Lisburn Church was built in 1623.

The history of the early Blaris Church is lost in antiquity and the site is a mound of grave plots. It must have been always regarded as a great privilege to obtain a last resting spot inside the church walls, and, of course, it still is, if you are of sufficient importance.

But, really, it doesn't make a button of difference whether you are laid inside the walls or outside. So don't let it worry you.

There are two rather solid memorials to two officers of our once far-flung empire. Two eminent Inspector-Generals of the Chinese Customs, Sir Robert Hart and Sir Frederick Maze. They are almost identical, except that on the Hart memorial, on a copper plate, is a statement in raised lettering in Chinese.

It's nice to think that two such men had their upbringing in the Lisburn area. There are Harts and Mazes still around. The two memorials are of the polished, pinkish Mourne granite, and must weigh a couple of tons each. I think they would be of oriental design.

Choose a nice bright sunny day, and come out to Blaris for an hour and you will see the names of a good many Lisburn people. Don't go on a wet day, for there's no place more depressing than a graveyard on a wet day. The oldest headstone is dated 1626.

On leaving, I was shown an old baptismal font which had been hollowed out of, I would think, sandstone. It was lying at the side of the cottage, a relic of the past around which our ancient forbears and their off-spring gathered for a few minutes at a christening.

There was a similar font in the Shankill Graveyard, Belfast. It sat with the bowl upwards and was called the "Wart Stone." If you had a wart, say on your hand, you stuck a pin in it (the wart), dropped the pin in the water (it was always full of rainwater) and the wart went away.

At the bottom of the bowl there was always several inches of pins from satisfied customers. You don't believe me? Well, take a run in your car to St. Matthew's Church, Woodvale Road (it's near the graveyard) and you will see the "Wart Stone" on a pedestal outside the church. Try the cure !

Don't blame me if your hand falls off. And have a look at the lovely �Garden of Rest,� which was the old graveyard on the Shankill Road.

Do you think it would be a good thing to have these ancient graveyards classed as "ancient monuments" and looked after by the appropriate ministry? I do.

Now this is another burial place with a long record and also a good deal of speculation as to its origin and past. Tradition is again on the job, and a monastery, a nunnery and a church are mentioned as being hereabouts. We know for sure that the church is a fact, for we can see it, with the tower as its oldest part You will see the wheel and bell on top, Lambeg Churchyard.

This churchyard with its church on the banks of the Lagan is worth a visit. The linen lords of the past are interred here, and to read the inscriptions on the headstones is to take a peep into linen history. The Barbours, Wolfendens and Richardsons have been laid to rest beside their workers.

There are Protestants and Catholics, clergy and priests some Huguenots, including the Rev. Saumarez Dubourdieu, who lived in Seymour Street (then Belfast Gate). He had a school in Bow Street. In the 1819 Directory, the "Misses Duberdieu" resided in Seymour Street. I would say these were his daughters.

He died in 1812. The book, -The Parish of Lambeg," gives some interesting facts about his life. Well worth reading, it's in the Library, Railway Street.

I think anyone who has taken an interest in Lambeg graveyard knows about Essy Pelan's broken romance. In fact, it's a wonder that a story has not been written about her and her lover. Perhaps it would be too sad. For those who dont know the story, here it is:

Essy and her sweetheart were, to all intents and purposes, engaged to be married when he took the notion to go to America to make a fortune. They parted, he promising to come back for her as soon as possible. But time dragged on and on, and he didn't come back to Lambeg. She heard he had found another girl, and she was overwhelmed with grief.

She took ill and died on her twenty-fast birthday, 1833, and was buried in her bridal dress. Well, he came back, and to his great sorrow, found his bride to be dead. He put up the memorial, a broken column, in her memory. The inscription tells of his love for her and her love for him.

Do look round for Essy Pelan's grave and read the inscription, and take note of the broken circle of chain, the links open at the bottom, and the words "Separated below, but united above." He made a fortune and lost his sweetheart. I wonder who he was, bow long he did stay away, and Essy waiting. Anyone know him?

Take a walk up the new part of the graveyard and look back at the church, with the Lagan river in the background. It will be a nice memory picture of Lambeg Church and Churchyard.

Christ Church Cathedral and its graveyard have been in the centre of Lisburn and all its activities since 1623. Destroyed in 1641 and 1707, but still maintains its position as the Cathedral Church. The graveyard is not now in use and is mostly on the north and south sides of the church.

It's a great pity that the church is surrounded by business premises, as I'm sure a great many persons pass through the town and never see it.

 Market Square Presbyterian Church has now come from behind the barricade of shops, and the church, Square and the town have been enriched by its new appearance, Could the Cathedral some day emerge from its modest retirement?

Now for our walk through the graveyard to look kindly on the memorials of the Lisburn people of a by-gone era.

Well go in by the Castle Street entrance. The shop on the left of the gate, which until recently was the sextons house, and is now a house agent's office, was in the possession of Sir Richard Wallets to 1876 and was the Post Office.

In the 1819 directory, Felix Cunningham lived in Castle Street and was the postmaster, and very likely lived in this house.

Here we are in the graveyard, near the vestry entrance to the church, and on our right is the grave plot of the Hogg family, one of whom, Clare, was the mother of the great Nicholson. There are two tombstones here and you can see that some of the Hoggs lived to a ripe old age. In fact, Rose died aged 102 years. At a time when the average age was about 40 this was remarkable.

We go round between the Sunday School, dated 1885, and the church, and into the south side of the graveyard. On the left is the Crommelin Memorial, with the headstone details set out on plaques on the railing round the grave. There is also a copper or bronze head of Louis Crommelin in relief above the plaques.

This memorial to an historical figure is a must, the last resting place of a great linen pioneer.

A good many of the memorials are of sandstone and would require some preservative treatment to prevent further deterioration, but sure this applies to all old graveyards.

Here are a few memorials worth examination-one to a "Mr. James Truefet and Mrs. Jaine, his wife. She died about 1725." A bit uncertain of the year. You'll note the "Mr. and Mrs." Not often seen, but there's another one, a "Mr. John Busby, a writing master."

James Vernon died 1886 aged 83. The Vernons were builders and this one may be the builder of Lambeg Church.

Benjamin Neely, school master, had a school in Castle Street. He had two children died on the same day.

There is a huge railed-in memorial to Doctor Samuel Musgrave, who had a practice in Market Square in 1819.

John Crossley, Jnr., an education pioneer. Do read this memorial.

Very Rev. James Stannus, A.M., Dean of Ross, and agent to the Marquis of Hertford. The "Dean's Walk" in the Wallace Park was named after him. Rev. Snowden Cupples, D.D., who gave Henry Munro communion on his way to the scaffold.

Now go inside the church and see the memorials and stained glass. Look at the memorial to Brigadier-General John Nicholson, C.B., for it is really an outstanding piece of sculpture. He fell at the seige of Delhi, mortally wounded, and died aged 35.

District Inspector Swanzy, killed on the street in Lisburn.

Jeremy Taylor, D.D., the great divine.

Rev. W. D. Pounden, a loveable preacher.

Hugh McCall, a journalist without fear. And many others.  

The "Arch"  Market Square,1921 Please Click

After seeing these memorials to all these persons who have passed on, sit down for a while and give a thought to these good people. If the sun is shining- or even if its not-look at the window with the Good Samaritan in lovely coloured glass, and enjoy the quiet of the church. You will be refreshed.

Burial Grounds in the District

It is amazing the amount and variety of information which can be gathered if you keep on asking questions, and this has been the case with the so-called "Blaris Rebels."

They were not rebels in the accepted sense, but soldiers of the king whose duty it was to put down the rebellion. They belonged to the Monaghan Militia, who were encamped at Blaris under Colonel Leslie in May, 1797.

The "Camp Field" at Blaris was used as a camping place on other occasions, one of which was by King William's troops on his way to the Boyne. If you go out to the old graveyard have a look at this historic field where the fate of Ireland may have been decided.

If you search long enough you would probably find an old bullet or two. Fm sure they have been ploughed up occasionally.

According to Charles Dickson in the "Revolt in the North," "seventy members of the Monaghan Militia were found to have taken the United Irishmen's oath, and four were shot at Blaris camp."

This regiment was on duty in Belfast and the court-martial was held there. Four of the men were found guilty, brought from Belfast to Blaris, and shot. The names of the men were: Owen McKenna, William McKenna, Peter McCarron and Daniel Gillan.

In some of the accounts the names differ slightly in the spelling.

There is a story of white flowers blooming at the spot inside the graveyard where they are buried, but the white flowers now are those of a white lilac which is growing at the old wall at the graveyard entrance.

Thus the traditional story is founded on fact, although as always, a few embellishments may have been added as time moves on and memories get hazy or more imaginative.

I contacted the Ulster Museum, Stranmillis Road, Belfast, about the matter and was informed that they had printed records of the event and, through the kindness of Mr. Turner, I was shown these documents. So, its a true story.

Old Blaris Cemetery has been very close to momentous happenings, and if that 1626 headstone could speak, it could tell some stirring tales.

As we are looking at the last resting places of the people of Lisburn we now come to the most important one, the Lisburn Cemetery.

This is not an old cemetery when compared with Kilrush, Old Blaris and Lambeg, but is probably more interesting as being of the period which most of the present generation and their parents have lived through.

The deed given by Sir Richard Wallace states: "Fee-farm grant dated April 12, 1877, the owner to David Beatty, John Dogherty Barbour, Samuel Musgrave, George St. George, Claude Lyttleton Capron, James Mussen, Rowland Savage, Robert Allister, Lucas Waring, John Ruddy, John Ritchie, James Alexander Mack. The deed grants five acres as a site for a burial ground for the borough of Lisburn. The deed does not reserve any rent"

I would think that the gentlemen mentioned above were the Town Commissioners, as the Urban Council was not elected until 1899. Did you notice the words �Borough of Lisburn�? The deed referred to the piece of ground, then a field and now the Cemetery.

All the graves you see in the cemetery today have gradually appeared since 1878 when the first interment took place.

To be the first person to be buried in a graveyard is not an ambition which is very attractive. Nevertheless, someone has to be the first and in this case it was William John Knox. He was a member of a highly respected Lisburn family living in Railway Street.

The firm of W. J. Knox & Sons was working under that name from 1850 until a short time ago, when the premises were taken over by Kenneth Irvine.

Mr. Knox had gone to Paris to see Sir Richard Wallace about the town house which Sir Richard proposed building in Lisburn, and while there he took ill and died, September 18, 1878. He was brought home to Lisburn and interred in the cemetery on September 24.

At one time the Sandy Lane (Warren Park) was lined with trees and it is said that the tree under which he used to meet his sweetheart was beside the grave plot that was chosen. Alas, the tree is not there now; but Mr. Knox�s white memorial is there close to the Sandy Lane.

The lettering is fading after 92 years and is becoming a little difficult to read. This is an important grave in the history of the cemetery and, of course, in the history of the Knox family.

In general appearance there is nothing very spectacular about the cemetery, just solid respectability, just like Lisburn town. It is very well kept, everything tidy and just what one would expect to see in an up-to-date municipal burial place.

On your walk round have a look for the headstone with the date, 31st February, 1916. How this date came to be cut in the memorial is a mystery. On the back of the stone is the name of the sculptors, "Kennedy Belfast." Was it intentional or a mistake? The official record states "23rd February, 1916." It's most peculiar.

The history of Lisburn is contained in the graves of this cemetery and a stroll round will remind you of the people you knew well and others whom you knew only by name. All of them have added something to the life of the community during the past one hundred years.

All the gave plots having been allotted, the Council had to look for more room for the rapidly increasing population, and the ground at Blaris was acquired.

The New Cemetery at Blaris was opened and the first interment took place on 22nd January, 1955, and already a goodly number of our citizens have been laid to rest.

New Blaris is laid out somewhat like the Lisburn Cemetery: all paths are at right angles or parallel to the others. I think this is rather regimental, if economic. I wonder would a different layout with winding pathways have been better. It would have been more artistic and have left spaces for flowerbeds and seats.

Like its elder brother, Lisburn Cemetery, there are no trees or bushes. Somehow a yew or a cypress helps to enrich and soften the appearance and add a touch of antiquity to the scene. They should, however, be discreetly placed by the local authority.

I remember visiting a little graveyard some miles outside Glasgow. "Denny Cemetery" I think it was. It was almost circular in plan and all the paths wound round and round. A place for tourists to visit and beautifully kept. I suppose its shape was unique.

With the cool breeze from Divis blowing across Blaris we leave, and on looking back can see the rush and bustle of the traffic on the M.I, a great contrast to the quiet of the cemetery. It's a case of the "quick and the dead."

Now to Chapel Hill to visit St. Patrick's Churchyard. It is at the rear of the church and close to the church wall. St. Patrick's was built in 1900 on the site of a previous church erected in 1794.

It is a small graveyard and does not appear to be old. The memorials are dated from about 1850, but there may be others which are not easily seen. It may not have been in use in very early times, as other graveyards were available. You will remember that several priests were buried in Lambeg graveyard.

On looking round you notice the McIlroy memorial, a Celtic cross. It is a very fine piece of the sculptor's art. At the gate as you enter the graveyard is a memorial to Daniel McLernan. This grave has an unusual iron surround. It is ironwork of a high order.

Just beside the graveyard but outside is the "Fairy Mount" which I have mentioned previously. This churchyard became too small and the cemetery at Trinity Terrace, Longstone Street, is being used. If you walk round this more modern cemetery you will see the names of the people of today, businessmen and workers of Lisburn since about 1900.

The first person interred here was John Downey.

Away over on the Barnfield Road, Deriaghy, is another old churchyard with some Lisburn names, dated 1842.

The only other graveyard left to be mentioned which was inside the Lisburn boundary was the Workhouse graveyard. It was at the rear of the workhouse buildings on the Hillsborough Road. Part of the old buildings can be seen beside the modern Lagan Valley Hospital.

This graveyard was under the control of the Board of Guardians who were responsible for the workhouse and whose office, erected in 1840, was taken down in 1967.

It was for the burial of the workhouse inmates and graves were unmarked. It had not been in use for a long time and was closed. There used to be a lane at the top of Hill Street which led down to the mill race beside the Lagan and this graveyard was over the hedge on the right-hand side at the bottom.

During the typhus and cholera epidemics and the famine and unemployment of the 1840s it must have been a busy spot.

Derriaghy Churchyard is another burial place which has been used by Lisburn people for many years and, of course, the church is very popular for weddings. It has the old section and today's section.

The old has a good many iron surrounds for the graves and the new has not. The iron railing is seldom used now but, like all fashions, it may return with some kind of new metal, like stainless steel. It only takes someone to start it. The old iron railing must have been a novelty about one hundred and fifty years ago.

The beautiful old church and the new church hall are again the ancient and the modern. Not being a youngster myself, I prefer the church architecture which has stood the test of time and weather for almost one hundred years, being built on the site of a previous church in 1871. I'm sure there will be centenary celebrations next year. I hope someone produces a history of the church and churchyard.

You come to see the churchyard but it is the church front and spire which commands your attention. The spire, partially covered with Virginia creeper, has its four sides running up to a needle point with crows or rooks wheeling round and in and out of the apertures.

The Virginia creeper in autumn, when the leaves have turned a brilliant shade of red, enhances the beauty of the stonework and makes the ivy-clad rounded wall on the right look even better. - The sexton told me the creeper was over forty years old and showed me the hidden date stone on the spire.

But what about the headstones.

There are some very nice memorials, both old and recent. I saw one dated 1770, two hundred years old and, I'm sure, not the oldest. There is also a vault to a previous vicar, the Rev. Philip Johnston, J.P., D.L. Some very nice polished granite to well-known families and some sandstone partly covered.

There is one which you should find, a square tapered short column inside an iron railing; it is to Nathaniel Kronheim, a Jew. He was born in Prussian Silesia, became converted to Christianity, and for twenty years he promoted Christianity among the Jews.

There is a little plaque written in Hebrew. It is Psalm 122, verse six. Look it up. He died 1852, aged nearly 80.

The ground level is anything but level, the graves being mostly on fairly steep ground and it must be difficult to keep everything in order. The old part especially is of irregular shape, but I think them is beauty in this kind of irregularity.

From the gate to the church, the fact that the path winds and you come gradually to full view of the church front, makes a very nice approach.

I went into the car park and looked over the wall and across the headstones at the church. The afternoon sun was shining, picking out the last red leaves of the Virginia creeper. You would almost have been persuaded that all was peace.

I have now written about the burial places which concern Lisburn people. I do hope that when next you visit my of them (the graveyards) they will be more interesting to you.