Historical society produces another fascinating collection

Historical society produces another fascinating collection

19 November 2014

THE Lecale and Downe Historical Society has launched the latest edition of Lecale Review to wide acclaim.

Originally published as Lecale Miscellany, the journal is now firmly established as an important resource for historians at home and around the world.

The latest publication — which runs to almost 100 pages, —includes a series of fascinating articles from noted writers, including Dr. Maurice Hayes, Down Museum Curator Dr. Mike King and Ardglass historian Michael Howland. There are other notable contributions from Walter Love, William Stranney, Colm Rooney, Brian Walker, Vivienne Pollock, Brendan Mulhall, Pamela Cooper, Philip Blair, Mary Farr, Frederick Payne and Wendy Osborne.

The new publication recalls the sad death of Florrie Mearns who drowned while playing on ice at an area off the Strangford Road in Downpatrick known as Cochrane’s Bog.

In his article, Dr. Hayes recounts how in 1912, Florrie and a group of other girls had gone to Saul Camp, which is now the Drumlins housing estate, to play hockey. However, the ground was frozen and as the girls were returning to the Saul Road they saw Cochrane’s Bog was completely frozen over, prompting them to decide on a game of ice hockey.

Sadly, recalls Dr. Hayes, the ice broke with three girls falling in to the freezing water below. Two were rescued, but Florrie drowned.

The story behind the relocation of the badly weathered historic High Cross from outside Down Cathedral to a new a home in the nearby Down County Museum is outlined by Dr. King, and William Stranney recalls inventor John Boyd Dunlop’s important connection with Downpatrick.

Mr. Dunlop, who invented the pneumatic tyre for cars and bicycles, was a noted veterinary surgeon and while the exact date when he came to Downpatrick is unknown, it is believed it was around the 1860s with the veterinary surgeon working with his brother James. 

The latest edition of Lecale Review also includes an article by Mr. Stranney on the younger of the Dunlop brothers.

Brian Walker’s article Elections and Landlords in Co. Down 1801-1921, recalls that when Lord
Arthur Hill stood down from his position as MP for Down West, it was the first time in nearly 100 years that a member of the Hill family was no longer an MP for Co. Down.

The article reveals that from 1817 to 1908 — except between 1905 and 1907 — the parliamentary representation of the county had always contained a member of the powerful Hills, the Marquis of Downshire’s family, with their main seat in Hillsborough.

Vivienne Pollock recalls the Herring Gutter’s Story which recounts the experiences of ‘Elizabeth’ who was one of many women who worked at various ports gutting and splitting herring, while Philip Blair shines the spotlight on Downpatrick cabinetmaker John Lloyd who was based in Irish Street from 1837 until 1870.

Priced £8, the Lecale and Downe Historical Society’s latest publication is a treasure trove of information and one that would make an ideal Christmas present.