Shrigley bell set to sound once again

Shrigley bell set to sound once again

8 August 2012 - by David Telford

A KILLYLEAGH politician is bidding to have the bell which once rang out over Shrigley restored to the village.

The bell was removed from the Martin Memorial clock 30 years ago by the Housing Executive and placed in storage, but local councillor Billy Walker is confident he can secure its return so it can be placed on permanent display as a reminder to current generations of Shrigley’s industrial past.

Shrigley was founded by the Martin family, who came from Pott Shrigley in Cheshire in 1842 and who owned the spinning factory in the village.

It was powered by water supplied from the nearby Clea Lough and while the mill — which is reported to have employed 500 people at one time — has long gone, the clock tower erected by the people of Shrigley in 1871 in honour of the Martin family remains.

Councillor Walker has been in contact with Housing Executive officials to secure the return of the clock bell and Strangford MP Jim Shannon is supporting the bid to have it placed on public display in the village.

“A number of local people have asked me what happened to the bell which is part of the history and heritage of the village,” explained the local councillor.

“A community garden was developed in Shrigley a number of years ago and I hope to secure funding to allow the bell to be located there and mounted on a plinth to provide a tangible link with the past.”

Councillor Walker said he also wants to involve children from Killyleagh’s two primary schools in his initiative.

“Once the bell is in place I would like young people to take ownership of it and look after it,” he explained.

“Perhaps the primary schools could do something about the unique place this particular artefact has in the history of Shrigley which was once a very vibrant and prosperous village.”

Councillor Walker said the bell belongs to the people of Shrigley and hopes it won’t be too long before it’s back where it belongs in the heart of the village.

Mr. Shannon said the return of the bell would help provide an insight into the once vibrant history of Shrigley and commended Councillor Walker on his initiative.

The MP added: “It’s important to remember history and hopefully the return of the bell which was once part of the Martin Memorial clock in Shrigley will spur young people to find out more about their area and its past.

“The bell was removed some 30 years ago and I have no doubt local people would welcome its return to Shrigley.”