Strangford at the turn of the century

Strangford at the turn of the century

19 September 2012 - by BY JOANNE FLEMING

STRANGFORD village at the turn of the 20th century is celebrated in a new book from Lecale and Downe Historical Society.

Author Colm Rooney, a teacher who grew up in Strangford, has made a particular study of the census of 1901 and 1911 for this project, as well as of the de Ros family.

During a decade of great change on the eve of the First World War, Strangford, Portrait of a Village 1901-1911 gives an insight into the lives of individual people living in the village at this time.

The book captures events such as the royal visit to Strangford in 1903 by King Edward VII, Portaferry regattas, and details life in surrounding townlands such as Kilclief and Glebe.

Lecale and Down Historical Society has published an annual journal since 1983 and this book is the second in a series of occasional monographs to be produced in addition to the annual Lecale Review.

Intending to illustrate the usefulness of the census data in a local-historical context, Colm makes good use of the Down Recorder archive to put flesh on the bones of the data.

“Without its week by week record of events great and small it would not have been possible to evoke the vivacity of the times with the telling detail required,” he said.

Colm also speaks of the value of concentrating on such a relatively short time-span for this particular work.

‘“This approach allowed a greater attention to details than could possibly be the case in a narrative dealing with the sweep of the centuries,” he said.

He also explains the context of the times for Strangford residents — an era which saw the Boer War, a period of rising tension in Europe and the issue of Home Rule adding to the divisions in Ireland.

“It is tempting to see the Edwardian era as a sort of Indian Summer of Victorianism,” said Colm. “In fact this was very far from the case...

“It was a time of transition from the nineteenth century world of iron, coal and steam to the twentieth century one of oil, the internal combustion engine and electricity; from the Poor Law to the embryonic Welfare State. The seeds of the modern world can be seen clearly in this period even if they have yet to develop fully.”

The 100 page book, which was launched on Monday at The Cuan, includes numerous photographs and other images. It is available to purchase for £10. Send a cheque (payable to Lecale and Down Historical Society) to the Hon. Treasurer at 26 Marion Park, Commons of Clanmaghery, Ballykinlar, BT30 8DJ. Postage of £1.40 should be included.