Time to celebrate Shrigley Day

Time to celebrate Shrigley Day

31 October 2012

RESIDENTS of the former mill village of Shrigley are being urged to celebrate Shrigley Day today.

Hallowe’en day, October 31, marks the anniversary of the closing of the old linen mill started by John Martin who founded a paternalistic village around the mill gates.

It is 82 years since the mill closed for the last time on Hallowe’en Night 1930 and to mark the anniversary a special exhibition of photos of Shrigley opens in Killyleagh library at 3pm today.

Broadcaster and renowned photographer Bobbie Hanvey is the special guest speaker at the opening of the event. The photos will remain on display during library opening hours.

“The exhibition is part of a project aimed at reclaiming the history of the village. We are looking to preserve and save old photos of the village which once boasted one of the biggest linen mills in the world and of course a world renowned leather tannery,’’ explained Chris Hagan, of the Best of Killyleagh group.

“People can bring along their old photos and any other memorabilia and with their permission we will copy this and return it.’’

Funding support for the project has been provided by the National Lottery through the Heritage Lottery Fund.

“People are fascinated by the village. There are those who lived in the old village before it was knocked down between 1968 and 1969 and there are many more who worked in the leather tannery, started by the Utitz family.

“We have held the first of a series of guided history walks of the lost village and the ultimate aim is to publish a first ever history of the village before Christmas.

“It is also our intention to involve local schoolchildren in photographing the modern day Shrigley and its residents.’’