A guide to the history and wildlife of the Connswater, Loop and Knock rivers

It’s your Greenway

ImagineanetworkofpublicpathwaysrunningthroughtheheartofeastBelfast,followingitsrivers,revealingthisarea’srichheritageanduncoveringitsabundantnaturalhistory.Imaginewalkingthesepathwayswithyourfriends,family,students,visitorsandtourists.Imaginetheselandscapesbeingprotectedandcaredfor,sothatpresentandfuturegenerationscanexploreandenjoythem.

ThisvisionisbecomingarealityforthepeopleofBelfast.TheConnswaterCommunityGreenwayisa9kmlinearparkthatfollowstherouteofeastBelfast’sthreeprimaryrivers:theConnswaterRiver,fromVictoriaParktoBeersbridgeRoad;theKnockRiverasfarastheSandownRoad;and,theLoopRivertotheCregaghGlenintheCastereaghHills.

ConstructionoftheConnswaterCommunityGreenwaywillcommenceinlate2010andisscheduledforcompletionin2013.Thiswonderfulresourcewillcreateattractive,safeandaccessibleparklandthateveryonewillbeabletouseandenjoyforleisure,recreationandcommunityeventsandactivities.

And the good news is . . . .

ManypartsoftheConnswaterCommunityGreenwayarealreadyaccessibleandreadyforyoutoexplore.Themapinthisbookletwillhelpyoudojustthat.Itfollowstherouteofthethreerivers,andhighlightsthefascinatingfeaturesyou’llfindalongtheway.Soputonapairofcomfortablewalkingshoes,bringthismapandabottleofwater,andstartenjoyingthetrails!

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An industrial giantFormanyyearsBelfastledtheworldinmanufacturingandtechnology.Ourshipstransportedgoodsandpeopleacrosstheglobe;ourropessecuredthenaviesoftheworldandourlinengracedmanyatable.AttheheartofthismightygiantwaseastBelfast,theindustrialpowerhouseofthecity.

Untiltheeighteenthcentury,thelandthatnowformseastBelfastwasheavilywooded,butduringthe1700swoodlandgraduallygavewaytoindustrialdevelopment.Thisprocesswashelpedbytheriverswhichrunthroughthearea,aswellasitsproximitytothegrowingtownofBelfast.Intime,workersmovedintothestreetsofterracedhousesbuiltbyfactoryownersandmanywealthycitizensbuiltlargevillasinthesurroundingparkland.However,itwasnotuntil1892,whentheareawasincorporatedwithinthecityboundary,thatallofitsresidentsbecamecitizensofBelfast.

Belfastgrewandprosperedthroughoutthenineteenthandearlytwentiethcenturies,largelythroughtheendeavoursofitsthrivingindustrialheartlandintheeast.Theropeworks,factories,millsandshipyardsofeastBelfastemployedthousandsofworkers,theHarland&Wolffshipyardalonebuiltover2000ships,includingRMSTitanic.

MuchofthisindustrialmightevolvedalongtheConnswaterRiverandevidenceofitcanstillbeseentothisday.Thefold-outmapwillshowyouwheretolook,andtellyousomeofeastBelfast’sstory.

Art at its heart

EastBelfasthasarichheritageofcultureandart.OneofBelfast’smostfamousliterarysons,theauthorC.S.Lewis(1898-1963)wasborninStrandtownandourveryownVanMorrisoncontinuestoleaveanindeliblemarkonthesphereofpopularmusic.OthercontemporarynamessuchasMarieJones(playwright),PeterWilson(akaDukeSpecial,musician),JamesEllis(actor),PeterCorry(tenor)andGlennPatterson(author)revealhowartsandcreativitycontinuetoflourishamongthepeopleofeastBelfast.

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Connswater Community GreenwayAt£32.5million,theConnswaterCommunityGreenwayrepresentsamassiveinvestmentineastBelfast.Itwillcreateasuperbfacilityformorethan40,000localresidentsandprovidevision,resourcesandasenseofprideandidentityforallcommunitiesinthispartofthecity.

What’smore,fromitsconcepttoitsimplementation,theConnswaterCommunityGreenwayisalocalcommunityproject.IthasbeendevelopedandmanagedbytheEastBelfastPartnership,anorganisationcomprisingrepresentativesfromBelfastandCastlereaghCouncils,communitysectororganisations,statutorysectoragenciesandprivatesectorbusinesses.TheprojectisfundedbytheBigLotteryFund,BelfastCityCouncilandtheDepartmentforSocialDevelopment.

Thevisionistodevelopasafe,accessible,sustainablegreenwaywhichisaninspirationallivinglandmarkthatimprovesthequalityoflifeforthepeopleofeastBelfast,nowandforfuturegenerations.

For you, for me, for everyone

TheConnswaterCommunityGreenwaywillprovidethepeopleofeastBelfastwithincreasedaccesstoopenparksandgreenspaces.Itwilldeliveranimprovedurbanenvironmentforall,withmorepedestrianandcycleroutesintoandoutofthecity.Itwillcreatelinkagesbetweencommunitiesandhelplocalpeopletoadopthealthierlifestyles.Itwillactasakeytouristattraction,drawingthousandsofvisitorsintoeastBelfast.

Andthere’smore.Ineffect,theConnswaterCommunityGreenwayisanoutdoorclassroom-aplacewherepeopleofallagescanlearnabouttheenvironmentandabouttheuniquesocial,industrialandculturalheritageofeastBelfast

So,ConnswaterCommunityGreenway,reallyisforyou,forme,foreveryone!

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Black headed gull

Redshank

Mallard

Greylag goose

Heron

AsyoufollowthetrailalongtheConnswaterRiveryou’lldiscovermoreaboutthefascinatinghistoryofthisancientwaterway.

Atvariouspointsmarkedonthemapyou’lllearnabouttheindustriesandactivitiesthatflourishedhereandbecomeacquaintedwithfamouseastBelfastfolkwhoserootsaresteepedinthisregion.

Victoria ParkOn15September1906VictoriaParkopenedtothepublic.ItreplacedanearlierpleasureparkonDarganIsland,nowQueen’sIsland.VictoriaParkfeaturesalake,originallyusedforboating,withtwosmallwoodedislandswhichoffersanctuaryfornestingswansandducks.TheparkoncehadanEdwardianoutdoorswimmingpoolwhichwasinuseuntilthe1970s.

TodayVictoriaParkisdesignatedasanAreaofSpecialScientificInterest(ASSI).Birdlifeisabundantinthepark,particularlyinthewintermonths.Speciesfoundintheparkincludegreylaggeese,blackheadedandherringgull,heron,muteswan,mallard,tuftedduck,andpiedandgreywagtail.Themudflatssurroundingtheparkarerichinoysters,cockles,snailsandworms,suchaslugwormsandragworms.Theseprovideavitalfoodsourceforpopulationsofwinteringwadersandwildfowl,includingoystercatchers,ternsandredshank.

Connswater River Trail

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Glentoran playing at the Oval, 1937

Harland & Wolff ThenamesEdwardHarlandandGustavWolffareinextricablylinkedwithBelfast’sshipbuildingindustry.Theirpartnershipin1861laidthefoundationsforwhatwastobecomeoneofthegreatestshipyardsintheworld.Theyardbuiltover70vesselsfortheWhiteStarLine,themostfamousofwhichwasthetrioofOlympic-classvessels,Titanic,OlympicandBritannic,designedandbuiltatHarland&Wolfffrom1908to1914.

StandingsentineloverthecityaretwotoweringyellowcranesofHarland&Wolff’sQueen’sIslandshipyard.KnownlocallyasSamson(1974)andGoliath(1969),theymeasure106metresand96metrestallrespectively.Althoughfullyoperational,theyarenowprotectedashistoricmonuments.

The OvalTheOvalStadiumishometoGlentoranFootballClub,oneoftheoldestandmostfamousteamsinIreland.Foundedin1882,theteammovedtotheOvalin1892.Theclub’scoloursaregreen,redandblackandacockerelfeaturesinthecentreofitsbadge,hencethefans’nickname,“TheCock‘n’Hens”,whichrhymeswith“TheGlens”.

ManyGlentoranplayershavegoneontoplayforteamsinEnglandandScotland.TheseincludeDannyBlanchflower,PeterDoherty,BertiePeacock,BillyBingham,JimmyMcIlroy,TerryConroy,TommyJacksonandTommyCassidy,andmorerecently,GlenLittle,StuartElliott,AndyKirkandAndySmith.

The Connswater RiverTheConnswaterwasn’talwaysthesleepywaterwayitappearstoday.Fourhundredyearsago,itwasawide,deepriver.FolkloresuggeststhatsmugglersledbyConnO’Neill,thelastoftheUlsterchieftains,transportedstolenwinealongitandheldriotouspartiesathishilltopstronghold,GreyCastle.Thisgaverisetotheplacename,Castlereagh.

Inthemidandlate1800s,theConnswaterRiverwasthedrivingforcebehindeastBelfast’sindustrialgrowth.Bargesladenwithrawmaterialsandgoodstravelleditslengthanditswaterspoweredmanycottonandflaxmills,suchastheOwenO’CorkMillatBeersbridgeRoad.

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Connswater BridgeThefirstbridgeovertheConnswater,theNewBridge,wasbuiltin1758,followingthetragicdeathofRichardMcCleery.Hewasamasterbakerwhodrownedwhileusingthesteppingstonesthatprecededthebridge.ThenewroadbuiltatthistimelaterbecameknownastheNewtownardsRoad.Thepresentbridgewaswidenedin1890.ItstandsneartheareaknownasHolywoodArches,namedafterthemassivestonearchesthatusedtocarrytheCountyDownRailwayacrossthejunctionoftheNewtownardsandHolywoodRoads.Atitspeakintheearly1900s,thelinecarriedmorethanoneandahalfmillionpassengersintoBelfasteveryyear.Thearchesremainedinuseforexactly100years,from1850untiltheyweredemolishedin1950.TheoldBelfasttoComberrailwaylinenowformstheComberGreenway.Thiselevenkilometretraffic-freepathwayprovidesatranquilgreencorridorwithviewsalongtherouteofStormontBuildingsandScraboTower.

Connswater DistilleryForover40yearsthis12acresitewashometooneofthelargestdistilleriesintheworld.TheIrishDistilleryLtd.atConnswaterwasfoundedin1886andproducedtwomilliongallonsofwhiskeyperyearatitspeak.Riverbarges,calledlighters,wereusedtobringinbarleyandotherrawmaterialsfortheproductionofwhiskey.ThelightersthencarriedthebarrelsofwhiskeyouttoshipsanchoredinBelfastLough.

Muchofthisdistillery’swhiskeywasexportedtotheUSA,buttheintroductionofprohibition(abanofalcoholinsomeAmericanstates)in1919causedamassivedropinsales.Thecompanywasacquiredintheearly1920sbyDistillersCo.LtdofScotlandbutwasclosedbytheendofthedecade.

C.S. Lewis & The SearcherCliveStaplesLewis(1898–1963),moreusuallyknownasC.S.Lewis,wasanIrishauthorandscholar.Althoughbestknowntodayforhisfictionalchildren’sseries‘TheChroniclesofNarnia’,heisrespectedinacademiccirclesforhisworkonmedievalliterature,Christianapologeticsandliterarycriticism.Hisfamilyhomefrom1905until1930,‘LittleLea’,islocatedontheCircularRoadontheoutskirtsofeastBelfast.

Thelife-sizestatue'TheSearcher',situatedoutsideHolywoodArchesLibrary,depictsC.SLewisasNarnianarratorDigoryKirkesteppingintoawardrobe-nodoubtinsearchofhismysticalland.SculptorRossWilsonunveiledthebronzestatuein1998-thecentenaryofLewis'birth.

Connswater River photographed from the ropeworks chimney, 1895

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Belfast RopeworksInthe1870s,theHarland&Wolffshipyardrequiredalargeandreliablesourceofrope.In1873,EdwardHarlandhelpedtosetuptheBelfastRopeworkCompany.BargesontheConnswaterRivertransportedrawmaterialstotheRopeworksandtookthefinishedropebacktotheshipyardonQueen'sIsland.TheBelfastRopeworksCompanywasanimportantindustrialsuccessforBelfastandbecametheworld’slargestmanufacturerofropeandtwineduringtheearly20thcentury.Onethirdoftheropes(aquarterofamilliontonnes)requiredbythewarofficeduringtheSecondWorldWarweremadeattheBelfastRopeworks.TheRopeworkscontinuedtotradeuntil1983.

Bloomfield Stone CottagesTherearenowonlyfourofthesestonecottagesleftfromtheoriginalrowoften.KnownasBloomfieldTerrace,thecottagesweremostlikelybuilttohousemillworkersinthelocalarea.TheyarebuiltfromlocalScrabostoneandfeatureafrontdormer,whichwouldhavebeenanunusualfeatureforhousesinBelfastatthistime.ThisareawasonceknownasthevillageofNewBridge.

Owen O’Cork MillNowanauctionhouse,officespace,andworkshopforlocalartists,OwenO’CorkMillwaspartofthelinentraditionofeastBelfast.ItwasbuiltasacornmillbytheDeBeers,aHugenotfamilywhocametoBelfastfromEurope.

Inthemid-1800sitbecameanimportantlinenmill,astheopeningoftheLaganCanalallowedrawmaterialslikeflaxtobebroughtbybargedowntoBelfastanduptheConnswaterRivertothemill.Oneofthemill’soriginalweighbridgeshasbeenrelocatedtotheUlsterFolkandTransportMuseum,Cultra.

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Elmgrove Primary School ElmgrovePrimarySchoolfirstopeneditsdoorsin1893,whenover30childrenweretransferredfromtheoldinfantschoolinBenthamRoad.Thislistedbuilding,notedforitsbeautifulbrickwork,isstillinuseasaprimaryschool.ElmgrovePrimarySchoolhasanumberoffamouspastpupils.

Van Morrison ‘VantheMan’,asheisaffectionatelyknowninNorthernIreland,wasbornAugust31,1945.HeattendedElmgrovePrimarySchooluntil1956,thenOrangefieldSecondarySchoolforBoys.HisjourneysthrougheastBelfastoftenfeatureinhiswork,butitisthetree-linedCyprusAvenuewhichVanhasturnedintothemostfamousstreetineastBelfast,thankstothetrackofthesamename.Van’slyricsarepepperedwithreferencestohiseastBelfastroots:‘OnHyndfordStreet’immortaliseshischildhoodhome;Orangefieldiscapturedinthesong‘AvalonSunset’andSaintDonard’sChurchofIrelandandtheConnswaterRiverarealsomentionedinhissongs.

Billy Bingham, MBE WilliamLaurence“Billy”Bingham(Laurietohisschoolfriends)wasbornandraisedintheBloomfieldareaofeastBelfast.In1945hecaptainedElmgrove’sfootballteam,toanUlsterSchoolsCupvictory.Binghamwas19whenhewascalledupforhisfirstNorthernIrelandcap.Heplayed56outofapossible61internationalgamesbeforemovingintocoaching.HewasawardedanMBEforservicestofootballin1981.

Conn O’Neill BridgeTheO'Neill’swereforonethousandyearsgreatwarriorsinUlsterandConnO’NeillwasthelastofthesegreatO’Neillchieftains.Connwassomethingofarogueandlikedtoholdgreatpartiesathisstronghold,GreyCastle,alsonamed"TheEagle'sNest"duetoitssituationontheCastlereaghhills.ConnO’NeillgavehisnametotheConnswaterRiver,ConnswaterBridgeandtheConnO’NeillBridge.Thisbridge,locatedinagreenbowerknownas'theHollow',isrecordedasbeingbuiltinthelate1800showeverlocallegendwouldsuggestthatConnandhisclansmenusedittotravelfromtheGreyCastletoBelfasttownintheearly17thcentury.

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Loop River Trail

TheLoopRiverwasoncethefocusofintenseindustrialactivity,buttodaythissleepy,meanderingwaterwayisanaturalhabitatformanynativeplantsandbirdsincludingreedbeds,kingfishersandcranes.

AsyoufollowtheLoopRiverTrail,youwilldiscovermoreaboutit'sfascinatingsocial,industrialandnaturalhistory.

Grove Flax Spinning MillTheoutbreakoftheAmericanCivilWarmeantthatrawmaterialscouldnolongerbetransportedtoEngland.WhilethiscrippledthecottonindustryofLancashire,itledtoaboomincottonmanufactureinBelfastthroughoutthemid-1800s.Belfast’spopulationgrewfrom20,000in1801to345,000in1901andnumerousmillswerebuilt,includingtheGroveMillineastBelfast.Asthepopulationgrew,moreschoolswereneeded.BeersbridgeNationalSchool,whichopenedin1864,wasattachedtotheGroveMill.Someofitspupilswereparttimewhoattendedclasseseitherinthemorningorafternoon,dependingonwhentheywereworkinginthemill.

Aunt Sandra’s Candy FactoryAuntSandra’sCandyFactory’spinkbuildingat60CastlereaghRoadishardtomiss.Thislocalinstitutionproducesawonderfulselectionofchocolates,fudgesandboiledsweetsmadefrom100-year-oldrecipes,usingauthentic1950sequipment.Theshop’sdecorbringstomindthesweetemporiumsofthepast.Atthebackoftheshopisthefactorywheremostofthecandyismade.Tourscanbebookedtoviewcandy-makingupcloseandtolearnaboutthehistoryofthefactoryitself.

Beersbridge National School

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George Best, Northern Ireland versus England, 1965

Loop Bridge MillTheLoopBridgeMillwasdevelopedfromthe1850sasaflaxspinningmillandweavingfactorybyMorelandCowanandCo.ThenearbyLoopRiverfedamilldamwhichprovidedthewatersupplyforthemill.Inthe1890sownershippassedtotheprintingcompany,McCawStevenson&OrrLtd.TheyrenamedthepremisesLinenhallWorksandcarriedonbusinessthereforthenext95years,beforerebrandingtheircompanyasMSOprintersandrelocatingtodifferentpremisesontheCastlereaghRoad.

Cregagh Road ‘Homes for Heroes’ManyofthehousesontheCregaghRoadwerebuiltinthe1920sforFirstWorldWarveterans.BeforeleavingforFrancethesoldierswerepromisedtheywouldbegivenhomeswithgardensandbathrooms.ThestreetnamesinthisareasignifybattlesandbattlefieldsfromtheGreatWar:SommeDrive,AlbertDrive,HamelDrive,BapaumeAvenue,PicardyAvenueandThiepvalAvenue.AtthejunctionofBapaumeandThiepvalAvenuesistheCregaghWarMemorial,erectedinmemoryofthosewhodiedfromtheCregaghandCastlereaghareas.

George BestGeorgeBestisprobablyeastBelfast’smostfamoussportingson.BornandraisedintheCregaghEstate,histalentwasspottedbyManchesterUnited.Bestestablishedhimselfasafootballingcolossus,inspiringUnitedtomanyhonoursincludingtheEuropeanCupin1968.HewentontoplayalmostfivehundredgamesforManchesterUnited,beforeretiringattheageofonly28.Hewascapped37timesandscored9goalsforNorthernIreland.Hediedaged59inNovember2005,andhisfuneralbroughtBelfasttoastandstill.AlargemuraldepictingGeorgeBestinhisprimeoverlookstheCregaghplayingfieldswherehefirstkickedaball.

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Schomberg House & Orange OrderTheheadquartersoftheOrangeOrderisatSchombergHouseontheCregaghRoad.TheOrangeOrderisaninstitutionwhichremembersandcelebratestheBattleoftheBoynein1690,whentheProtestantKingWilliamIIIdefeatedtheCatholicKingJamesIIinIreland,andresultedinthebeginningsofconstitutionaldemocracyintheUnitedKingdom.ThebattleswhichtookplaceinIrelandwerepartofawiderEuropeanconflict.TheOrangeOrderhasaround100,000membersworldwidewithapproximately1200lodgesinIreland.SchombergHousehasamuseumthatisopentothepublic.ItincludesartefactswhichbelongedtoWilliamofOrange,aswellasOrangeOrderexhibitsfromaroundtheworld.

Cregagh GlenThiswoodedglenisallthatremainsofaforestthatoncecovered1000acres..Thereareseveralwaterfallsontheriver,andtheglencontainssomematuremixedwoodlandofsycamore,beech,Scotspineandash.Thestoryistoldofalocalwoodsman,JamesWitherspoon,whohadasmallcabininthewoods.In1803,followingafaileduprising,hehidThomasRussell,theleaderoftheUnitedIrishmen,inhishouseandwouldnotgivehimup,evenwitha£1500rewardonhishead.RussellwaslaterhangedatDownpatrickGaol.

Lisnabreeny Former American Military CemeteryThissitewasusedasaburialgroundfor148AmericanservicemenwhodiedinNorthernIrelandduringtheSecondWorldWar,mostlyfromroadaccidentsandnaturalcauses.ThecemeterywasclosedwhenthebodieswereexhumedandreburiedinEnglandandintheUSA.Amemorialplaquetothosewhodiedcanbefoundatthesite.NearbyisLisnabreenyHouse,whichin1937wasdonatedtotheNationalTrust.Usedbrieflyasayouthhostel,thehousebecameaUSarmyheadquarters.ItfellintodisrepairafterthewarbutwasreconstructedbyLaganCollegeandopenedin1991asBelfast’sfirstintegratedschool.

Lisnabreeny RathThiswellpreservedrath,orringfort,isthoughttohavebeenbuiltintheearlyChristianperiodbetween500and1000AD.Rathsservedashomesteads,providingprotectionforfamilyandlivestockfromwildanimalsandwarringneighbours.Thisfortwouldprobablyhavehadasimpledwellingwithintheprotectedarea.TheLisnabreenyRathgivesthetownlanditsname:inIrish‘Lis’meansfortand‘breeny’meansfairy,therefore‘Lisnabreeny’issaidtomean“Fortofthefairydwelling”.

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Oak tree

Ash tree

Grey wagtail

Kingfishers

Badgers

Grey squirrels

Foxes

Openparklandpackedwithwildlife;anancientburialgroundthat’sthelastrestingplaceofwar-timeheroes,andanimmigrantfamilythathelpedshapethisregionandwhosenamelivesoninstone.

You’lldiscoverallthisandmoreasyoutraveltheKnockRiverTrail.

Orangefield ParkIn1938,BelfastCorporation(nowBelfastCityCouncil)boughtpartoftheOrangefieldestatefromitsthenowners,theBlakiston-Houstonfamily,todevelopasapublicpark.DevelopmentplanswereputonholdduringWorldWarII.TheAmericanArmywasbasedhereandtrainedinOrangefieldParkfrom1942-1944.AGermanPrisonerofWarcampwassetupnearby.Todaythepark’sfeaturesincludehorticulturaldisplaysandachildren’splayground.OrangefieldParkPlayingFields,locatedwithinthepark,containabowlinggreen,soccerpitches,tenniscourtsandacyclingandBMXtrack.

Youdon’thavetobeanature-lovertoenjoyOrangefieldPark,butifyoukeepyoureyesopen,you’llfindanamazingvarietyofwildlifethrivinginthisbusypublicspace.PubliceventstakeplaceinOrangefieldParkthroughouttheyear,plantingtreesandwildflowerssuchaspurpleloosestrife,St.John’sWart,raggedrobin,devil’s-bitscabious,yellowrattle,bird’sfoottrefoil,redcampionandox-eyedaisy.

Knock River Trail

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Orangefield VelodromeTheOrangefieldVelodrometrackisa396metreoutdoorbankedovaltrack,theonlysurvivingfacilityofitskindinNorthernIreland.Itopenedforcompetitionin1957andwasusedextensivelythroughoutthe1950sand1960swhentrackcyclingwastremendouslypopular.Itcontinuestobeusedtothisday,withthetraditionalTuesdayeveningTrackLeaguerunningthroughoutthesummermonths.In1981,itwasre-namedtheTommyGivantrack,inhonourofthisformerNationalTrackChampion,oneofthestalwartsoftrackcyclinginBelfast.

The ClassicsInBritishhorseracing,‘TheClassics’areaseriesofhorseracesrunovertheflat(i.e.withoutjumps).Eachclassicisrunonceeachyearandisrestrictedtohorsesthatarethreeyearsold.TherearefiveClassicraces:2000Guineas,1000Guineas,TheOaks,TheDerbyandStLeger.

Trigo,Pommern,Donovan,Grand,Cameronian,Ladas,OrbyandCiceroarealllocalstreetsnamedafterhorsesthatwonaClassicRace.

Knock Burial GroundSetonacommandinghilltopandenclosedbyahighstonewall,KnockBurialGroundisoneofthemostancientsitesinBelfast.Thislandhasbeenassociatedwithreligioususeforoversevenhundredyears-itsnamederivesfromtheGaelicword'cnoc'meaning'hill’.Thetaxationof1306showsthatthechurchatKnockwasvaluedat40shillings.

Theoldestgravestonedatesfrom1644.Therearenumerous18thcenturygravestones,manyofwhichareinscribedwiththenamesoflocaltownlands,suchasBallyhackamore,Ballymacarrett,Bloomfield,Castlereagh,Dunover,Gilnahirk,Knock,MountpottingerandTullycarnet.MorerecentheadstonesmarkthelastrestingplacesofPrivatesJCorbettandHenryBest,killedinactionatDunkirkon28May1940.OthernoteworthygravesincludethatofWilliamNichol(1794-1840),aBelfast-bornpainterwhoseworkswereexhibitedintheUlsterMuseum.

In1896,KnockBurialGroundbecamepublicpropertywhentheextensionofBelfast'sboundarybroughtitunderthecontrolofBelfastCorporation(nowBelfastCityCouncil).

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Disclaimer

ThematerialcontainedinthispublicationhasbeencompiledfromavarietyofsourcesandwhilstwehavedonetheutmosttoensureitsaccuracyifthereareanyerrorsoromissionspleasecontactCCGatheather@eastbelfast.comAlthougheveryefforthasbeenmadetocontactthecopyrightholdersofphotographsincludedinthisbookletifyouareacopyrightholderwhowecouldnotreachpleasecontactthepublishersattheaddressonthebackpage.Page2/©NationalMuseumsNorthernIreland2010Harland&WolffCollectionUlsterMuseum,Belfast,Page6/©NationalMuseumsNorthernIreland2010WelchCollectionUlsterMuseum,Belfast,Page7/©NationalMuseumsNorthernIreland2010CollectionUlsterMuseum,Belfast

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