The rail line along the Mourne and Strule valley to Omagh criss-crosses the winding river along its route and a number of fine, and very long, bridges still survive. These are made of riveted iron sheets supported on massive steel girders and date from 1910-11. Cast-iron girder trellis bridges preceded them and before that, in 1850, the bridges were wooden. The changes were needed because of the rapid improvement in rolling stock. The railway became part of the Great Northern Railway Company (Ireland) in 1876.
32. The impact of the Railway. – Camus Bridge, 1850
The rail line along the Mourne and Strule valley to Omagh criss-crosses the winding river along its route and a number of fine, and very long, bridges still survive. These are made of riveted iron sheets supported on massive steel girders and date from 1910-11. Cast-iron girder trellis bridges preceded them and before that, in 1850, the bridges were wooden. The changes were needed because of the rapid improvement in rolling stock. The railway became part of the Great Northern Railway Company (Ireland) in 1876.
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29. Early 19th Century, Public House – Railway Street Strabane
The Farmer’s Home on Railway Street is indicated on the 1833 Ordnance Survey map, the first detailed map of Strabane. However it is likely that the building we see today was remodelled in the 1860’s. The giveaway is the single pane sash windows on the upper floors made possible because of advances in glass technology mid-century. The influence of Georgian simplicity and proportion continues however. The building is of a type once very common but now increasingly rare. 27. Arcadian living –Baronscourt House Baronscourt House, begun in c.1780 is one of the largest and most significant country houses in Ireland. It reflects the power and influence of the Abercorn family and is a private ideal world set within a carefully landscaped estate. Initial designs were by George Stewart. John Soane (architect of the Bank of England) carried out modifications in the 1790’s. Further work was by William ‘Vitruvius’ Morrison and his son in the 1830’s. These were the best architects of their time and they created something very special. However, this work was part of a trend across Ireland and Britain. Everywhere landlords were improving and adapting their estates to reflect classical ideals of living with an elegant proportioned house located within a carefully designed ‘natural’ landscape. 26. New Enterprise- the Canal Basin, Strabane.
The canal ended in a ‘basin’ located behind the main streets of the town. This was quickly surrounded by warehousing and became a focus of economic activity. A plan was developed by architect Robert Woodgate for the area in 1802 and called the ‘New Town’. The first image is based upon a photograph taken in the 1890’s. The basin was filled in in the early 1970’s but features are likely to remain below the present surface. The warehousing to the right of the image still remains and the second image provides a detail with some lost features , like the goods hoist, reinstated. 25. New Enterprise- Devlin’s Lock, the Strabane Canal 1791.
The second lock on the canal is called Devlin’s Lock. A picturesque structure, the canal is largely un-watered beyond this point. 25. New Enterprise- Crampsie’s Lock, the Strabane Canal 1791. To further encourage the development of the Strabane area, the newly enobled Marquis of Abercorn had an act of Parliament passed to enable the creation of a canal to improve navigation between Strabane and the Foyle in 1790. Construction was complete by 1796. This had the desired effect and the canal was highly profitable until the railways arrived in 1847. The canal ran for 4 miles and had two locks. This is Crampsie's lock at the exit to the Foyle. 24. Georgian Church- Upper Badoney Parish Church.
Badoney Church of Ireland in the Glenelly Valley is typical of new Anglican churches funded by the church’s ‘Board of First Fruits’. Known as the ‘tower and hall type’, they followed the Georgian norms of simplicity and proportion and, as with this one, tend to be located on or near to the site of the preceding medieval building. Churches such as these invariably had a small extension at the end to house a chancel added later. A medieval feature, these became popular again in the Church of Ireland in the Nineteenth Century. The chancel to this building was added in the 1860’s. 23. Georgian houses- Bowling Green, Strabane
The houses lining the Bowling Green are also Georgian in style and date from near the end of the period – the 1830’s. They also have carefully proportioned sash windows with small panes with decorated doors. They are similar to buildings constructed right across Ireland and Britain at that time. 22. Georgian Shop- Gray’s Printer’s.
Strabane was thriving during the Eighteenth century and Gray’s printers is a very good example of the sort of elegant shops that could be found in the town. Also in the Georgian style it has a bow fronted window of high quality and a date of 1760 inscribed over the door. It has been preserved because of its link to John Dunlap, printer of the American Declaration of Independence who reputedly served his time in the shop, one of 10 printers in the town, before emigrating to America. It is now in the ownership of the National Trust and houses a good tea shop on the ground floor. 20. Georgian house - Holyhill House
Holyhill House is a large house in the Georgian Style (this relates to the four Kings of the name who ruled from the death of Queen Anne in 1714 until 1830) located near Leckpatrick. The building is symmetrical and deliberately designed to command its surroundings. Influenced by classical ideals of beauty and proportion, great care has been taken in regard to the size and layout of windows and decoration is confined to the entrance door. The house was built on land granted to the Earl of Abercorn in the Plantation. It was sold to Rev George Sinclair in 1668. However this building was expanded and significantly altered in the prosperous 1760’s to the elegant building of today. |
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