Watsons and Lagmore Dam

[BallyaltikilliganG]

Hi flower123, I wonder if you are going to do a local history on Lagmore Townland, as you are researching so well. I found you on Google well done.
Griffiths valuation 1862 has the list of all the inhabitants of the townland inc 4 Sinclairs etc I didnt check for Watson. The associated OS map on the website is based on the 1st revision and should show any mill pond, or small lake. I couldnt find the right one.   As enormous books, the LinenHall Library has the first series OS 6inch to the mile scale  for 1830's and its first revision about 1860's.  etc
Lagmore Reservoir had 21 million gallons in 1920 see Owen History of Belfast, that strikes me as it must have really deep.  While on books Jack Loudan wrote a book on the The story of Belfast Water or similar.
 I have lost the source for this information
"Water supply, sewerage and sanitation.  
As a result of the 1884 Act parts of the local townlands became involved with pipelines and reservoirs at Stoneyford and Lagmore to supply water to Belfast. A subsequent Act in 1889 resulted in the addition of Leathamstown reservoir and the establishment of the Belfast Water Commissioners (B.W.C.)" The acts should give more information.
A periodical article shows what has been built:-  Journal Title: UA international: Article Title   Expanding housing stock at Lagmore.  Volume 18:
Issue (7) Page(s) pp47-48 Date   July 2002 Content:-Text, photos.  Organisation   Belfast Improved Houses / BIH.  Note(s) Phases 4 & 5 of this housing development; Subject(s)   social housing ; flexible housing ; housing for disabled people. Copy in QUB Location   Search QUB Library Catalogue
possibly other libraries.
A comment on what has been lost is from www.planningni.gov.uk/.../bmap2015-techsupp11-countryside-vol1....
.   Lands at Lagmore – BUA ‘whitelands’ 
This area of ‘whiteland’ rises steeply to 210 metres at the Barnfield Road, and is highly visible from numerous locations in the local and wider area, and it is an essential component of the setting of the Metropolitan Area. It is therefore considered that approximately 85 hectares of ‘whiteland’ at Lagmore is included as Green Belt for the following reasons:
•   to protect the setting of the metropolitan area; and
•   to safeguard surrounding countryside.
BBC NI news this year has a quote "Four houses were damaged, two badly, when a culverted river burst its banks at Lagmore Heights on the outskirts of west Belfast. Nearby streets were covered in mud. There is a picture see Google
Good luck on your search, I thought the photos great, JimG

[BallyaltikilliganG]

I forgot to say before the two Anthony's , the first anthony 's father  and the big family are all listed as living in Ballycolin in the 1901 census.

[maggieblue]

Hi Flower - I grew up on the Barnfield Road and travelled to horse sales with my father's best friend - Tony Watson - caretaker of Lagmore Dam!  I spent a lot of time up at the dam with Tony, pottering about with the horses he kept there.  We have photographs of Tony which I will try to scan and post here.  I remember around the time he died his house was broken into - shortly before his death.

Hi McFar

Did you know Martha & Tom McNeice, she was a Sinclair, they lived on the Barnfield Road.

Maggie

[flower123]

Hi Maggie. Yes I knew the McNieces. I was a Derriaghy school, opposite the church with Vera.we walked home to her house where her mother gave us rice pudding. We would then play in her playhouse in the garden, I lost track of time and got a hiding for being late home. I still had a mile further to get home. (it seemed like a mile to a 5 or 6 year child)

[mcfar]

Martha and Tommy McNeice lived in the next lane up from ours.  After Tommy died around 1976 we became quite close to Martha.  She was often to be seen pushing her bicycle up the Barnfield Road.  We also visited her quite often when she moved down into the little bungalow at the Cutts which her son, Robert built.  As far as I remember her daughter Vera and son Tom emigrated to America and still live there - I only recall Vera coming home once when her mum was in hospital.

[flower123]

When I knew Vera she lived in the cottages further down the Barnfield, and were there when my grandmother had a house built below the cotages. I remember the Leckys, Smiths, Hewits,Burns boys, Alderdice and Bell's farm further down on the corner.I liked watching the larks rising in the meadow next to our house. last time I was there the meadow was built over with houses.
I knew Kathleen and saw her son Billy in Bristol about 14-15 years ago when he built an eco house. And knew the others living in Portstewart before they emigrated.The daughter was maybe a year or two older than me. It is so nice to hear from you.

[maggieblue]

Martha and Tommy McNeice lived in the next lane up from ours.  After Tommy died around 1976 we became quite close to Martha.  She was often to be seen pushing her bicycle up the Barnfield Road.  We also visited her quite often when she moved down into the little bungalow at the Cutts which her son, Robert built.  As far as I remember her daughter Vera and son Tom emigrated to America and still live there - I only recall Vera coming home once when her mum was in hospital.

I love all the old memories, people have. 

Martha was my Great Aunt, I remember visiting the farm, i loved it.  i remember Tommy, I would have been 10 when he died  McFar would be grateful for any other memories you may have.  Flower ring you later x

Maggie

[Charlie Grosvenor]

Hi There
We At Grosvenors Auction In Bo'ness Central Scotland have just received a consignment of a presentation wheelbarrow & spade that was used to cut the first sod of the "new reservoir at Lagmore in 1887

[Charlie Grosvenor]

Another Picture Of Spade