Upperlands: Difference between revisions
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*[[Wendy Houvenaghel]] (b. November 27, 1974) is a United Kingdom|British cyclist from Upperlands, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland,[1] riding on both the road and track, but specialising in the latter. She has represented the United Kingdom in various world events, most notably winning an Olympic silver medal in the 3000m pursuit in Beijing and a gold medal in the team pursuit at the 2008 and 2009 Track World Championships. She has also won various British national competitions and represented England at the 2006 Commonwealth Games. Houvenaghel is based in Cornwall, England. |
*[[Wendy Houvenaghel]] (b. November 27, 1974) is a United Kingdom|British cyclist from Upperlands, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland,[1] riding on both the road and track, but specialising in the latter. She has represented the United Kingdom in various world events, most notably winning an Olympic silver medal in the 3000m pursuit in Beijing and a gold medal in the team pursuit at the 2008 and 2009 Track World Championships. She has also won various British national competitions and represented England at the 2006 Commonwealth Games. Houvenaghel is based in Cornwall, England. |
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*[[Dean Shiels]] (born 1 February 1985) is a Northern Irish professional footballer currently playing for [[ |
*[[Dean Shiels]] (born 1 February 1985) is a Northern Irish professional footballer currently playing for [[Kilmarnock FC]] in the Scotish [[Premier League]]. He was previously contracted to [[Scottish Premier League]] team [[Hibernian F.C.|Hibernian]] for five years. Shiels was with [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]] as a youngster, but made no first team appearances for the club. He was born and grew up in Upperlands. Dean is also a regular member of the [[Northern Ireland national football team]] squad. He has achieved a successful football career despite the disability of losing an eye in a childhood accident. |
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==Transport== |
==Transport== |
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Revision as of 15:36, 5 January 2012
Upperlands
| |
|---|---|
| Population | 535 (UK 2001 Census) |
| District | |
| County | |
| Country | Northern Ireland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Postcode district | BT |
| Dialling code | 028 |
| Police | Northern Ireland |
| Fire | Northern Ireland |
| Ambulance | Northern Ireland |
Upperlands (locally ['ʌpər,lənz],[1] from Irish Áth an Phoirt Leathain, meaning 'ford of the broad (river) bank'[1]) is a small village in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It is situated 3 miles north east of Maghera. It lies within the civil parish of Maghera, the barony of Loughinsholin, and is situated in Magherafelt District Council. In the 2001 Census it had a population of 535 people.
Name
Upperlands takes its name from the townland of Upperland in which part of it lies (the rest lies in the townland of Tirgarvil).[2] The townland of Upperland gets its name from the garbled pronunciation of the Irish Áth an Phoirt Leathain.[1] This has historically been anglicised as Aghfortlany, Aportlaughan, Apportlane, Amfordlan, Ampurtain and Ampertaine.[1] The latter is the name of the local primary school.
History
Upperlands owes its existence to the linen industry and the Clark family who established the first linen mill there in 1736. Subsequent development of the industry led to the construction of substantial residences and small groups of workers homes, and shaped the form and character of Upperlands. Boyne Row (a group of listed buildings), in its riverside setting, represents workers housing, built by the mill-owners. There are four man-made lakes or "dams" in Upperlands. These used to serve the linen mills. They are Craig's dam, Island dam, Green dam and Lapping-room dam. There is a scenic walk around the dams and they are kept stocked with fish for the benefit of anglers.
Amenities
The village has a small shop called Junes Superstore, and a Royal British Legion and also a community centre.
Upperlands also has a Hibernian Hall which was built in 1907 and also a Protestant Hall which was used by the local Orange Lodge which was called Upperlands Purple Marksmen LOL 817 and which was founded around 1900 by Nathaniel McCoord, It had many notable members throughout its history including Henry Maitland Clark who was the MP for North Antrim (he would later resign after marrying a Roman Catholic), Alfred E. Lee who became a Deputy Grand Master (who would in the 1960s transfer from this lodge) among others. According to the last Grand Lodge membership reports Upperlands Lodge has the highest numbers of transfers and resignations of any Lodge with their district and almost the entire county... in fact they have more transfers/resignations than every other lodge in the district combined with the membership having dropped by 20% in the past year.
The Apprentice Boys of Derry Upperlands branch Murray club which used to be one of the largest clubs on parade at the Londonderry celebrations but now has a steady membership of around 30 or so men use the hall for meetings as did the local Royal Black Preceptory which folded around 2007.
Upperlands had a lambeg drumming club at the start of the 20th Century and also renowned pipe band in the 1930s but this was later replaced with a number of flute bands which have since died out, at the present time a couple of men are trying to form a new flute band in the village, this will be (if successful) the fourth flute band in the last ten years formed in the village.
Education
Sport
Upperlands F.C. is the local football club founded in the 1950s. It currently plays in the premier division of the Coleraine & district league. Their home ground is Festival Park, and most recently won the Constitution Cup 2009/10.[citation needed]
People
- Wendy Houvenaghel (b. November 27, 1974) is a United Kingdom|British cyclist from Upperlands, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland,[1] riding on both the road and track, but specialising in the latter. She has represented the United Kingdom in various world events, most notably winning an Olympic silver medal in the 3000m pursuit in Beijing and a gold medal in the team pursuit at the 2008 and 2009 Track World Championships. She has also won various British national competitions and represented England at the 2006 Commonwealth Games. Houvenaghel is based in Cornwall, England.
- Dean Shiels (born 1 February 1985) is a Northern Irish professional footballer currently playing for Kilmarnock FC in the Scotish Premier League. He was previously contracted to Scottish Premier League team Hibernian for five years. Shiels was with Arsenal as a youngster, but made no first team appearances for the club. He was born and grew up in Upperlands. Dean is also a regular member of the Northern Ireland national football team squad. He has achieved a successful football career despite the disability of losing an eye in a childhood accident.
Transport
- Upperlands railway station opened on 18 December 1880, closed for passenger traffic on 28 August 1950 and finally closed altogether on 1 October 1959.[3]
2001 Census
Upperlands is classified as a small village or hamlet by the NI Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) (ie with population between 500 and 1,000 people). On Census day (29 April 2001) there were 535 people living in Upperlands. Of these:
- 21.5% were aged under 16 years and 21.2% were aged 60 and over
- 51.2% of the population were male and 48.8% were female
- 4.9% were from a Catholic background and 94.4% were from a Protestant background
- 4.2% of people aged 16–74 were unemployed
For more details see: NI Neighbourhood Information Service
See also
References
- ^ a b c d Toner, Gregory: Place-Names of Norhtern Ireland. Queen's University of Belfast, 1996, ISBN 0-85389-613-5
- ^ PlaceNamesNI Map - Upperlands
- ^ "Upperlands station" (PDF). Railscot - Irish Railways. Retrieved 2007-11-24.
- Draft Magherafelt Area Plan 2015
