Photographs
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| Fourscore School & Hall, Glenavy (date unknown) |
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| Fourscore Footbridge (date unknown) |
Ballymoneymore - Glenavy Parish
Extract from Griffith Valuation 1862 - Union of Lisburn (Part of)
County of Antrim — Barony of Massereene — Parish of Glenavy
| Column 1 : | Number and letters of Reference to map |
| Column 2 : | Occupiers |
| Column 3 : | Immediate Lessors |
| Column 4 : | Description of Tenement |
| Column 5 : | Area |
| Not included - | Rateable Annual Valuation of land and buildings and Total Annual Valuation of Rateable property |
Townland: Ballymoneymore |
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Ordnance Survey map number: 59 |
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| 1 | David Blizzard | Marquis of Hertford | Land | 128 01 36 |
| 2 | Church Education Society's School house, Teacher's house and land | see exemptions | ||
| 3a | Eliza Steele | Marquis of Hertford | House and Land | 14 03 35 |
| 3b | unoccupied | Eliza Steele | House | - |
| 3c | Mary Irwin | same | House | - |
| Total of Rateable Property | 145 01 31 | |||
| Exemptions: Church Education Society's School House Teacher's house & land | 01 03 10 | |||
| Total including exemptions | 145 01 01 | |||
Return to TopFourscore School
The Rev. Charles Watson in his book "Glenavy: Past and Present" (1892) makes reference to an area known as the Fourscore:
This place, so named on account of a four-score acre field, lies near Knockcairn, and possesses one of the finest country schools in the parish. Before being built, the school was held in a building at the Ligger Bridge, on the road to Crumlin, the walls of which were pulled down about two years ago. The foundation stone of Fourscore was laid by Fortescue Gregg, Esq., on July 12, 1837. The Orangemen attended in great numbers, George Lyons, Master of Lodge 340, Thomas Green, Robert Thompson, John Wickliffe, Wm. John Smyth, David Gray, and Thomas Wheeler being among the number. It was not opened till 1840, owing to Mr. Gregg's death. The school-room and teacher's residence were, however, completed by subscription. Mr. William Scott, uncle of the present Mr. William Scott, of Fourscore, was the first teacher. It was then under the Church Education Society, but the Rev. Ross Jebb, Vicar, placed it under the National Board. When the Rev. Edward Johnson-Smyth came to the parish, in 1852, he again put it under the Church Education Society; but, in 1885, it was again put in connexion with the Board by the present vicar, after many improvements, to which the people generously subscribed. The teachers have been Messrs. W. Scott, William Boston, John M'Farland, W. Crawford Bradshaw, and now Mr. James Farr occupies that post. Near Fourscore lives Mr. John Wickliffe, who, though in his 86th year, never misses attending the parish church and the meetings of the select vestry. His wife, who is a year older, is still both chatty and cheerful.
The Fourscore lies within the townland of Ballymoneymore. The 1830's Ordnance Survey map records the acreage for this townland to be just over 146 acres.(146 acres and 1 perch). There are a number of prominent forts marked in this town land. These three forts appear as raths on modern maps now. The current Fourscore Orange Hall occupies the site of a former schoolhouse and is located at the junction of the Tullyrusk Road and what is known locally as "Codger's Lane". On the 1830's map there appears not to be a building at this point and the Four Score School House is marked NNW of this location at a place known and marked as "Ligger Bridge". This confirms the Rev. Watson's account of the Fourscore.
Glenavy River
The following extract is from "Ordnance Survey Memoirs of Ireland - Parishes of County Antrim VII 1832 - 1838". Thanks to The Institute of Irish Studies, The Queen's University of Belfast for permission to use this extract.
The Glenavy River
… From thence it runs to the town land of Ballymoneymore in the parish of Glenavy, through rather an open valley composed of small, irregular connected features, where the banks are steep, average height 25 feet. The young plantations on these banks, surrounding W. Gregg Esquire's cottage, gives the country a picturesque appearance…
Footbridge, Fourscore
Along "Cadger's (or Codger's) Lane" were the original stepping stones across the river. The 1904 Ordnance Survey map clearly marks the foot bridge. This is on the boundary of the town lands of Ballymoneymore, Tullyrusk and Knockcairn. Earlier maps show "Cadger's Lane" crossing a mill-race prior to the approach to the Glenavy River crossing.
Extract from The Lisburn Standard — Saturday November, 17th 1900
Lisburn Rural District Council Quarterly meeting held at the Workhouse, Lisburn on Thursday.
One of the motions taken up included … "By Councillor Graham - to build footbridge over Fourscore river on Cadger's Lane, townland of Tullyrusk."
