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Gobrana - Camlin Parish

Gobrana, 1810

The following is an extract from the Belfast Newsletter dated 4th September 1810 and is reproduced here by permission of the Belfast News Letter

GOBRANA TAN-YARD

To be let for a term (not exceeding fifteen years) with all the Utensils for the purpose of carrying on the Tanning Business in good repair. The Tenant can be accommodated with what Land he may require; and the Proprietor would have no objections to take a concern in the business. The present stock or leather, consisting of Butt, Kip and Calf Skins, in the several stages of Tannage, will be disposed of at valuation. Apply to James Whitla. Gobrana, August 21.

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Freehold Registrations, 1831

The following is an extract from The Belfast Newsletter dated 30th September 1831 and is used with permission of The Belfast Newsletter.

The following names are taken from a list of persons applying to register their Freeholds at a General Quarter Sessions of the Peace to be held in Belfast on the 24th October, 1831.

No. 170

Name and Residence of Applicant: John Walker, Gobrana
Description of Freehold, with the names of Barony and Townland in which situated: House and land, Upper Massereene, town land of Gobrana
Yearly Value to be registered: £10

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Neighbours assist Mrs Alexander

The following is an extract from the Belfast Newsletter dated 9th March 1841 and is used with permission of the Belfast Newsletter.

Testimony of respect to Mrs. Alexander, of Crumlin. - On Monday the 22nd February, 26 ploughs, belonging to the gentry and farmers in the neighbourhood of Crumlin, assembled on the farm of Mrs Alexander, the widow of the late Rev. N Alexander, and ploughed, during the day nearly 20 acres in excellent style. This kind act was altogether voluntary, and expressive, in some degree, of the esteem with which this benevolent lady is regarded in the neighbourhood where she resides. The work was kindly superintended by James Whitla, Esq. J.P., Gobrana and Charles W. Armstrong, Esq. J.P. Cherryvalley. (N. Whig)

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Death Notice — James Charters

The following is an extract from the Belfast Newsletter dated Monday 15th April 1861 and is reproduced with permission of the Belfast Newsletter.

Deaths

April 12th at his residence, Glendona, Glenavy James Charters, Esq., aged 67 years.

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Statistical Account or Parochial Survey of Ireland

The following is an extract from the "Statistical Account or Parochial Survey of Ireland - Parishes of Glenavy, Camlin & Tullyrusk" by the Rev. Edward Cupples.

Mr. William Whitla of Gobrana lately introduced a water-furrowing plough, with a rake at each side, fastened by a hinge; which rakes the ridges, while it clears the furrows. It is obvious that this can be employed with most advantage in grounds loose, and free from stones. The common Irish plough is mostly used. The remaining implements are, small harrows, common cars, two-wheeled carts, spades, shovels, picks, hoes, scythes, reaping-hooks, two or three pronged forks, pruning bills, hedge scissors, common hand machines for cleaning grain, rakes, wheel-barrows, hand-barrows, baskets for sowing grain, and flails.

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Marriage Notice — Cummings / Dowglass

The following is from the Belfast Newsletter dated 20th April 1896 and appears with permission of the Belfast Newsletter.

Cummings – Dowglass. April 15 at Marlebone Church, London by the Rev. Wm. P. Dowglass, brother of the bride, and the Rev. Edward Pollock, cousin of the bride, Herbert Edward Cummings, 2nd son of William H. Cummings, F.S.A. to Violet, 2nd daughter of Captain George Dowglass, J.P., of Gobrana, Crumlin, County Antrim.

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Mr Alfred Sefton

Extract from The Lisburn Standard — 18th February, 1927

Death of Mr. Alfred Sefton

The death of Mr. Alfred Sefton, of "Glendona" Glenavy, occurred after a brief illness. The deceased gentleman, who had been in failing health for some time, unfortunately caught a chill which developed into pneumonia, and proved fatal.

Mr. Sefton, who was unmarried, had been in business in America, and retired over twenty years ago. He was a son of the late Mr. William Sefton, of "Bunker's Hill", Ballinderry, brother of the late Mr. Thomas Sefton, president of the Home Insurance Company, New Orleans, and the late Mr. Burton Sefton, who was prominently connected with the linen business in Belfast for many years. The deceased gentleman was a Unionist, and an ardent member of the Church of Ireland.

There was a large attendance at the funeral, which took place on Saturday, and the chief mourners were:- Messrs. W. and W.S. Suffern, T.W. and A.B. Sefton, and W. Knox, B.A., LL.D. (nephews), and Mr. J. Fulton (grand-nephew).

At the house a brief service was conducted by the Rev. J.A. Kenning, LL.D., T.C.D., while in the church the service was held by the rev. J.W. Minchin, M.A., T.C.D., who also officiated at the graveside.

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1934 Letter from Francis Sefton

Glendona letter dated 1934
This letter was addressed to a new wedded local couple in the Glenavy area from Sefton, Glendona, Glenavy. It is dated Friday 29th June, 1934.

It reads

"Dear …

I cannot thank you enough for your nice letter of thanks and kind invitation to go to see you and Mrs... some day. Now I shall be delighted to go but not just at moment but when you get a little better settled down as I know what moving means(?) in the mean time. I wish you both every joy and happiness and above all God's blessing always which is far better and with kindest wishes to you both.

Yours most sincerely

Francis E Sefton"

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Celebrating 10th Anniversary

The following is an extract from the Lisburn Standard dated Friday March 21st 1947

Tribute by Staff
Messrs. Tweedy, Acheson & Co. Celebrate

A unique function recently took place at the home of Mr. Richard Acheson, "Glendona" Glenavy. Exactly ten years ago Mr. Acheson arrived in Lisburn to open a branch of Messrs. Tweedy, Acheson & CO. Some of those who were employed when the business first opened are still on the staff and it was a happy and appropriate thought that the anniversary of the tenth year should be celebrated in someway. All members of the staffs of the two shops entered into the thing with enthusiasm, and so employer and employed met to mark the occasion.

No function could be up-to-date these days without a snow episode, and so the first item was the digging out of the three cars which some to grief on their way to Glendona. Shovels engines and manpower were of little avail, but the good old stolid country horse came to the rescue and ultimately all passengers and drivers were extricated even if a little tired and wet and hardly looking their best for a party.

After a very enjoyable supper, Rev. W.J. Carson, B.A. called on Miss Roulston to introduce the special surprise item of the evening. Miss Roulston the manageress of the ladies shop has been in the business since its inception. She spoke in appreciative terms o the high esteem in which Mr. Acheson is held by all the members of the staff, and of the harmonious relationship which exists n the business. On behalf of the staff of both shops she presented Mr. Acheson with a silver-mounted dressing case, bearing his initials. The gift came as a great surprise to Mr. Acheson who was very moved by this thoughtful action on the part of his staff. In his reply he gave credit for the success of his business, especially to those who began with him ten years ago, but also to all those who had been with him during that period, and to those present in the business. He said he did not wish to speak of them as his staff but as his co-workers for the business very largely depended on their faithfulness and loyalty.

Rev. W.J. Carson spoke of how excellent it was to see Mr. Acheson and his co-workers joined in such happy relationship in business in these days when there is so much strife between those who employ and those who are employed. He said it was an example of how the true Christian spirit could alter the whole face of things in the industrial world if men would but seek that way.

Games and competitions were entered into with enthusiasm and enjoyed to the full. It was pleasing to see the party, without any special arrangement but of their own free will, join round the piano to sing the popular evangelical hymns of the day. After an hour of singing the happy evening concluded with prayer.

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Glendona House

Glendona House
Glendona House

Glendona House is now a B&B - an elegant family run historic Edwardian mansion near Lough Neagh set in four acres of mature gardens and woodland. See their website at www.glendona.com.

Accommodation includes spacious, well-appointed bedrooms, followed by a full breakfast in the Lord Abingdon dining room. Alternatively, there is Glendona Lodge - luxury 5 star self catering accommodation, sited within the boundaries of the historic mansion.

Glendona House was previously owned by The Earl of Abingdon and the B&B has retained its period charm.

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