I Get into the Old Cemetery at Knock Belfast 1644
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- Опубліковано 6 лют 2017
- I meet up with my learned chum Peter McCabe and we get a look round Knock old Cemetery. Unfortuantely this fascinating old cemetery is usually locked due to persistent vandalism and anti social behaviour.
About the cemetery
Knock Burial Ground is one of the most ancient sites in Belfast. The land itself is believed to date back to at least the 13th century, while the graveyard became public property in 1896.
Burials no longer take place at the site, which is enclosed by a high stone wall. It contains 18th century headstones inscribed with the names of local townlands such as Ballyhackamore, Ballymacarrett, Bloomfield, Castlereagh, Dunover, Gilnahirk, Knock, Mountpottinger and Tullycarnet.
Although these areas lie within Belfast today, they were once regarded as countryside and farmland.
The oldest gravestone in Knock Burial Ground dates from 1644. Other more recent headstones refer to those killed in World War I, for example, Privates J Corbett and Henry Best who were killed in action at Dunkirk on 28 May 1940.
History
Knock Burial Ground is located on top of a hill overlooking Belfast, which explains its name - the Gaelic word 'cnoc' means 'hill’ in English.
A church at Knock, known as Dundela, passed from the Anglo-Normans to the Clandeboye O’Neills in the 13th century. The taxation of 1306 shows that it was valued at 40 shillings at the time. A traveller, writing in the 16th century, later referred to a church dedicated to St Columba, sometimes called Knock Columkille, on the site.
By 1622, Knock Columkille was transformed for Anglican worship and used until 1637 when it was abandoned in favour of a new parish church, now known as Knockbreda, in the nearby townland of Breda. The money to build the church came from Lady Middleton who lived in Belvoir Park and was a member, by marriage, of the Hill family.
The 'union' between Knock and Breda was completed in 1657 during the time of Oliver Cromwell but it was almost 100 years before the church was completed in 1737. Although an engraving in the Dublin Penny Journal of 1834 shows two ruined gable walls within the cemetery's modern boundaries, there are no visible remains of Knock Columkille today.
The extension of Belfast's boundary in 1896 brought Knock Burial Ground under the control of Belfast Corporation (now the council). All the plots had been allocated by this time and only the reopening of some graves was permitted. In 1905, a caretaker was employed to look after the graveyard.
Famous burials
William Nichol (1794-1840), a Belfast-born painter whose works were exhibited in the Ulster Museum, is buried in the cemetery. His brother Andrew, who was also a painter, is believed to be buried in London.
Its crazy how any of our ancestors could be buried in there. and we could be standing right by them staring at their grave. without knowing
We have cemeteries like that in the states as well. The old ones would run out of room for the writing as well.
Regarding the last stone. Erected by I think you said Samuel McCune in memory of his son William, who died by drowning at Miramichi. MIRAMICHI a place in the province of New Brunswick, Canada at the mouth of the Miramichi River where it empties into the Miramichi Bay. It is comprised of 2 towns one across the rover from each other. The towns were known as Chatham (on the south side) and Newcastle, on the north side of the river. That is how it was when I waa growing up 50 yrs ago. Recently the towns combined to form the city of Miramichi. I would say the young fellow William may have been fishing on the Miramichi River (river is reknown for Salmon fishing). There is a large Irish population there, immigrated in the early 1800's from Belfast and Cork. The area was first settled by First Nations people the Mi'kmaq, the French and then the Scottish people came and settled also in the latter 1700's as well as Loyalists from the USA following their war for independence. So there are people of many backgrounds in that area. They have a huge Irish festival every summer in the Miramichi. Yes Miramichi is a Mi'kmaq name I believe.
Thank you for the tour, sir. I enjoy world history and even British history. So long time ago and so much.
Thank you for the fine history lesson.
just at the top of my street.remember when i was young my brothers and i playing in the cemetery.was realy scary especially when we got in on Halloween night. nice views as well. but too much trees planted on the hill now so views wiped out by trees!their is a George best grave as well their too.but not the footballer lol!nice video mate.
Really interesting video. I was up there today having a look around!! Thanks!
Fascinating, !
The last tombstone, I looked up Miramachu and what showed up was derives from New Brunswick Canada.
Hey Tom, if you get the chance could you do a wee tour of Movilla cemetery! I remember Blair Mayne’s grave site used to be in a terrible state of disrepair, which I thought was quite disgusting! Also my friend and colleague Jonty Beacom who was an RUC officer murdered in a rocket attack in the markets 1994 is buried there . Cheers mucker 🤪
Tom have you ever payed a visit to the old graveyard at Carlisle Circus,hidden behind the Ulster Bank, Henry Joy McCracken is buryed there very small but interesting,👍
beautiful 💘 old cemetery s .
I've recently traced my Great Grandfather's child buried in that majestic lovely resting place.
Hi Tom, I looked around Drumbeg Parish graveyard recently. When I think about it, graves only went back so far there too. Some older graves incorporated into the building. Wonder what happened to older graves in bygone days. Were they not marked or was land reused? Very interesting.
Hi, did you have to ring to get access ? Hoping to get some photos of here next week 😊
How do you gain access normally?ring a city council number and request a viewing?
Nice but I would have liked to hear more of the inscriptions read, for ex. at
Nice. Have a lot of ancestors in Ireland.
This is one of the only cemeteries in Belfast I've never been to. I'd love to see the 1644 headstone, if it's still there, that is.
Nice one Tom