Flyover: Strabane Canal (HD 720p)

Based on the Griffith's Valuation Maps c1850

If you wish to inspect or alter the path data used in the flyover, a file in KMZ format is now available for download

To use: open the file inside Google Earth.

Canal Basin

Looking SouthEast along Dock Street | fullsize


View Larger Map

---

View Modes

SEPIATOWN	WHATWASTHERE	BIRD'S EYE
View	View	View

Spires left to right:
o Church of the Immaculate Conception
o Christ Church

• 1796: Strabane canal is completed.
• 1962: Although the canal's official closing date was 1962, it had fallen into disuse as far back as the 1930s.

Related Video:

Photogrammetry test on a single image (post 1932). [Accuracy rate is low] Now that I have the 1905 Ordnance Survey map, higher resolution satellite imagery of the area, and a few more photos of the canal, I may take another stab at this someday.

Related Images:

Panoramic view from Strabane Bridge 1943

Looking East from Strabane Bridge 1943 | fullsize
This image was reconstructed from a short documentary film on the town dated 1943.


View Larger Map

---

View Modes

SEPIATOWN	WHATWASTHERE	BIRD'S EYE
View	View	View

1938: Accidental fire destroys the 1st Strabane, Presbyterian Church on Christmas day.


Related Maps:

Map: Ordnance Survey 1905

Related Images:

Knockavoe viewed from Lifford late 1880s

Looking East from Lifford late 1880s (approx 200 yards SW of Lifford bridge) | fullsize
Image supplied by Mr Curlyhill. The original metal sign can be found at the UAFP.

---

View Modes

SEPIATOWN	WHATWASTHERE	BIRD'S EYE
View	View	View

• 1894: 13-16 July: The Finn Valley/Donegal Railway line converts to 3'0" narrow gauge. 
  A new railway bridge constructed over the River Mourne opens. (see Donegal section)

For a more accurate location see the Photo History Map, or load the BlogPhoto.KML file into Google Earth.

Quote: Mr Curlyhill
My deduction of this is that it was a promotional item issued by a Wine and Spirit Merchant called Sproule and McIvor. They were in existence in 1882 but no Longer in the 1890s.
The last recorded name of Sproule & McIvor was between 1891 and 1892, thereafter it became solely McIvor.  This is my deduction of the drawing being done in the late 1880s. 

Building locations: extrudes from the 1905 ordnance survey in Google Earth. Strabane Bridge is represented by the horizontal box at the bottom of F,G and H.

It is possible that the large building on the extreme right edge of the Sproule and McIvor poster, (also shown as the marker labeled 'H' in the Building locations 3D reconstruction), is the tower at Saint John's Church. Saint John's was built in 1827 on the current site of Strabane Grotto. A tower was added to the church in the year 1837. (See related document: Christianity and Catholicism in Strabane before 1895)

• Narrator: Sister Ursula (Convent of Mercy)
• Audio Source: Mr Curlyhill
• Song Lyrics: Willliam Collins
• Closed captioning is available at Youtube.com.

The lyrics to the song "At the foot of Knockavoe" were written by William Collins. Collins was born in Strabane in 1840 and emigrated to Canada at the age of 15. Later he moved to Cleveland and enlisted in the Federal Army. He fought in both the American Civil War, and in the Fenian Raid of Canada. After the wars, he wrote several books of poems. Collins also wrote for the Boston Globe and the New York Globe.

In recent times, the words from Collins's poem "At the foot of Knockavoe" were put to music by Strabane man and local musician, Joseph Gormley.

Related Documents:

1	Christianity and Catholicism in Strabane before 1895
2	Annals of The Four Masters Transcribed by Michael Harron, MSc, MSc
3	A Sigh For Old Times William Collins poem of Strabane.

Here is the download link to the Battle of Knockavoe points-of-interest file.
To use: Open the file inside Google Earth.


Knockavoe battle analysis by Mr Curlyhill | click image for fullsize


Related links:
Strabane District Council - William Collins
Death notice of Sr Ursula Mc Hugh Dec-20-2010

Related Images:

Christmas Fire at the First Presbyterian

First Presbyterian Church. Looking East from the bridge. | fullsize

Spires: left to right:
o Church of the Immaculate Conception
o Presbyterian Church Bell Tower

---

View Modes

SEPIATOWN	WHATWASTHERE	BIRD'S EYE
View	View	View

• 1872: Presbyterian Church opens.
  
• 1938: Accidental fire destroys the church on Christmas day.
• 1939-57: The congregation worship at Leepers Brae Presbyterian Meetinghouse.
  
• 1957: New church opens on the Derry Road.
  The bell from the First Presbyterian is installed in the new church.

Aftermath of the 1938 Christmas fire. Looking East from Strabane Bridge 1943.

Related Videos:
US soldiers visit Strabane 1943.
Fire damaged church shown briefly at the start of the video.

Related Images:

View From Cemetery c1907

Looking Northwest from Cemetery above Liskey Rd. | fullsize

---

View Modes

SEPIATOWN	WHATWASTHERE	BIRD'S EYE
View	View	View

• Postcard published E R Gray & Sons No. 861/2 (divided back)
  1/2d stamp. Franked JY 9 07 (might be C7)
  
• Spires left to right:
  o Presbyterian Church 1872
  o Christ Church 1879
  o Church of the Immaculate Conception 1895
• Bridge 1788 (1823 widened)

The top of the town hall appears as a small protuberance above the roof of the presbyterian church, just to the left of the church spire.

Town 1900 - 1929 - View NW

Looking Northwest from the cemetery. | fullsize

View on WhatWasThere

• Spires left to right:
  o Presbyterian Church (destroyed by fire, Christmas 1938)
  o Christ Church - Church of Ireland
  o Church of the Immaculate Conception - Roman Catholic