White Abbey

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White Abbey
Irish: An Mhainistir Fhionn[1]
Terraced houses in Whiteabbey in 2007
Terraced houses in Whiteabbey in 2007
White Abbey is located in Northern Ireland
White Abbey
White Abbey
White Abbey shown within Northern Ireland
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Country Northern Ireland
County Antrim
Barony Belfast Lower
Civil parish Carnmoney
Plantation grant Private plantation
First recorded 1604[2]
Settlements Newtownabbey
Government
 • Council Newtownabbey
Area
 • Total 150.05 ha (370.79 acres)

White Abbey is a townland (of 406 acres) in Belfast, Northern Ireland.[3] The shoreline village spelt Whiteabbey, was established within the townland of White Abbey in the late 19th century. Today, it is a location within the borough of Newtownabbey. White Abbey is part of the civil parish of Carnmoney and the historic barony of Belfast Lower.[1][3]

History

White Abbey's name is derived from a Roman Catholic Premonstratensian abbey which existed in the area in the Medieval period, the monks of which are said to have worn white robes. All traces of the abbey are now gone although the site, in a field beside the grounds of Whiteabbey Hospital at Doagh Road, remains undeveloped. It can be viewed from the adjacent Abbots Cross Garden Village. The site of the Premonstratensian Abbey is designated as a Scheduled Historic Monument at grid ref: J3497 8198.[4]

In the first half of the 19th century, the village of Whiteabbey was home to a large bleach works and was an important landing site for coal shipments bound for Belfast. Remnants of the old pier can still be seen in the sea. The importance of Whiteabbey declined after the channel into Belfast harbour was widened and straightened allowing larger ships to reach the city directly.

Abbeylands, a two storey Victorian house in Whiteabbey, owned by Sir Hugh McCalmont,[5] was set on fire by Suffragettes in 1914 [6] causing £20,000 of damage.[7] Unionist leader, Edward Carson, had declared against votes for women, meanwhile his Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) had been drilling troops at Abbeylands House. In protest the Suffragettes burnt the building to the ground on 27 March 1914, complaining that they were being imprisoned while the UVF were gun running and preparing for civil war.[8][9][10]

In 1952, one of Northern Ireland's most controversial murders took place in Whiteabbey when Patricia Curran, the 19-year-old daughter of prominent Judge Ulster Unionist politician Sir Lancelot Curran, was found stabbed near her home, Glen House.[11]

Whiteabbey, together with Whitewell, Whitehouse, Jordanstown, Monkstown, Carnmoney and Glengormley, were the seven villages that formed Newtownabbey when it was designated a 'new town' on 1 April 1958.

Local facilities

  • Near Whiteabbey one can find a popular dog-walking route known as 'the Glen', which is a small forest area extending up to and beyond the Bleach Green railway viaduct. The Newtownabbey/Ulster Way passes through this area, as does the Threemilewater river.
  • Whiteabbey also has its own hospital.
  • Whiteabbey is close to the main shopping area of Newtownabbey, containing the Abbeycentre,[12] Abbey Business Park, Abbey Retail Park, Longwood Retail Park and Valley Retail Park.

The Bureau Bar in Whiteabbey is a popular place for music at week ends and has a restaurant.

  • Whiteabbey also has its own train station allowing ease of access to Belfast.

Local schools and education

Local churches

  • Whiteabbey Congregational Church
  • Whiteabbey Presbyterian Church
  • Whiteabbey Methodist Church
  • Saint James Catholic Church
  • The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Newtownabbey

Transport

The area is served by Whiteabbey railway station on the Belfast to Larne line. The station opened in April 1848.[13] Although it lies outside Belfast the area is also served by the Translink Metro service.[14]

See also

References

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  2. Place Names NI - White Abbey
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  12. Abbey Centre
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  14. Translink Metro 2