Douglas, Cork

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Douglas
Irish: Dúglas
County Cork

St Luke's Church, Douglas
Location
Grid reference: W700695
Location: 51°52’35"N, 8°26’9"W
Data
Population: 26,883  (2016)
Local Government
Council: Cork City

Douglas is a village and townland of County Cork which has become a suburb of the City of Cork. Its name is from the Irish Dúglas or Dúbhglas, meaning 'Dark stream'.

Originally a separate village, the growth of both the village and the city has meant Douglas has become incorporated into the city over time.

History

Prehistory

There are a number of extant or proposed prehistoric sites in Douglas and the surrounding area, including a shell midden, ringforts, souterrains, and a fulacht fiadh.[1][2]

Further evidence of prehistoric settlement in the area includes the finding of a Bronze Age decorated beaten gold disc in the townland of Castletreasure; although reputed to be related to the ruined castle of the same name, it has actually been dated to 2500-2000 BC.[3][4][5]

Origins (13th-17th century)

The first known mention of Douglas is in an inquisition on the lands of Gerald de Prendergast in 1251, and in a 1291 taxation document which records the lands as being an appurtenance of the Church of Bauvier.[6] It is alternately listed as "Duffelglasse" and "Duglasse" in 1302 and 1306, respectively, as part of the parish of Carrigaline. In the year 1603, it became one of the liberties of Cork City.[7] In 1615, parochial records mention the chapel of Douglas being laid waste, and that the very foundation stones were being stolen, and in a 1700 entry of the same records it is mentioned that the ruined chapel in question had been the church of Carrigaline parish for a century prior to the construction of a new church in Carrigaline itself.[7]

1700. Thursday, Sept. 27... Near Douglas, in this parish, is a burying-place, in an open field; there is still remaining the foundation of a church, but they were carrying away the stones of the foundation. I charg'd them to carry away no more... This was, about 100 years ago, the church of Carickoline parish, before the new church was built, where it now is, in the centre of ye parish.[8]

By the mid-seventeenth century, Douglas had a population of 308 people (of whom 33 were English) and consisted of a number of large farms.[9]

Urbanisation and the linen industry

Douglas at the turn of the 20th century

The area began to develop as an urban settlement in the early eighteenth century with the opening of the "Douglas factory" in 1726, reported in August 1755 to be the property of "Messrs. Perry, Carleton and Co.", with 100 looms initially operational.[7][9][10] The mills produced sail-cloth and supplied sails to the Royal Navy, amongst other clients. The industry was established by Huguenot weavers and textile workers, such as the Besnards, who acquired the Mills by 1783 and in 1801 installed the first powered spindles in Ireland, along with skilled workers from Ulster and Scotland.[9][10][11] In addition to the mill workers, employees included over 1,000 spinners working from their houses, and hacklers, bleachers and labourers tasked with preparing raw material in Douglas village.[11]

Terrace for mill workers, Grange Road

Further textile mills opened in the nineteenth century, including an additional Besnard-owned scutching mill (Ravensdale, 1806),[11][12] Lane’s Corn and Hemp Mills (now Douglas Community Park, 1845),[9][13] O’Brien’s Brothers (St Patrick’s Woollen Mills, 1882),[9][14] Donnybrook Mills (Wallis & Pollock Flax Mills, 1866; re-opened as Morroghs' Woolen Mills, 1889/1890)[9][15] and Conroy’s Rope and Twine Mills (now Galway's Lane, 1892).[9] Most of the mills ceased to operate in the early twentieth century, although St. Patrick's Woollen Mills and Donnybrook Mills continued to operate until the 1970s.[9][10] Some of the houses built for the mill workers are still in existence, including a terrace of houses near the junction of the Grange Road and Donnybrook Hill.[16]

Other large businesses of the time included an osiery beside Conroy's Mills, two large brick manufacturers which straddled the nearby estuary, the Ravensdale Flour Mill, and the Woodville Flour Mill which was situated south of the Rochestown railway station and produced sea biscuits and ship bread.[17]

Suburban development

Douglas developed as a suburban area throughout the later eighteenth century and the nineteenth century, and was noted for the high concentration of 'big houses'. The popularity of the area among the nobility was such that elevated prices were commanded for the surrounding lands, and as a result, the acreage of the estates was lower than average.[18] The oldest house was believed to have been Ronayne's Court, built in 1627 by Morris Ronayne; although the house was demolished in 1969, the original inscribed fireplace was moved to Blackrock Castle.[19][20]

The nearby Montfieldstown House was reputed to be the inspiration for Havisham House in Great Expectations by Charles Dickens, having been abandoned following a ruined wedding.[19] Bloomfield House was connected to a notorious libel case between the prominent Cork Pike and Beamish families, in which the judge, who ruled in favour of Pike in Pike v Beamish, was given the house upon announcement of the verdict by the mother of the plaintiff.[21][22] Windsor House was occupied by Lord Bandon, Sir Abraham Sutton and the Kiltegan Fathers ('St. Patrick's Society for the Foreign Missions'), before being redeveloped as the Rochestown Park Hotel.[22] Ballybrack House was occupied by the Lane family, also of Vernon Mount, and is the birthplace of art dealer Sir Hugh Lane. It received frequent visits from Lady Gregory, a close relation of the family.[22] High Court, built in 1720 and later known as Westgrove, was the birthplace of playwright and Abbey Theatre director Lennox Robinson. Grange House was home of the Conron family, descended from Sir Christopher Hatton, for over 300 years.[23] Douglas Hall, one of the few remaining examples of a slate-fronted house in Ireland,[24] was home to the Rev. Dr. Francis Moylan, Bishop of Cork, who was made a freeman for his rhetorical opposition to the French invasion at Bantry Bay during the 1798 Rebellion.[23] Vernon Mount, which was built for a wealthy merchant family in the late 18th century,[25][26] was occupied by Sir Henry Browne Hayes, who was sentenced to penal servitude in Botany Bay after attempting to abduct an heiress for forced marriage.[27] Other prominent Big Houses included Ravenscourt House, Old Court, Norwood Court, Ballybrack House, Donnybrook House, Montpelier House, Grange Erin, Castletreasure House, Bellvue House, Tramore House (home of the philanthropic Reeves family[28]), and Maryborough House (now the Maryborough House Hotel, with an earlier late-17th century lodge).[29]

In 1898, the Cork Electric Tramways and Lighting Company built a route from Cork city centre to Douglas. This operated until 1932 when it was replaced by a bus service.

Later developments (20th-21st century)

In the second half of the twentieth century, Douglas underwent major changes as it became a full-fledged suburb of Cork. New housing was built and the area between Douglas and Cork City became built-up. Schools, shopping centres and other amenities developed to serve this new population. Douglas Community School was built in 1968, and the original Douglas Shopping Centre was completed in 1972. This shopping centre underwent a significant redevelopment at the turn of the 21st century (although, as of 2020, was closed following a fire).[30] A second shopping centre, Douglas Court Shopping Centre, was built in the late 1980s and a 5-screen multiplex cinema (since demolished) was also built. Several hotels, including the Rochestown Park Hotel and Maryborough House Hotel, were also developed.

About the village

Stream near Douglas Community Park

Douglas Community Park is a 5-acre park close to the centre of Douglas, and which includes a playground). Ballybrack Woods lie south of Douglas village

Churches

St. Columbas Catholic church, Douglas

As of the 2016 census, 78.6% of the population of the Douglas electoral division identified as Catholic, but before the Irish Civil War the Church of Ireland was strong in its presence here, and there remain several Protestant churches.

  • Church of Ireland:
    • St Luke's, consecrated in 1875
    • Holy Trinity, in Frankfield, built in 1838[31]
  • Baptist: Douglas Baptist congregation meets at Douglas Community School[32]
  • Methodist: Wesley Chapel on the Douglas Road,[33]
  • Pentecostal:
    • Radical Life Church,[34]
    • Inspiration House (Redeemed Christian Church of God) in Frankfield
  • Roman Catholic:
    • St Columba's, the first Roman Catholic parish church in the area, dating to 1814
    • Church of the Incarnation, built in the Grange/Frankfield area in 1976, following the growth in housing developments.
    • St Patrick's: in the Rochestown area, built in 1991.

Sport

Nemo Rangers GAA club
  • Cricket: Cork Harlequins
  • Football:
    • Tramore Athletic F.C.
    • Grangevale AFC,
    • College Corinthians
    • Douglas Hall AFC.[35]
  • Gaelic sports:
    • Douglas GAA
    • Nemo Rangers GAA
  • Golf:
    • Douglas Golf Club,[36]
    • Frankfield Golf Club
    • Douglas Pitch and Putt Club.
  • Hockey: Church of Ireland Hockey Club
  • Rugby union: Douglas RFC, founded in 1902
  • Others:
    • Douglas Tennis Club
    • Fr. Mathews Basketball Club
    • Douglas Gymnastics Club
    • Martial arts (at Elite Fitness Centre)

Outside links

 ("Wikimedia Commons" has material
about Douglas, Cork)

References

  1. ↑ Power, Denis (1994). Archaeological inventory of County Cork. comprising the Baronies of Barrymore, Cork, Courceys, Imokilly, Kerrycurrihy, Kinalea, Kinnatalloon & Kinsale. Dublin: Stationery Office. pp. 70,99,134,145,160,364. ISBN 0707603234. "Nos. 4282,4501,4799,4968,5097 & 6328." 
  2. ↑ Report: Cork Harbour Archaeology. Department of Archaeology, University College Cork. June 1975. 
  3. ↑ @"British Museum - Roman Republican Coins in the British Museum - Castletreasure Farm Hoard". http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/publications/online_research_catalogues/search_object_details.aspx?objectid=1364335&partid=1&output=Terms%2F!!%2FOR%2F!!%2F17256%2F!%2F%2F!%2Fperforated%2F!%2F%2F!!%2F%2F!!!%2F&orig=%2Fresearch%2Fpublications%2Fonline_research_catalogues%2Frussian_icons%2Fcatalogue_of_russian_icons%2Fadvanced_search.aspx&currentPage=3&catalogueOnly=true&catparentPageId=29126&catalogueName=&catalogueSection=&numpages=12. 
  4. ↑ Foley, Con: 'A History of Douglas' (R. Lynch, 1991) pages 47–51
  5. ↑ Power, Denis (1994). Archaeological inventory of County Cork. comprising the Baronies of Barrymore, Cork, Courceys, Imokilly, Kerrycurrihy, Kinalea, Kinnatalloon & Kinsale. Dublin: Stationery Office. p. 210. ISBN 0707603234. "No. 5526." 
  6. ↑ Goddard Henry Orpen (1911). "The Occupation of Cork". Ireland under the Normans. Clarendon Press. p. 47. https://archive.org/details/irelandundernorm02orpeuoft. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Foley, Con: 'A History of Douglas' (R. Lynch, 1991) pages 3, 5
  8. ↑ Brady, William Maziere: 'Clerical and Parochial Records of Cork, Cloyne and Ross', Volume I (1863) page 60
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5 9.6 9.7 "History of Douglas". Douglas Community School website. http://www.dcscork.ie/history-of-douglas/. 
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 Foley, Con: 'A History of Douglas' (R. Lynch, 1991) pages 12–14
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 "Heritage Trail: Douglas Mills - Douglas Tidy Towns". http://douglastidytowns.ie/heritage-trail-douglas-mills/. 
  12. ↑ Foley, Con: 'A History of Douglas' (R. Lynch, 1991) pages 19–21, 26
  13. ↑ Foley, Con: 'A History of Douglas' (R. Lynch, 1991) pages 31–33
  14. ↑ "Heritage Trail: O'Brien's/St Patrick's Mills - Douglas Tidy Towns". http://douglastidytowns.ie/heritage-trail-obriens-st-patricks-mills/. 
  15. ↑ Power, Denis (1994). Archaeological inventory of County Cork. comprising the Baronies of Barrymore, Cork, Courceys, Imokilly, Kerrycurrihy, Kinalea, Kinnatalloon & Kinsale. Dublin: Stationery Office. p. 357. ISBN 0707603234. "No. 6288." 
  16. ↑ "Donnybrook, County Cork - Terrace of houses most built for mill workers". Buildings of Ireland. National Inventory of Architectural Heritage. http://www.buildingsofireland.ie/niah/search.jsp?type=record&county=CO&regno=20908625. 
  17. ↑ Foley, Con: 'A History of Douglas' (R. Lynch, 1991) pages 33–36
  18. ↑ (in en) The Parliamentary Gazetteer of Ireland: Adapted to the New Poor-law, Franchise, Municipal and Ecclesiastical Arrangements, and Compiled with a Special Reference to the Lines of Railroad and Canal Communication as Existing in 1843-44. A. Fullarton. 1846. p. 49. https://books.google.com/books?id=oIRQAQAAIAAJ&q=townsend+douglas+anything+of+good+demesne+land&pg=PA49. Retrieved 4 September 2017. 
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Foley, Con: 'A History of Douglas' (R. Lynch, 1991) pages 52–55
  20. ↑ Power, Denis (1994). Archaeological inventory of County Cork. comprising the Baronies of Barrymore, Cork, Courceys, Imokilly, Kerrycurrihy, Kinalea, Kinnatalloon & Kinsale. Dublin: Stationery Office. p. 235. ISBN 0707603234. "No. 5594." 
  21. ↑ (in en) The Irish Law Times and Solicitors' Journal - Volume 98. J. Falconer. 1965. p. 123. https://books.google.com/books?id=JI8vAQAAIAAJ&q=pike+v+beamish. 
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 Foley, Con: 'A History of Douglas' (R. Lynch, 1991) pages 57–59
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 Foley, Con: 'A History of Douglas' (R. Lynch, 1991) pages 62–65
  24. ↑ "Douglas Hall, Well Road, Cork, Cork City". Buildings of Ireland. National Inventory of Architectural Heritage. http://www.buildingsofireland.ie/niah/search.jsp?type=record&county=CC&regno=20871037. 
  25. ↑ "Vernon Mount – Owners & Occupiers". Grange Frankfield Partnership. http://www.vernonmountpark.ie/owners-occupants.php. 
  26. ↑ "Famous Characters - Attiwell Hayes". Triskel Arts Centre. http://triskelartscentre.ie/christchurch/famous-characters/attiwell-hayes-2/. 
  27. ↑ Foley, Con: 'A History of Douglas' (R. Lynch, 1991) pages 104–113
  28. ↑ "Heritage Trail: Tramore House - Douglas Tidy Towns". http://douglastidytowns.ie/heritage-trail-tramore-house/. 
  29. ↑ Foley, Con (1991). A History Of Douglas. Cork: R. Lynch. p. 160. 
  30. ↑ "Douglas Village shopping centre likely to be closed until summer 2020". Irish Times. 15 September 2019. https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/douglas-village-shopping-centre-likely-to-be-closed-until-summer-2020-1.4019020. 
  31. ↑ "Holy Trinity, Frankfield". Douglas Union of Parishes. http://www.douglas.cork.anglican.org/web/churches/holy-trinity-church-frankfield/. 
  32. ↑ "Douglas Baptist Church - Meetings". DouglasBaptist.ie. http://douglasbaptist.ie/events. 
  33. ↑ "Ardfallen Church". Cork Methodist Church - Wesley Ardfallen. http://homepage.eircom.net/~wesleyardfallen/CKCircuit/CorkCircuit/ArdfallenChurch.html. 
  34. ↑ "Welcome to Radical Life". RadicalLife.ie. http://www.radicallife.ie/. 
  35. ↑ "Douglas Hall A.F.C.". Douglashallafc.ie. http://www.douglashallafc.ie/. 
  36. ↑ "Douglas Golf Club (Maryborough Hill, Douglas, Co. Cork)". Douglasgolf.ie. http://www.douglasgolf.ie/. 
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