IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Millars Forge, BELFAST, BT16 1UT

A short stretch of the Comber Greenway, between the Grahamsbridge and Millmount Roads, where the course of the old railway no longer exists.

The Enler River, looking downstream, as it flows through a low-lying area between Millar’s View (out of picture to the left) and Millar’s Forge (also out of picture).

Part of a vacant site, on the north eastern side of the Comber Road Image, almost opposite the New Line.

A Castlereagh Borough Council sign on the Comber Road, on the inward side of the New Line. Castlereagh district will cease to exist after the reorganisation of local government. To quote from the Council’s website “In April 2015, as part of the reform of local government in Northern Ireland (previously known as the Review of Public Administration), the majority of households in Castlereagh will merge with Lisburn City Council with 38% of the population of Castlereagh and 21% of Lisburn moving to the new Belfast City Council.” My reading of the map is that the area on the left will be part of the Ballyhanwood ward and the right the Enler ward of the new Lisburn and Castlereagh district. The original “Castlereagh” was a barony http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barony_(Ireland) – later divided into Castlereagh Upper and Lower. This link http://www.proni.gov.uk/index/local_history/geographical_index/baronies_.htm is to a map of the NI baronies. Their names survive for conveyancing and registration of title.

Combined name signs, showing the townland as Ballymaglaff, on the Millmount Road Image

The Millmount Road, looking towards the Comber Road, with the new Millmount Village road under construction on the left. It appears that the present line will become a cul-de-sac with access (lower left) from the new road.

The Millmount Road runs off the Comber Road (background) towards the main Belfast – Newtownards road. Back in 1963 the Matthew Plan envisaged a novelty which came to be known as the “Matthew Stop Line” ie a limit on the outward development of Belfast. It has not been taken too seriously. This photo shows the eastern limit of greater Belfast. Fields to the left and suburbs to the right. See also Image Image shows the road after stopping-up as part of the Millmount Village development.

The Millmount Road Image (January 2009) is now the old line of the Millmount Road, stopped up at the Comber Road end, and used as an access from the new line (behind the hedge on the left) to Millmount Chase (out of picture to the right).

The view towards Comber at the corner of the Millmount Road. Work is underway in building the access roads and widening the Comber Road.

A culverted storm drain, flowing into the Enler, downstream from Graham’s Bridge Image The flow is greater than usual and the river muddier after heavy rain overnight.