IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Queen Street, CRAIGAVON, BT66 8BL

A grating cover, cast by the Portadown Foundry, at Queen Street (“Park Street” on the Google map) near Foster Place. Now closed, the business seems to have traded for around 130 years since the 1840’s, from Foundry Street, Portadown.

A blue enamel sign at the Queen Street end of King Street. There is a second sign immediately below Image

A sign at the Queen Street end of King Street immediately below Image The reddish tint is, I think, a product of age. I have a feeling that this sign predates Craigavon and that it might be a remnant of Lurgan Borough Council.

The first Methodist Chapel was opened in a small house in Nettleton's Court, Queen Street by the Rev. John Wesley on 19th June 1778. By 1802 this chapel became too small for the congregation and a new chapel was built in High Street, parallel to the street and to the rear of where the present church now stands. Image In 1823 a Primitive Methodist chapel was built in Castle Lane. A mission of Methodist New Connexion opened in Lurgan in 1841 but seemed to have faded out by 1856. In that year the New Connexion chapel was acquired by the Primitive Methodist. This building is now the Queen Street Methodist Church. The Wesleyan Methodist and the Primitive Methodist united in June 1878 to form The Methodist Church in Ireland.

The sign at the Avenue Road end of King’s Park Mews showing the townland as Ballyblagh. Including the townland name in urban signs, though rare, does happen from time to time Image

This doorway, in Queen Street at the corner of Malcolm Road, is not what it seems to be. It and another (hidden to the left) are all that remain of the former Orchard County Hotel. If my memory is correct the hotel was destroyed by a bomb in the 1970’s. What you see is a facade, surviving at ground level only and now acting as a boundary wall for the gospel hall.

Born in Lurgan, the young James Logan and his family moved to Bristol in 1689. 1699 he sailed to Pennsylvania as secretary to William Penn. His career included spells as Mayor of Philadelphia, Chief Justice, Acting Governor and President of the Council of Pennsylvania. The plaque is on a house almost opposite Malcolm Road. Note: this plaque existed long before the Ulster History Circle began erecting its blue plaques.

The site of a now-closed factory, at the swimming pool end of Robert Street. It has a “sold” sign. The brochure of one of the joint agents describes it as “Planning permission was granted on the 18th November 2008 to demolish the existing factory building and erect 41 apartments. The scheme comprises of 27x 2 bedroom apartments, 6x 3 bedroom apartments and 8x 1 bedroom apartments arranged in 4 blocks. The proposed scheme includes a basement car park providing spaces for approximately 62 cars . . . . . The site was previously used for commercial purposes and has excellent potential for renewed commercial use (subject to planning permission)”. This photograph appears as a matter of record only. I have no connection with any of the parties involved in the sale.

The Town Hall was built in 1858 and has recently been refurbished. It has a simple and restrained exterior but boasts a fine hall. The Victorian style auditorium and balcony can seat 272 people and smaller rooms are available for community use