Tale of Shrigley history makes its way to village in England

Tale of Shrigley history makes its way to village in England

20 November 2024

THE story of Shrigley village has found its way to the English village from which it takes its name.

The Co Down village was founded exactly 200 years ago by John Martin, who built a paternalistic village of beautiful bluestone houses around his mill in 1824.

Although it was originally called Killyleagh Mill, and his development was called Milltown, Martin eventually named it Shrigley after Pott Shrigley, the village outside Manchester where his father originated.

Now village councillors in Pott Shrigley have been exploring the links between the two villages, based on research contained in a new history of the former Northern Ireland mill village, Farewell to Dear Old Shrigley.

Most were unaware of the link between the two villages, and the connections between John Martin and the Downes family who ran Pott Shrigley.

The Cheshire village is even smaller than the Co Down Shrigley, but councillors have been following the celebrations throughout this year marking the 200th anniversary of the foundation of the village.

The official history, published to coincide with the anniversary, has been written by journalist Chris Hagan, who has family links dating back five generations to the start of the village.

“We are very pleased with the uptake of people acquiring the book as a Christmas present for those who have a connection to Shrigley village or the tannery,” Chris explained.

“The biggest surprise has been how little people in Pott Shrigley knew about our Shrigley.”

Part of the project supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund has involved ensuring the story of Shrigley is preserved for future 

generations.

A copy of the book was handed over to Sarah Sweeney, the branch manager of the newly opened Killyleagh Library, and to the Linenhall Library in Belfast.

Copies have found their way across the UK and as far away as Spain, Australia and the USA. There has been a strong interest among the Jewish community across the world, learning the story of how Jewish families saved Shrigley at the start of the Second World War.

The story of how the Jews, escaping from Hitler’s purge in Europe, sought sanctuary in Shrigley, and brought with them work for villagers in the tannery at the height of the 1930s great depression, is largely unknown outside the immediate area.

But based on secret files even more about the period is now revealed. The new edition draws on many new sources particularly files, previously closed and sealed, that have been opened at the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland.

“Some of the members of the Jewish families did not make it to safety and perished in the Holocaust, while the families who made it tried to save their brothers and sons by sending money from Shrigley to help them to safety,” Chris explained.

The book also tells the story of how Shrigley was bulldozed, knocking down every one of the original houses and shops between 1966 and 1970.

Chris continued: “Many people are astonished to learn there once was a model village with its streets of beautifully constructed and maintained houses in Shrigley. Much of the rubble of it lies under the green in front of the Martin clock tower.

Sadly all the street names are gone too – Main Street, Bank Row, Model Row, River Row, Field Row and Short Row.’’

Copies of the book are available from Beth Barrett’s shop in Cross Street. Killyleagh. Details are on the Old Shrigley Facebook page.