Ballymena B1

BALLYMENA MODEL SCHOOL 560
This class of 1949 pupils are from Ballymena Model School but as usual a lot came from Antrim as well.
Back row: are Tom Reynolds, David McKillen, Harold Dickey, George Campbell, Tom Irwin, John McMillan, Wilfred McVeigh and Ivor Lennox.
3rd Row: has Sammy Marcus, Unknown, Jack Robinson, Jim Barr, Dennis Hogg, Sam Murray, - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -Gerald Alexander and Ivor McDowell. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 2nd Row: Miss Dunlop, June Carson, Betty Adams, Jeanette Lowery, Nan Gardiner, Lila McCory, Noreen Jenkins, Betty McBride, Yvonne McClurg and Rita ?.
Front Row: are Margaret Nesbitt, Kathleen McCurdy, Nan Weir, Rosemary Steele, Ann Hilton, Maureen Whylie and Gwyneth Erwin.

BALLYMENA ACADEMY PREFECTS 2476
This is Ballymena Academy Prefects 1959/60 having their photograph taken, now this was in the days before there was an Antrim Grammar school.
So you will see the quite a number of the pupils are from the Antrim - Randalstown Area.
At the back from the left E McKillen, E Bell, Unknown, G Simpson, Unknown, Unknown, Unknown, M Livingston, J Crawford, B Turtle and B Gaston.
3rd Row: are M Greer, M McClelland, M Johnston, Moria O'Neill, Unknown, Unknown, Kathleen McCullough, Unknown, Unknown, Unknown, P Catherwood, Jayne McCaughey and M Kirpatrick.
The 2nd Row: has U Matthews, L McCaughey, J Simpson, JJL Francey, A Jack, J Edmundson, R Craig, Unknown, R McCosh, Unknown, Unknown, R Dickey, M Cairns and R Harris.
Front Row: consists of Hazel Crawford, T Speers, B Gawn, M Bones, G Jackson, Mr Preston, Mr Mol, Miss Kyle, J Gaston, Unknown, Unkown, D Montgomery and S Coulter.
Finally the two inserts are of A McAteer and H Marcus who became a well known butcher in Antrim.

BLACKBOURNE CHILDREN 1591
Looking after their baby sister Marnie at their home called "Lynwood" on the Old Cullybacky Road in October 1939 we have standing at the back Cedric, in front is his older brother Liam Blackbourne who is holding tight to his toy racing car.

BALLYMENA ACADEMY SCHOOL 1814
It's nearly 11.35am in 1957 and these are the Prefects of Ballymena Academy School getting their photograph taken with the Principal Willie Moll.
Front Row: 2nd from the left is Master McKinney who became an estate agent and 9th along is James Irvine who also became an estate agent.
Next to him is his sister Miss Irvine, now in the back row centre is Tom Nicholl who became a teacher.
The following names were on the back of the photograph: James McKeown, R. Anderson, Alye Rankin, A. Chambers, Wallace Allen and James S. Kirk.

BLACKBOURNE FAMILY 1601
Out for an evening walk we have the Blackbourne family getting their photograph taken in August 1941.
To the left and nearly out of the picture is Granny Mary Blackbourne, then her son William with his wife Annie.
In front on the left are the children Marnie, then Cedric, Doris and finally Liam.

UPPER BUCKNA PRIMARY SCHOOL 3003
Here is a photo of pupils and teachers at Upper Buckna Primary School in 1957 that was four miles east of Broughshane.
Back Row: from the left we have Miss Agnes Montgomery, Charlie Davison, Drew Davison, Raymond Davison, Andy McKillop, Robert Gibson, Paddy McKendry, Raymond Moore and Mrs Boyle. 3rd Row: are Moyna McCullough, Anna Kennedy, Mary Smith, Elizabeth Wallace, Jean Davison, Elsie Dickey, Maureen Mills, Margaret Davison, Betty Bamber and Hazel Bamber.
2nd Row: has Hugh Gibson, Margaret McKendry, Clara Gibson, Josephine Graham, Nartha Davison and Willie John Moore.
Seated are Cecil Dickey, John Gibson, Donny Robinson, Drea Robinson, Robert Davison, Moira Davison, James Moore, Billy Mills and James Kennedy.
Sadly the School is no longer in use. Buckna's meaning in Irish is Hilly.

UPPER BUCKNA PRIMARY SCHOOL 3002
Here we are at Buckna Primary School back in 1950 and all the pupils are having their annual school photograph taken.
Back Row: from the Left are Jim Mills, Stanley Davison, Kenneth McMullan, Alex McMaster, Robert Moore, Sammy Moore, Maurice McMullan, Willie Moore, Andy Dickey and Jamie Graham.
3rd Row: we have Jack Robinson, Moira O'Neill, Betty Graham, Mary Gibson, Elizabeth Moore, Dinah Aiken, Helen Montgomery, Margaret Robinson, Bertha Gibson and Gordon Smyth.
2nd Row: has Sam McMaster, Bertie Kennedy, Mary Boyle, Jean Davison, Elsie Dickey, Sally Davison, Rosemary Graham, Mary Wallace, Maureen Mills and Paddy McKendry.
Front Row: cross-legged are Joe Smyth, Felix McKendry, Ian Dickey, Andy Mills, Joe Adams, Albert Davison, Sam Wallace and Brian O'Neill.

BALLYMENA 3277
Here we are in Ballymena in the early 1900's and as you can see no motor vehicles only horses so the road sweeper was a lot of work to do. Heading up the hill is a pony and trap passing a lovely big cart horse pulling a large cart while halfway up the road a little boy is running across the road. Over to the left the second door up has a plaque outside it, so it could be the local doctor - dentist or solicitor. Right opposite is a young boy who must have spotted the photographer for he is staring straight at them.

BALLYMONEY ROAD 3285
Here on the Ballymena Road in Ballymena in 1910 there is not too much traffic about only one car outside the churches.
Now it can't have been a Sunday for people back then walked to their places of worship even if it was a mile away!
The church on the right is unknown but the one of the left is is West Church.

BALLYMENA UNITED FOOTBALL TEAM 3794
I am told this is Ballymena United players, staff and management having their photograph taken for they had won the Irish Cup.
At the this moment they are all unknown as well as the year, but if you know better please let me know.

BLACKBOURNES 1598
Out for a walk in the fields with Granny Blackbourne in August 1947 we have Cedric, Marnie, Doris and Liam Blackbourne. Marnie and Doris have different coloured Lamb brooches on while Cedric is wearing a snake belt Liam is wearing a plain belt.

WILLIAM BLACKBOURNE 1594
Sitting on the steps of his home on the Old Cullybackey Road is William Blackbourne with his trusty toy dog in one arm.
It looks like William might be hoping to go to the seaside for in his other hand is his bucket for making sand castles and it was made of tin.

BRAIDWATER SPINNING MILL 3284
This is Braidwater Spinning Mill and all is quiet the chimney stacks are not smoking although steam is coming out of a vent.
The reason it is quiet is because it is twenty past six in the morning and this sleeping giant is getting ready to awake.

BRAIDWATER SPINNING MILL 3499
The year is 1919 and here we are inside the Mill, I'm sure the ladies were not happy to see the photographer. For to take the photograph the ladies would have had to stand still for a few minutes and that ment losing hard earned money for they would have been on piece work. Also the Foreman on the left with his white beard would have not liked seeing them standing idle and also the people in the background. Now can anyone tell me what the ladies are doing please, I will give you a copy of the photograph.

BRAIDWATER SPINNING MILL 3502
It's the 1950's and these are the offices at the front of Braidwater Spinning Mill with an entrance for lorries. Going by the clock on the wall it's 12 minutes past 5pm so soon the mill workers will be pouring out into the fresh air and heading home.

BROADWAY 1451
--This is back of the above postcard which was posted 13th August 1941. It reads as follows: ---------- - - - - - - - - -- - - - xx for John xx for DaddyDear Mammy xx - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - -I am having a good time, and I am not thinking long. I hope you are all well. With love Elsie.

BALLYMENA 4054
Just outside Ballymena in 1890 we have a family working a turf bog, most likely been there from the break of dawn. look at the amount of turf that has been cut and stacked up to dry out the peat, when dried out the turf was used to heat their homes and cook their food.. The man uses a two-sided spade called a sleán, it was used to slice the turf into rectangular 'sods' (a rectangular piece of turf anywhere between 15 and 60cm in length). A proficient turf cutter would have cut hundreds of sods in a day. but think of the poor woman and the two boys whose backs must have been aching by the end of the day.

BALLYMENA 4051
It's 1890 here in the turf bog just outside Ballymena having tacked the turf beforehand is now dried out. One woman is carrying her bag of turf on her shoulder while the other has a wheelbarrow. The lady on the left is holding what looks like a long wooden bat in her bare feet while her head including two other ladies are covered with what looks like a nun's head gear.
If anyone knows the answers to the above questions please let me know via my email address and if you wish I will send you a copy of this photo. len.kinley@hotmail.com

BALLYMENA 4052
Here back in the 1890's the man is stacking the turf after it has dried out. Over to the right you can see two structures, this is turf that has been stacked like the man is doing then covered in straw thatch to keep the turf dry. Now below the man are two little boys in their bare feet and their clothes have seen better days. One is having a rest wearing on his head what looks like a ladies hat, while the other hands the man the turf.
Now about 30 years back in 1993 my son Simon and I would go and collect bags of turf up the hillside from a turfer and put the turf on our fire. Now you had to be careful and not put too much on, the first time we used the turf after a while we had to run all the hot water taps to get rid of the hot water because the hot tank was shaking it was that hot!

BALLYMENA 4055
It's 1953 and here we are at the back of the Model School on the Ballymoney Street to have their photograph taken. Now amongst the pupils we have a Tom boyer and his older brother Norman Boyer the rest are unknown. The teacher is Mrs Morrison who taught P1 also there was a Mrs McKeown who taught P2 and a Mrs Mrs Akin but I don't know what class she taught.

BALLYMENA 4056
Now I wonder what's going on here in Bridge Street Ballymena in the 1920's, it looks like the whole population is here. Whatever it was a band was involved for right in the middle of the photo is a bandsman in full kilt regalia. Well it's over for the people are moving up the street and they are all dressed in their best clothes. Over to the left behind the men with straw hats standing on a cart to get a good view, I hope the horse was alright. Here in the foreground is a young lady and another one behind her holding their bicycles. As you can see they've got their bells to warn people but I don't fancy using their brakes for they only have a front one!.

BALLYMENA 4057
We are looking up Bridge Street and in the distance the Clock Tower, the first two doors on the left have plaques outside them could be for a Doctor, Solicitor, Dentist or for a business. Out in the street are four boys playing with a cart, now the boy holding the cart's handles and the first boy on the left are barefooted. The boys are well dressed which most likely means their parents and only afford the one pair of shoes only to used to go to school and place of worship. moving up the street is a man just passing under the shop canopy, Well just behind him at the edge of the pavement is a very small child holding a small milk churn also in this bare feet. Further up in the middle of the road is a horse and tarp with people on it but behind them is a car sadly the downfall of the horse. At the bottom of the street on the right is a boy standing, behind him is the blurred figure of a girl just like the three blurred persons in the street due to them not standing still.

BALLYMENA 4058
This photo was taken between 1911 and 19119 halfway up Bridge street with a different kind of traffic jam. You know the old saying ' The Black sheep of the family ' well this is true with this herd of sheep.It was a Saturday for that's when they drove the sheep to the Railway yard on Queen Street. Now the man in the white jacket is not a giant he is just standing up on his cart. The shop facing down Bridge Street on the corner of Linenhall Street known as Simon McCory, now Simon was quite a grumpy big lad, he just grunted at you while Sadie his older sister was very nice. Across the road to the right is a bare footed lad running to get out of the way of the horse and cart. In front of the lad is the famous Hedley Ferguson's shop inside the shop they had either a parrot or a Mynah bird which spoke to the customers. Being in the shop the bird picked up several wrong words and to the customers astonishment the bird would sometimes swear at the them!

BALLYMENA 4059
How time has marched on it's now the 1940's and we are at the bottom of Bridge street and all you can see are motor vehicles no horses though there might still be one or two going by the evidence on the road. On the extreme right just out of the photograph is Dr Simpson's surgery and at the other end of the row next to alleyway at number 80 lived Aggie Close. On the left at the top of the street is the Clock tower with a flag on it. On the left in the foreground is a little boy passing Mrs Hamill's shop which sold confectionery, newspapers, magazines and of course penny gob stoppers and they did stop you talking they were so big. Two up from the shop is a lady standing in the doorway with her pinny on watching the photographer and so is the lad next door what he is holding I do not know. further up is a man in wearing a white coat he could be the baker, the butcher or works in a shop. Now photography has come on in leaps and bounds for you no longer have to stand still to be sharp in the photograph.

BROADWAY 4060
Here we are at the Broadway in Ballymena at 8.20am in 1920, even though it's early morning the shoppers are all ready out and about. Over at the side of the bank is a man unloading goods from his cart while the policeman on the right looks on. Further to the right are two men chatting while one holds a bicycle. A lady passes by them while crossing the road most likely heading to the Lipton shop. On the right another lady is just entering the shop, Coming down the pavement there is a little girl behind an old man who has a moustache and wearing a waistcoat with a coat over it while using a cane to assist him in his walk. On down we have two ladies looking in the window, now the one on the left is wearing a fur collar and the little girl is also wearing a fur collar and holding a shopping bag. As for the car I do not know the make, the little round things on both mudguards are side lights. The object on the bonnet above the radiator is a gauge to tell the driver if the radiator is getting to hot. The long silver object below the radiator was for when the car wouldn't start properly, you got out of the car and swung was is called the starting handle which you swung a few times and the would hopefully start.