ANTRIM AND DISTRI￿ HISTORICAL SOCIETY
CHARITY NUMBER NIC104890
CHAIRMANS REPORT
2022/23
The current year of 2022123 has been a year of change for the Society. During the years
2020/22 we were either unable to meet due to Covid Restrictions or when permitted met
outdoors at different locations, mostly the Lough Shore Picnic Area in Antrim. Things were
changing which enabled us to meet indoors, although this did not tske place until October
2022.
Following the Annual General Meeting during May 2022 we were stiii meeting outdoors and
following the visit to Muckamore Mill Village in April, we continued the series "Beetling Mills
and the history of Linen, along the Six Mile Water. On a beautiful Summer evening in June
we met at Kirby's Lane Car Park on the Moylena Banks to hear about and visit the remains of
the Beetling Mills along the river.
July 2022 saw a slight change from the Linen Industrial Heritage to that of Corn Milling and
Scutching, which had been carried out at a Mill at the centre of the hamlet of Milltown,
between Antrim and Randalstown, for 200 plus years until the middle of the last century.
The"Mill on the Corner" as it was described in Brendan Smith's book is now in a very run
down state and having had all the remaining machinery removed and not being a "listed
building" is due for demolition. That evening was followed by a visit to the "Randalstown
Viaduct, {thank5 being due to St.McNissi,s Church, for making their car park available to us)
there we heard about the construction in the mid 1800's at an enormous cost for that time
and it's use to carry a branch line form Cookstown Junction to the town of Cookstown.
Again it was a beautiful evening which was enjoyed by those attending.
August, saw us back in Antrim in Mill Row (present day Riverside) to hear the continuing
story of manufacturing along the Six Mile Water.
September, was to be our outing to Hillsborough Castle and Grounds, but due to the death
of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth 11, the Castle was closed and we had to postpone our visit.
th
We were to hold our 40 Anniversary dinner in ottober/November 2020, but for Covid
reasons, this also had to be postponed.
In October, we visited First Antrim Presbyterian Church (formerly Mill Row Church) kindly
granted, where a good number heard the history of the Congregation, formed in 1726
following a break away from the First Presbyterian Church Antrim (Non Subscribing). For all
these tslks from April to October 2022, my thanks go to Josephine Herbison for all the work
involved in their preparation.

Our long anticipated Anniversary Dinner was finally arranged in the Dunsilly Hotel on the
th
10 November 2022. Again a goodly number (with at least one person in attendance, who
was a founder member of the Society, way back in 1980) enjoyed a lovely meal, Cabaret, and
a few speeches.
Members were now happy to meet indoors and after a break during December,
arrangements were made for us to use Stiles Community Centre, Clotworthy not being
available in the evenings. Our first meeting in the new venue, was a history of Arthur Bell
Nicholls, husband of Charlotte Bronte. Again thanks are due to Josephine Herbison, for her
research.
February was most enjoyable, when Rev Derek Kerr, provided us his potted history of "Royal
Bits and Pieces" and in addition to the historical part, also gave us an hour filled with
humour. March was in in house, with members bringing along and talking about, items
which are of sentimental value and interest to them. Again an enjoyable evening was had,
April brought along Danny Kinahan, who tslked about and showed a power point,
concerning his family and Castle Upton. A goodly number enjoyed an interesting evening.
This evening brings us to our Annual General Meeting, held indoors for the first time in the
past three years.
It's good to be back.
Thank you all for your continued support
will now continue from strength to str
hr
ugh the bad times and hope that the Society
s we continue in 2023 into 2024.
Matt Herbison (Chairperson)