Victoria Bridge, County Tyrone
Encyclopedia
Victoria Bridge is a small village
in County Tyrone
, Northern Ireland
. It is mostly within the townland
of Breen , which is in the civil parish of Ardstraw, the barony of Strabane Lower, and Strabane District Council
. In the 2001 Census
it had a population of 318 people.
, it changed to become the responsibility of the Parish of St Theresa in Sion Mills
. The school has more than 50 pupils.
served Victoria Bridge. The station opened on 9 May 1852 and the last train from Omagh
to Strabane
passed through Victoria Bridge on 14 February 1965. Billy Anderson was the last man in charge of Victoria Bridge station. Patsy Mc Garrigle served as signalman at Victoria Bridge for the final five years. Victoria Bridge Station was unique because it was constructed from wood and was very beautiful. The closure of the railway remains controversial, especially due to the impact on the local economy.
Victoria Bridge station was also served by the Castlederg and Victoria Bridge Tramway
, a narrow gauge railway linking the GNR(I) main line with the nearby market town of Castlederg
. This 7¼ mile long line closed in 1933. This station opened on 4 July 1884 and closed on 17 April 1933.
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
in County Tyrone
County Tyrone
Historically Tyrone stretched as far north as Lough Foyle, and comprised part of modern day County Londonderry east of the River Foyle. The majority of County Londonderry was carved out of Tyrone between 1610-1620 when that land went to the Guilds of London to set up profit making schemes based on...
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
. It is mostly within the townland
Townland
A townland or bally is a small geographical division of land used in Ireland. The townland system is of Gaelic origin—most townlands are believed to pre-date the Norman invasion and most have names derived from the Irish language...
of Breen , which is in the civil parish of Ardstraw, the barony of Strabane Lower, and Strabane District Council
Strabane District Council
Strabane District Council is a Local Council in County Tyrone in Northern Ireland. The headquarters of the Council is in the town of Strabane. Apart from Strabane the other smaller towns in the area include Plumbridge, Newtownstewart, Donemana, Sion Mills and Castlederg...
. In the 2001 Census
United Kingdom Census 2001
A nationwide census, known as Census 2001, was conducted in the United Kingdom on Sunday, 29 April 2001. This was the 20th UK Census and recorded a resident population of 58,789,194....
it had a population of 318 people.
Housing
Four homes were constructed for people who fought in the Boer War and who returned to the area. These houses were named "Ladysmith".Education
St Eugene's Primary School was opened in 1960 to replace the old school at Breen. Originally under the jurisdiction of Glenock Parish, NewtownstewartNewtownstewart
Newtownstewart is a village and townland in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. It is overlooked by hills called Bessy Bell and Mary Gray and is at the confluence of the rivers Strule and Owenkillew. In the 2001 Census it had a population of 1,479 people. It lies within the Strabane District Council...
, it changed to become the responsibility of the Parish of St Theresa in Sion Mills
Sion Mills
Sion Mills is a village in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland on the River Mourne. In the 2001 Census it had a population of 2,050 people. It lies within the Strabane District Council area...
. The school has more than 50 pupils.
Transport
The Great Northern Railway (Ireland)Great Northern Railway (Ireland)
The Great Northern Railway was an Irish gauge railway company in Ireland.The Great Northern was formed in 1876 by a merger of the Irish North Western Railway , Northern Railway of Ireland, and Ulster Railway. The Ulster Railway was the GNRI's oldest constituent, having opened between Belfast and...
served Victoria Bridge. The station opened on 9 May 1852 and the last train from Omagh
Omagh
Omagh is the county town of County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. It is situated where the rivers Drumragh and Camowen meet to form the Strule. The town, which is the largest in the county, had a population of 19,910 at the 2001 Census. Omagh also contains the headquarters of Omagh District Council and...
to Strabane
Strabane
Strabane , historically spelt Straban,is a town in west County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. It contains the headquarters of Strabane District Council....
passed through Victoria Bridge on 14 February 1965. Billy Anderson was the last man in charge of Victoria Bridge station. Patsy Mc Garrigle served as signalman at Victoria Bridge for the final five years. Victoria Bridge Station was unique because it was constructed from wood and was very beautiful. The closure of the railway remains controversial, especially due to the impact on the local economy.
Victoria Bridge station was also served by the Castlederg and Victoria Bridge Tramway
Castlederg and Victoria Bridge Tramway
The Castlederg and Victoria Bridge Tramway was a narrow gauge railway , operating in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland...
, a narrow gauge railway linking the GNR(I) main line with the nearby market town of Castlederg
Castlederg
Castlederg is a village in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. It lies on the River Derg and is close to the border with County Donegal. The village has a ruined castle and two ancient tombs known as the Druid's Altar and Todd's Den...
. This 7¼ mile long line closed in 1933. This station opened on 4 July 1884 and closed on 17 April 1933.