Whitehead, County Antrim
Whitehead
| |
---|---|
District | |
County | |
Country | Northern Ireland |
Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
Post town | CARRICKFERGUS |
Postcode district | BT38 |
Dialling code | 028 |
UK Parliament | |
NI Assembly | |
Whitehead (Irish: An Cionn Bán[1]) is a large seaside village on the east coast of County Antrim, Northern Ireland, lying almost midway between the towns of Carrickfergus and Larne. It lies within the civil parish of Templecorran, the historic barony of Belfast Lower,[2] and is part of Mid and East Antrim Borough Council. Before the Plantation of Ulster its name was recorded as both Whitehead and Kinbaine (from Irish an Cionn Bán 'the white head').[3]
Located at the base of Muldersleigh Hill, Whitehead lies in a small bay between the limestone cliffs of Whitehead and the black volcanic cliff of Blackhead, with the Blackhead Lighthouse on top, marking the entrance to the Belfast Lough. Whitehead is about 20 miles (32 km) from
It had a population of 3,802 in the
History
In late Victorian and Edwardian times, Whitehead was a seaside holiday destination developed by and travelled from Belfast and the surrounding area each year. Whitehead is a Victorian railway village with a preserved
An Irish railway engineer called
Whitehead received a silver at the Britain in Bloom awards in 2005 and 2006, and a bronze in 2007 with the local Brighter Whitehead group planting many of the flowers. In 2012, Northern Ireland's only Jubilee Wood was planted at Whitehead to celebrate the
Blackhead Coastal Path
The Blackhead Path was built by the Victorians in 1892, partly funded by the railway company, to attract day trippers and holiday makers to Whitehead which was at the time a growing tourist destination and resort. Wise also built a new path
In 2018, the pathway was closed due to health and safety issues and a possibility of severe landslip.[6][7][8] The Mid and East Antrim Council started a full renovation of the whole path in 2019.[9][10][11] The path was reopened in July 2020.[12] It was partly closed again 2021 after a landslip.[13]
Education
One primary school exists within the town - Whitehead Primary School. Another school, Lourdes Primary School, operated until June 2011.
Whitehead High School, an all-girls secondary school, was present until its closure in 1986. It is now the site of a nursing home.
Churches
Churches in the area include Whitehead Baptist Church, Whitehead Presbyterian Church, St Patrick's Church of Ireland, Whitehead Methodist Church, Our Lady of Lourdes (Roman Catholic), and Whitehead Congregational Church.[citation needed]
Sport
Sports clubs in Whitehead include a golf club, running club and bowling club. The latter, a
The local association football club, Whitehead Eagles FC, play in the Northern Amateur Football League.[citation needed]
People
- Neighbours actress Jackie Woodburne lived in Whitehead before her family emigrated to Australia.[14]
- Sting (Gordon Sumner) lived & holidayed with ex-wife Frances Tomelty in Whitehead during the mid-1970s.[15] The wooden house on the coastal path that they holidayed in was originally a temperance hotel and has recently been replaced with a new building. He was also known to have stayed on the top road to the lighthouse and Chester Ave.
- Keith Gillespie (Northern Ireland footballer) went to Whitehead Primary School.[16]
Railways
Demography
Whitehead had a population of 3,802 people at the
Of these:
- 17.8% were aged under 16 years and 22.2% were aged 65 and over
- 17.5% were from a Protestantor other Christian background
- 4.2% of people aged 16–74 were unemployed.
See also
- List of localities in Northern Ireland by population
- List of villages in Northern Ireland
- List of towns in Northern Ireland
References
- ^ "An Cionn Bán/Whitehead". logainm.ie. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
- ^ "White Head". Place Names NI. Retrieved 4 May 2015.
- ^ Placenames Database of Ireland
- ^ a b "Census 2011 Population Statistics for Whitehead Settlement". Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA). Retrieved 30 July 2019.
- ^ "Welcome to Whitehead Excursion Station". RPSI. Retrieved 26 January 2011.
- ^ "Blackhead Path | Mid and East Antrim Borough Council". www.midandeastantrim.gov.uk. Retrieved 5 September 2018.
- ^ "Blackhead Path Council Meeting, 23-Aug-18". www.youtube.com. Retrieved 5 September 2018.
- ^ Fitzpatrick, Michael (24 August 2018). "Blackhead Path to be closed until 2019". BBC News. Retrieved 5 September 2018.
- ^ "LA02/2018/0787/F | Install 200m of new armour causeway Install approx. 115m of additional rock armour revetment along the existing concrete revetment to tie in to the existing rock armour slope at the car park Install 200m of new 7m wide concrete path surface Replace 200m of existing kee klamp steel post and rail fence Install approx. 76m length of new stone gabion baskets to act as a retaining wall | Blackhead Path Castletown Whitehead BT38 9PB". epicpublic.planningni.gov.uk. Retrieved 5 September 2018.
- ^ "LA02/2018/0785/F | Cliff face repairs -scaling operation to remove loose or unstable rocks. PVC coated galvanised zinc mesh panels are to be deployed from the crest and draped down the slope (Approx. 1,730m2). Mesh is to be secured at the top by cable, fittings and anchorages. Mesh is to be secured at the bottom by horizontal cables fixed to the rock face. Stainless steel rock bolts will secure large blocks or overhanging pillars and buttresses. Shot-crete to be sprayed across 45m2. | Blackhead Path (Land adjacent to the Lighthouse McCrae's Brae) Whitehead".
- ^ "LA02/2018/0785/F | Cliff face repairs -scaling operation to remove loose or unstable rocks. PVC coated galvanised zinc mesh panels are to be deployed from the crest and draped down the slope (approx. 1,730m2). Mesh is to be secured at the top by cable, fittings and anchorages. Mesh is to be secured at the bottom by horizontal cables fixed to the rock face. Stainless steel rock bolts will secure large blocks or overhanging pillars and buttresses. Shot-crete to be sprayed across 45m2. | Blackhead Path (land adjacent to the Lighthouse McCrae's Brae) Whitehead". epicpublic.planningni.gov.uk. Retrieved 5 September 2018.
- ^ "Blackhead Path - Mid and East Antrim Borough Council". www.midandeastantrim.gov.uk. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
- ^ "Land slippage closes section of Blackhead Path". Carrick Times. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
- ^ "Jackie Woodburne article: Jackie hasn't found Mr Right in real life". www.ramsay-street.co.uk. Retrieved 29 January 2017.
- ^ "Police Reunion, Stormont Castle, Belfast". sting.com. Retrieved 29 January 2017.
- ^ "Keith Gillespie had so much promise but it was only partially fulfilled: A classic case of could have been - BelfastTelegraph.co.uk". BelfastTelegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 29 January 2017.
- ^ "Census 2001 Usually Resident Population: KS01 (Settlements) - Table view". Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA). p. 7. Retrieved 30 July 2019.