Stoneyford, County Antrim

Stoneyford ("Áth Stúin" in Irish), is a small village in County Antrim, Northern Ireland, between Glenavy and Milltown, about 5 miles (8 km) north of Lisburn. In the 2001 Census it had a population of 318 people. It is situated in the Lisburn City Council area.

Development extends along both sides of Stoneyford Road, which runs through the village on a north/west to south/east axis. Four other minor roads meet Stoneyford Road on the western edge of the village where the landscape of the surrounding countryside is characterised by marshy low-lying fields and low, gently undulating hills. Stoneyford originated as a small linear settlement, situated beside a fording point on a river, which gives the place its name. St John’s Church was established here in the mid-19th century, extending the settlement to the south-east. The construction of the Stoneyford Reservoir greatly changed the character of lands to the south of the settlement, and the reservoir is now an important feature of the village. The Stoneyford River flows through the village from the east to Lough Neagh.

Stoneyford is also the birth place of Steven Blick who is the only known man to walk across the reservoir when frozen. The only other known attempt at this feat was by another local man, Ciaran McConnell, whose attempt was doomed to failure in July 2004.

Locally significant buildings include St John’s Church built pre 1850, which is a listed building, and a pre 1830 two-story dwelling situated on Stoneyford Road.

Places of interest

The village is directly north of Stoneyford Reservoir, a popular angling spot for rainbow trout and brown trout.

References

* [http://www.ninis.nisra.gov.uk/ NI Neighbourhood Information System]
* [http://www.lisburn.org.uk/facilities/Patrick's%20Fishing%20pages/stoneyford.htm Stoneyford Reservoir]
*Draft Belfast Metropolitan Area Plan 2015