Carrickfergus Civic History 1325 - 2015

LORY OF

THE GLORY OF

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NEW

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HISTORY OF ckfergus

Old Made

A CIVIC HISTORY OF Carrickfergus

1325~2015

THE GLORY OF OLD MADE NEW - A Civic History of Carrickfergus

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Carrickfergus Museum was officially opened in 2005. In addition to displaying a wealth of archaeological material from the town, it houses a rich civic collection that represents the historical significance of the town since Medieval times.

From the oldest item, the Mayor’s seal dated to c.1240 to 20th century chains of office, the Carrickfergus civic collection has expanded over the years to take in distinctive objects that symbolize the development of the town and Borough.

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In recognition of its historical value the Carrickfergus civic regalia continues to be used for civic occasions in the new Mid and East Antrim Borough Council, representing a continuity of purpose dating back eight centuries.

Objects marked with

are located in the museum and marked on the floor plan.

1. THE MAYOR’S SEAL Dating to c.1240, the Mayor’s Seal is the oldest of the Carrickfergus seals. The inscription around the margin reads S(IGILLVM), FR(ATR)IS, BER(NARDI), CAM(ERARI), CIVITATIS, AG(VI)LE. ‘The seal of Brother Bernard, Chamberlain of the City of Aquila’.

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It is not known how the seal of an Italian chamberlain came to be used as the Mayor’s Seal. However, there was an Archdeacon of Down named Bernard in 1183, and it is thought perhaps, having no use for his Italian seal of office, gave it to the Corporation who used it for centuries.

2. COMMON SEAL The ancient Common Seal of Carrickfergus has a representation of the castle engraved in high relief within the central area, and rippling lines below suggesting water. At each side of the castle is a tree or branch, positioned to suggest either the surrounding woods around or perhaps for purely decorative purposes. Also each side of the central tower is a bird. A variation of this seal is used for Mid and East Antrim Borough Council.

THE GLORY OF OLD MADE NEW - A Civic History of Carrickfergus

3. MACE The ceremonial mace was presented to the town of Carrickfergus by Colonel Robert Gardener in 1712. Made from silver-guilt, the mace is engraved in Latin, translated as: ‘A gift from Robert Gardner Esquire, in the Year of Our Lord 1712, in Honour of His City’. Traditionally a mace is carried by the Serjeant at Arms before the sovereign, or other high ranking officials during civic ceremonies, representing power and authority. Such is its historic significance, it was chosen as the official mace for Mid and East Antrim Borough Council and was used in the new council’s first meeting in Ballymena on 1st April 2015.

4. SWORD Made out of Britannia silver, the Ceremonial Sword was created

by Thomas Vicaridge in London and like the mace was presented to the Corporation of Carrickfergus in 1712. The Corporation employed a Sword-bearer, who carried the sword before the Mayor on formal occasions.

6. SEAL OF THE PORT AND CUSTOMS As shown on its face, the Port and Customs Seal of Carrickfergus dates from 1605. Inscribed below the date is a shield which bears three harps of the Brian Boru style. The inscription round the margin is in Latin ‘SIGILL: CVTSVAME: PORTVS: CARIGFERGI: ANO’ with the initials I.R. (King James I) placed at both sides.

In 1637 the Corporation conceded the privilege of one-third of the Customs dues, for a sum of £3000, a concession which gave rise to a little town called Belfast at the head of the bay.

7. KEY TO IRISH GATE (OR WEST GATE) The Irish gate was one of four gates within the old town walls. Situated at the far end of West street, important visitors would have been met here by the Mayor and Alderman as they entered from the Belfast direction. This key originally came from the Davys family who owned property nearby. It was presented through the family of Councillor Walter Carruth, JP, Irish Quarter, via Councillor C.A.W. Stewart.

5. KANE ATLAS Born into an influential Carrickfergus family, Richard Kane was one of the town sheriffs in 1686. He later rose to become Lieutenant Governor of the Island of Minorca. On route there, his party was received by Louis XVI at the Palace of Versailles. Kane was presented with this superb Atlas of the “Terrestrial and Aquatic Globe”, by Louis XIV’s royal cartographer Nicholas Sanson, as a gift.

The Kane Atlas was purchased by Carrickfergus Borough Council with grant assistance from the Heritage Lottery Fund in 2001.

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8. FREEMEN SCROLLS Today, being awarded the ‘Freedom of the Borough’ is an award of distinction, and confers no legal rights.

However historically, a ‘Freeman’ was a person both free and owning the freehold of land, but not a member of the landed gentry or the nobility. Only Freemen could establish businesses and although this wasn’t enforced in later years, Freeman rolls were carefully kept because only Freemen had the right to vote in Mayoral and parliamentary elections.

THE GLORY OF OLD MADE NEW - A Civic History of Carrickfergus

The Corporation had the privilege of making Freemen at will.

The Mayor could open a court giving 14 days public notice, for the admission of those eligible. Carrickfergus Museum holds Freeman records dating from 1787 to 1883, which can be a valuable resource for researchers.

9. SEAL STAMPERS A seal stamper is used to imprint an official mark on a document demonstrating its authorisation. Seals usually contain decorative features which represent the authorising body.

The museum’s collection of corporate seal stampers were made by The Ulster Works, Marcus Ward & Company, Belfast in the late 19th century. (a) common seal of Carrickfergus design, (b) Carrickfergus Harbour Commissioners stamper, (c) Urban District Council of Carrickfergus, (d) Whitehead Urban District Council stamper.

10. FIREMAN’S HELMET The Carrickfergus Fire Brigade Fireman’s helmet was purchased in 1903 by Col. James Craig. It is made of brass with a decorated and embossed plaque on the front and a raised metal ridge on the back and chin straps with leather interior fitments.

As well as supplying the uniforms and helmets, Col Craig also gave a manual ‘hand pumper’ fire engine to the town of Carrickfergus and a steam fire engine in 1908.

11. WEIGHTS AND MEASURES The Town Measures consist of a set of eight copper measuring cups all inscribed by size: imperial bushel, half bushel, peck, gallon, half gallon, quart, pint, half pint. They are all inscribed ‘Carrickfergus 1835’ and were originally made for the market in North Street located where the fire station now stands.

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A set of seven copper weights are likewise engraved ‘Carrickfergus 1835’ and inscribed by weight: avoir 1, 2, 4, 7, 14, 28, and 56. The weights, like the measures, were originally made for the market in North Street.

Town Charters A town charter is a written grant by the sovereign or legislative power of a country, by which a body such as a Borough is created or its rights and privileges defined. Several charters have been granted to the town of Carrickfergus. Traditionally the incorporation of the town as a county itself is thought to have been during the reign of King John (1167-1216), however the first town charter granted in 1325 established the Town and Corporation of Carrickfergus.

The next town charter was obtained from Elizabeth I in 1569 by Sir Henry Sidney, the Lord Deputy of Ireland.

12. ELIZABETHAN CHARTER 1602 A second charter was granted by Queen Elizabeth I dated 8th May 1602. It is hand written on vellum* with the seal of the Queen attached, signed and framed.

The Elizabethan Charter acknowledges the loyalty and behaviour of the inhabitants of the town. It also acknowledges repairs made to St. Nicholas Church and defines the boundaries of the ancient lands belonging to the Corporation of Carrickfergus. * Fine parchment made originally from the skin of a calf

13. JACOBEAN CHARTER 1610 Several charters were issued during the reign of James I. The earliest and most elaborate was granted on 7th July 1610. This charter, illuminated in Jacobean rococo style, confirms the grants of lands and buildings within the Borough. It also declares the construction of the port, dock and walls of the town. Further charters with additions were issued on 11th July 1610, 14th December 1613 and a final charter was granted in 1623 which includes the establishment of a merchants’ guild.

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THE GLORY OF OLD MADE NEW - A Civic History of Carrickfergus

17. BOG OAK CHAIR

George VI Charter, 1949

Seal of the Victorian Warrant 1899

Jacobean Charter, 7th July 1610

14. VICTORIAN WARRANT 1899 The Victorian Warrant was issued on 7 June 1899 during the 62nd year of Queen Victoria’s reign. Granted to the Corporation by royal command, it confirms the appointment of Justices of the County of the Town of Carrickfergus. They are commanded to hold Assizes and administer justice.

15. GEORGE VI CHARTER, 27 MAY 1949 In March 1949 Carrickfergus Urban District Council petitioned the Government for a grant of a Charter of Incorporation to create the Urban District Council into a Municipal Borough.

The Petition was approved by His Excellency, the Governor of Northern Ireland, at a meeting of the Privy Council of Northern Ireland, held at Government House, Hillsborough, County Down, on the 16th day of May 1949. The grant reinstated the office of Mayor, Aldermen and Burgesses.

The newly re-established Borough was granted a Coat of Arms and adopted a new motto - Gloria Prisca Novatur translated as ‘The Glory of Old Made New’, signifying the development of the town.

18. CIVIC ROBES When the Urban District Council purchased a set of scarlet robes in 1935, the year the new Town Hall opened, they were following a tradition that dates back to the seventeenth century. In 1677 Solomon Faith, a Cromwellian Officer who settled in the town, was the first Mayor to wear a robe, which had been gifted by William Hill.

In addition to the Mayor and Councillors’ robes, the ‘swordbearer’ and ‘serjeant at mace’ also have distinctive robes for carrying the sword and mace, as does the Town Clerk.

The Carrickfergus robes were made

by Ede & Ravenscroft, robe makers for the House of Lords. Although they have seen some repairs over the years, they are in excellent condition, allowing them to be used at civic occasions for Mid and East Antrim Borough Council.

16. ELIZABETH II CHARTER, 12 MARCH 1953 The Illuminated Coat of Arms Warrant issued by the present Queen on 12th March, grants a new updated version of the Borough coat of arms and sets out the correct heraldic terms.

Attached are two seals of the heralds who designed it.

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Originally made around 1800, this finely carved bog oak chair was purchased by the Carrickfergus Urban District Council in the early 1900’s. With its finely carved, twisting detail, and red figured velvet upholstery, it served as the Chairman’s chair. Once one of a series, it is now the only one known to still exist. Today it enjoys a prime location outside the Mayor’s Parlour in Carrickfergus Town Hall.

(Pictured on front cover)

16. Elizabeth II Charter, 1953

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19. MAYOR’S CHAIN

21. MAYORESS’S CHAIN

The Mayoral gold chain was presented to Carrickfergus by Imperial Chemicals Industries Ltd. (Salt Division) to mark the town’s reinstated Borough status in 1949. Mr Alexander Miscampbell, Managing Director of the company, had made it known that his firm wished to present a Mayoral chain, in the event of the Charter of Incorporation being created.

The central pendant of the Mayor’s chain is based on the Carrickfergus Town Seal with the smaller medallions depicting other town seals all depicted in beautiful enamel.

The Mayoress’s chain was a gift to Carrickfergus Borough Council sponsored by the Carrickfergus Business and Professional Womens Club, presented on 6th April 1962.

It was first worn by Mrs. T.J. Patterson, wife of Carrickfergus’s longest serving Mayor.

22. WHITEHEAD CHAIRMAN’S CHAIN 20. DEPUTY MAYOR’S CHAIN The Deputy Mayor’s chain was presented by Colin J. Brook and Company Ltd at a ceremony in the Town Hall in 1969. The tool making company received help from the Council when starting up and so the Deputy Mayor’s Badge of Office was given in their fifth year of operation to show their appreciation.

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Following the reorganisation of local government in 1973, Whitehead Urban District Council ceased to exist, and so the Chairman’s chain was brought into the Mayor’s parlour and later the museum for safe-keeping. The chain’s central plaque has a finely drawn enamel of Castle Chester (Chichester) formally built by Sir Moses Hill and the gilded plates are engraved with names of past chairmen.

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Carrickfergus Visitor Information Centre Carrickfergus Museum & Civic Centre, 11 Antrim Street, Carrickfergus, BT38 7DG. T: + 44 (0)28 9335 8049 F: +44 (0)28 9335 0350 E: visitorinfo@midandeastantrim.gov.uk