Knockcloghrim
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Knockloughrim Presbyterian church |
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Knockcloghrim shown within Northern Ireland | |
Population | 186 (2001 Census) |
Irish grid reference | H8396 |
District | |
County | |
Country | Northern Ireland |
Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
Post town | MAGHERAFELT |
Postcode district | BT45 |
Dialling code | 028 |
EU Parliament | Northern Ireland |
UK Parliament | |
NI Assembly | |
Knockloughrim or Knockcloghrim (from Irish: Cnoc Clochdroma, meaning "hill of the stony ridge") is a small village near Maghera in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. In the 2001 Census it had a population of 186 people. Knockloughrim lies within the civil parish of Termoneeny and is part of the former barony of Loughinsholin. It is situated within Mid-Ulster District.
The village's name is roughly pronounced noc-cloc-rim. The spelling Knockcloghrim has been adopted by the district council, the Electoral Office, and many other official bodies. The spelling Knockloughrim is used by the local Orange lodge/Royal Black Preceptory (Knockloughrim Rising Sons of Ulster LOL 401 and Knockloughrim Red Cross Knights RBP 746 respectively), the local Knockloughrim Primary School, and regional newspaper the Mid Ulster Mail. Other historic spellings include Knockcloughrim, Knockloghrim and Knocklockrim.
Knockloughrim was founded by John Bates, (1803–1855) a prominent Belfast solicitor who, on travelling through the area on his way to the azzizes in Derry, felt it would be a good site for a model village. Bates also served as Town Clerk of Belfast, being a prominent member of the Tory machine which controlled the city after local government reforms of 1842.
Bates is alleged to have embezzled money from the Corporation of Belfast to fund the building of the village, and absconded to France when this was discovered. He would later be extradited, but died in 1855 before he could stand trial. There is a monument to his memory in Termoneeny parish church. His descendent, Sir Richard Dawson Bates, would later serve as Northern Ireland's first Minister of Home Affairs.
Bates is also responsible for the fine 'Knock House', originally intended as a hotel. It served until 1921 as the Anglican rectory, and has since been a private dwelling. The last incumbent to dwell in the rectory was the Reverend Thomas Fisher, who was rector for 34 years until 1921. Knock House was also utilised during the First World War and Second World War to provide shelter for children evacuated from Belfast and other urban areas.