Crawfordsburn Country Park marked its 50th anniversary
Crawfordsburn Country Park was opened in 1971 and celebrated its 50th anniversary during 2021.
The Northern Ireland Environment Agency has put together a range of material illustrating the origins of the Country Park, the previous history of this part of Crawfordsburn, and developments in the Park since its opening. This will be available below, and will be added to, in the coming weeks and months. We are very grateful for the memories of those who were involved in the establishing of the Country Park, and the input of local historians. Where possible, we are using their accounts and their words. The text is accompanied with a variety of photographs. In addition, it is planned to conduct interviews with key individuals, and make them accessible through this website.
The origin of Northern Ireland’s country parks and nature reserves lay in the Amenity Lands Act which came into force in April 1965. It allowed the Government to acquire land compulsorily, and it established the advisory Ulster Countryside Committee.
The Helen’s Bay and Crawfordsburn area was already well-served by public transport from Belfast, and contained two attractive beaches together with a woodland estate; the creation of a country park here was a logical priority. At the same time, the coastal path along the shore of Belfast Lough from Holywood to Bangor was being developed. The account by Joe Furphy tells the story of the establishment of Crawfordsburn Country Park.
In summary, successful negotiations were held with the landowners, and plans were developed for the creation of paths, and the provision of car parks, toilets etc. A local team of staff was established, headed by a forester. While the park opened unofficially as early as 1969, it was not formally opened until 1971, by a group which included the then Governor of Northern Ireland, and the Northern Ireland Prime Minister. The present Visitor Centre was opened in 1986.
Crawfordsburn Country Park extends from what is known as Seapark in the West, where the boundary is marked by the restored boathouse below the Victorian Coastguard cottages to Swinley Bay in the East. It incorporates the Coastal Path along this stretch of the shoreline. The Park covers some 98 hectares; it is managed by the Northern Ireland Environment Agency. The historic Grey Point Fort, completed in 1907 as part of Belfast’s maritime defences, is managed by the Historic Environment Division of the Department for Communities.
More information about, and images of, the Country Park, its creation, and the history of Crawfordsburn and the estate can be found at the various links below: