14th Fieldwork Trip - 16th April 2015 - Between the Glasheen and Liberty Streams , Sarsfield House & Philipine House

Thursday 16th April 2015 was unique in two ways : It was unintentionally the very first time a Fieldwork Trip had been undertaken by the Togher Historical Association without the benefit of transport being completely executed on foot and it also rewarded the team with a rare inside view of Sarsfield House! Billy O'Brien took the opportunity whilst on foot down Wilton Road to photograph the Entrance gates to the S.M.A. - a body so instrumental in the Togher story over the last few Decades having bought up large tracts of land in Doughcloyne and other Townlands.

 View from Wilton Road of Sarsfield Flyover 

and Sarsfield Road in the distance

 S.M.A. entrance gates from Wilton Road

S.M.A. old side entrance gates from Wilton Rd.

The Fieldwork Trip began with glorious sunshine as Billy O'Brien & Eamonn Pearse made an impromptu pit-stop at Sandbrook Bridge ( under which the Glasheen River flows ) for a quick photo exercise. One item of note came up for discussion ; that of the prevalence of numbered and lettered metal plates on the majority of footbridges found around Togher. The reason for their display is not yet known but is under investigation.

 Sandbrook Bridge with numbered plate

( left hand side entrance into Estate )

 View of Glasheen River from Sandbrook Bridge

( right hand side of bridge )

 View of Glasheen River from Sandbrook Bridge

( left hand side of bridge )

Close up of Glasheen from Sandbrook Bridge
( zoom in of above photo )

The Team decided at this juncture to pay a visit to the pedestrian bridge located halfway down the pathway at the rear of the Sarsfield Flyover towards Woodhaven Estate. It is thought that an old metal Railway Foot bridge was sited here in years gone by but no trace could be found. Eamonn recounted how an old oak tree still in situ was used as an impromptu swing by youths in the 1970s from the region. The swing is now long gone but the ancient gnarled tree still stands proudly by the bank of the stream impervious to the passing years. Of particular interest along the stretch of River towards the Sarsfield junction and indeed under it and beyond it were the various flow-through pipes which empty into the River from the former marshland in the near vicinity. Whilst some of the new channels are tastefully decorated and fenced off surrounded by literally 100s of tons of gravel the group was disappointed to see some of the waterway polluted by effluent from sources unknown. Leaving the Sarsfield Flyover behind , mindful of the modern monoliths visible presence in determining Togher's boundary at that point , it was decided to boldly gain access to Sarsfield House in White Oaks Estate.

 Concrete bridge near E.S.B Station 

and pathway leading to Woodhaven Estate

 Concrete pipe leading flow of marshy water into 
Glasheen River left of Bridge ( see above photo )

 Pedestrian concrete footbridge crossing Glasheen 

River at right angles heading towards Woodhaven

 Underview of concrete footbridge near Woodhaven

Close up of concrete footbridge near Woodhaven

 Swing tree on Glasheen River

 near Woodhaven Estate

Billy O'Brien near old swing tree

 Streamlet flowing under Sarsfield Flyover

 towards Glasheen River

 Streamlet flowing from marsh off Sarsfield 

Road / South Ring Road towards Glasheen River

 View of Sarsfield Flyover from Sarsfield Road

 View of South Ring Road near Sarsfield Flyover

View of undercarriage of Sarsfield Flyover 

with timbered enclosure of streamlet 

flowing towards Glasheen River

Railed Streamlet on Sarsfield Road 

heading towards Sarsfield Flyover

Billy O'Brien on Sarsfield Road

Start of day-lighted Railed Streamlet 

emerging by Sarsfield Road

The former residence of the Sarsfield Family who had a chequered history and association with the people of Togher stretching back Centuries and only ending in 1947 , this building is now occupied by various Financial Institutions who rent out rooms as offices. The group would like to thank the Receptionist for permission to photograph the stairway and stained glass window located just inside the foyer. The house has seen extensive refurbishment as has the glass window which sadly is a replica ( but still affords a unique insight into the houses glory days ) , the original having been vandalized many years previously. Whilst not a faithful reproduction of the Sarsfield Coat Of Arms - the finished work is effective though slightly obscured by the railing in place on the landing , with the Fleur de Lys , the Motto : Virtus Non Vertitur ( Virtue Not Changed ) and the addition of Sarsfield House at the bottom. Above the landing a beautiful porcelain candelabra was sighted - albeit with electric light bulbs - perhaps dating back to the 1920s. Access beyond that point was not available so the Team departed the " White House " and set off for another important House in the Annals of Togher.

 Replica stained glass window of 

Sarsfield Coat of Arms on landing 

inside Sarsfield House

 Sarsfield Fleur De Lys in Red and Silver

 Close up view of Motto - " Virtue Not Changed "

 Titular signage at bottom of stained glass window

Billy O'Brien beside Sarsfield Coat Of Arms

 Landing inside refurbished Sarsfield House

Beautifully detailed porcelain candelabra 

on ceiling above landing of Sarsfield House

The Team walked up Sarsfield Road taking the turn onto Doughcloyne ( red timber markers were sighted marking the possible location of a future pedestrian walkway in the field immediately ahead of Fernwood ) and stopping on the old Railway Bridge of the same name. This surviving bastion to Togher's Industrious past is also known as the " Bendy " Bridge and is important for a number of reasons: not only does it harken back to a time when Togher played host to two separate Railway lines , but it also marks the spot of St. Bartholomew's Well which is located immediately beneath it beside a giant old tree - though it has been capped for some time , the Team believe the water finds its way above ground further on to carve a little channel before joining the Liberty Stream beyond Philippine House. This was discovered when following the huge railway embankment which still exists. Down by the Liberty Stream , the Team took in the sights of Togher's famed watercourse - noting the massive concrete pipe which now takes the place of the former Embankment Railway bridge near the present day Fernwood Estate , which acted as a boundary between Doughcloyne and Lehenaghmore with the stream as Sentry , demolished circa 1977. This point of the stream is cordoned off by an electric cattle wire enclosure. Also sighted was another storm water pipe protruding from the high bank at ground level.

Billy O'Brien on Doughcloyne Bridge

Dirt track on right side of Bridge leading down 

towards site of St Bartholomew's Well

Scale of bridge in relation to encroaching 

vegetation and tree overgrowth

 Earth filled underside of Doughcloyne Bridge

 Rubble Arch in contrast to Cut Stone Supports

 Opposite side showing Mason craftsmanship

 Site of St Bartholomew's Well

 View back from Doughcloyne Bridge of old 

Bandon trackway showing sole 

surviving milestone

Hedge line back from Doughcloyne Bridge 

showing proposed Pedestrian Walkway

Streamlet flowing alongside Railway Embankment

 Concrete pipe under Railway 

Embankment near Fernwood Crescent

Close up of Concrete Pipe under Railway line

View Inside the Pipe!

 Billy O'Brien near Liberty Stream by 
Fernwood Crescent

 Southwards view of Liberty Stream on its 

downward journey from Corcoran's Bridge

Closer view of same shot

Short Video of Liberty Stream near 
Fernwood Crescent

Pondering on the use of artificial concrete pipes as opposed to organic cut stone Bridges the Group ended this part of the visit to the Liberty Stream. Ascending back up the field the Team approached the Fellowship House a.k.a. Philippine House. After a quick ramble around her gardens there was just time for a photo opportunity at the entrance to the old orchard , playground of many youths from the North during the Troubles when the house hosted them before the Peace Process deemed it unnecessary.

 Billy O'Brien by Orchard Walls at Philippine House

After walking from the Glasheen River to the Liberty Stream and taking in some of Togher's historic landmarks , it was decided to call it a day. An exciting foray into the past which is all the more important when the future most certainly holds many surprises which will change the landscape beyond all recognition. The group acknowledged that it is now more than ever , vitally important to archive as much of the region as possible before it is gone forever.