Morrison's Ravine

Morrrison's Ravine , Knockalisheen , Togher

 

Morrison's Ravine 1900
Note track-way delineated by double dotted line

 

An ancient forest which hugs the Glasheen River as it descends through Knockalisheen has for many years been known as Morrison's Ravine. It forms part of the natural north eastern boundary of the Townland and was named after a local farmer , Alexander Morrison whose family owned the nearby farm and Knockalisheen House up to 1952. As the watercourse flows under the stone arched bridge at Spur Hill , it emerges into a thick canopy of vegetation and trees and falls rapidly towards Waterfall where it is joined by another streamlet flowing in from Kilmurriheen. 

 

Glasheen River as it approaches bridge

Spur Hill

Turnstile Entrance off Spur Hill

Walkway looking back at Spur Hill

Glasheen River as it enters Morrison's Ravine

Glasheen River inside Morrison's Ravine

Both watercourses then make their way northward with the Bandon Road as its companion before detouring around the present day South Ring Road and meandering its way around Deanrock to turn sharply left at Clashduv Bridge leaving Togher behind before eventually merging as a culvert with the Curraheen River which empties into the River Lee.

 

Gateway entrance off Bandon Road

 

A well worn trackway leads from a turnstile ( see above ) at Spur Hill all the way down to the Bandon Road and a gate. Access is fraught with danger being located off a main thoroughfare. The gate is a handy marker which acts as a separation point between 2 Townlands , with Knockalisheen on its left and Kilmurriheen on its right. The stream itself is located some meters in behind the ditchline.However , the entrance top side has recently been fitted with CCTV and a " Keep Out " warning sign , both nailed to a tree located just inside the turnstile.

Alternate aerial view of Morrison' Ravine
showing possible large ring fort to its south in Kilmurriheen

The wooded enclosure , believed now to be designated as a game reserve , is a remnant of a much older covering and is a prime example of how much of the region looked going back several centuries before the trees were cleared to make way for agricultural and grazing lands. It should be noted that the Glasheen River , which emanates from a spring near the Airport was once a dis-tributary , with its southern cousin flowing slightly south of its northern brethren. It too up to the 19th Century displayed woodland along its banks until it was dammed off in the early 20th Century. However the old course of the now extinct branch of the Glasheen River can still be deduced from aerial maps with some of its old woodland still in place.

Knockalisheen House

 

Knockalisheen House and farmhouses

Located directly across Spur Hill from the iconic Togher Holstein sign and not far from the Glasheen River it fronts onto the road with 153 acres of farmland. It is known as Knockalisheen House.

 

Knockalisheen House , Spur Hill , Togher

John Harrigan house
near Liberty Bridge
entrance to old " Fort Field "

Considered one of the original " Big Houses " in Togher , Knockalisheen House , which comprised 9 rooms and 9 front windows , in the townland of the same name was built circa early 1840s by Joseph D. Jackson ( Owner and Landlord of Knockalisheen ( which was situated between the western and eastern routes of Spur Hill) on the western side of Spur Hill , sandwiched in between the two original tributaries of the Glasheen River ( It is thought the southern fork was dammed off in the early 20th Century ) and initially leased out in 1850 to Benjamin Deeble who owned a flour mill in Cork City adjacent to St. Francis' church. The mill was demolished in 1877. * It should be noted that Benjamin Deeble and subsequent owners leased all of the land south of the northern fork of the Glasheen River. He sublet an additional property on his land to a John Harrigan ( * see house above ). The area north of the Glasheen River was rented out to Francis Harris who also sublet to Robert Neill and Daniel Ahern. The house being studied in this article was associated with two features in Togher by virtue of its occupiers which will be explained below.

 

Knockalisheen House on left
Togher Holstein on right

Benjamin Deeble sadly had a life full of extreme misfortune. His flour mill business wasn't a success even though he had plenty of the raw materials on his large tract of arable land , his 153 acres taking up a sizable chunk of the townlands overall capacity of 225 acres! In 1852 he was declared bankrupt and in 1867 he died of bronchitis. However his name lived on in the back road between Doughcloyne and Lehenaghmore becoming known to locals as Ben Deeble's Lane. In more modern times it is known as Wilson's Lane.

Photo shows Ben Deebles Lane ( Wilson's Lane ) 

on right with Knockalisheen on left with ditch line
in centre showing end of Doughcloyne

 

It was some time after his demise that the house and land passed into the ownership of the Morrisons. The 1901 Census shows Alexander Morrison and his two sisters Jesse and Margaret Jane ( all of the Presbyterian faith ) as occupiers. Also shown in the same Census are the names of 3 other residents on Morrison land ( see further below ) -  William O'Keeffe , John Brien and Thomas Buckley. The 1911 Census shows several newer occupants on the land , indicating the temporary nature of farm laborers - . The family name lives on in the local natural feature which is Morrison's Ravine , through which the Glasheen River flows on its way to Waterfall and thence on to Deanrock. 

 

1901 Census - Morrisons

1911 Census - Morrisons -  Jesse not present

1901 Census - showing residents on Morrison land

1901 Enumerators Extract
Shows number of people in each residence
* Note Togher is shown as " Toher "

 

1911 Census shows different occupiers on Morrison land

Morrison's Ravine on left
with Glasheen River flowing from right

The 1901 Census ( see above ) shows Alexander and his two sisters resident on the land. Compare the following 1911 Census which shows the absence of Jesse who may have married at that point in time. Alexander possibly married after 1911 as It was Alex's wife Annie who in 1952 sold at auction the house and lands to the Kingstons who were resident until recently. * It is unclear who the current occupiers are.

Iconic Togher Holstein sign next to Knockalisheen House

Historically , it is an unusual " Big House " in that it fronts virtually onto the road , whereas tradition dictated that a Gentleman's residence was sited further inland with a main drive and a lodge fronting onto the road. This lends credence to the fact that it was a purpose built house erected for sale to a farmer as evidenced by the 153 acres which came with the sale. Frontage was not as important or practical as was a tract of arable land behind the domicile.

Knockalisheen House 1900
* Note - Harrigan's house at bottom left
& extant Ring Fort bottom centre
( possibly destroyed 1940s )

Today , the whitewashed walls of its outbuildings stands in contrast to the main residence with its bright yellow door. The original 9 roomed abode has been enhanced with an additional build running at right angles to the rear.

North facing view of Knockalisheen House