Banbridge Aeroplane Factory
Many people do not realise that Banbridge was once a leading light in the aircraft industry, the town once boasted of having its own aircraft factory based in Banbridge. The factory was set up in 1943.
The Banbridge Aeroplane
Banbridge may have the distinction in being the only provincial town in Ireland to manufacture complete aeroplanes. "Miles Aircraft" came to Banbridge in November 1943 and were established in the disused linen factory of Walkers, opposite the present D.H.S.S . offices on the Castlewellan road. The factory was adapted for this specialised work by messrs John Graham of Dromore. Initial production was concentrated on the manufacture of "Monoplane air Tails"which were designed to enable torpedoes carried by aircraft to remain airborne following release. On coming in contact with the sea these airtails were automatically released thus allowing the torpedo to continue on course, these devices were of wooden construction, approximately six feet span with a stabilizer fin at each end, small airlons were connected to a gyro motor which was motivated by compressed air carried in two cylinders fixed within the structure. Following the success of these operations it was decided to manufacture the "Miles Messenger" aeroplane in Banbridge. This was a Monoplane of some thirty foot wingspan designed to carry four persons and be able to take off on unprepared ground. It had a four cylinder air cooled engine, special flaps, three fins and rudders, Extensive work was involved in building the assembly, jigs and special tools which called for fine measurement limits. The aeroplane was of all wood construction, the structural timber being Canadian silver spruce and the stressed covering birch plywood, the binding agent was a cement being a two part adhesive, the cabin doors which were of metal were "Gull Wing"design as were later employed on the "De Lorean car". The undercarriage was fixed and was unusually long to allow a high angle of attack and for maximum lift on take off. The main components, wing, front and rear fuselage, tail plane, flaps, rudder and airlons were transported to Long Kesh airfield at Hillsborough and assembled then test flown, Five military versions were built and work was then concentrated on the civil version, the first of these models was supplied to the "Prince Regent of Iraq", Components were also made for the "Miles Gemini" and "Airvan planes" which were transported by air to the main factory at Reading in England. The main spars were carried in the airvan (some 30 feet long) by cutting a hole in the rear door and lashing them to the tail boom. The factory in Banbridge was visited by Sir Stafford Cripps a former ambassador to Russia and the Minister of aircraft production who gave a talk to the entire workforce which included a tea party on the factory lawn in fine summer weather. There is a photograph of one of these aeroplanes on display in the hall of the Civic buildings on the Downshire road Banbridge, it is painted in the livery of Field Marshall Montgomery who used one of these planes for his personal use. The complete establishment was later transferred to Newtonards and was accommodated in a new factory on the airfield. The entire workforce adapted to this new industry under the leadership of the most competent and respected Mr.Robert Gillings who came to Banbridge from the parent factory, Mr Gillings and the author recorded a taped interview for the Ulster Folk Museum at Cultra so that the efforts of the Banbridge planemakers were preserved for posterity.
W. Fyvie
The Miles Messenger M38/Mk11 liason and spotter aircraft that was built by over 200 folk from Banbridge district.
The Father of Modern Banbridge, Co. Down.
William Logan OBE. J.P.
(By Joan Logan Petticrew)
Looking back at my childhood and early days of youth my happiest memories are a connected with one person, William Logan of 50 Newry Street, Banbridge, Co. (Granda Logan).
William Logan was born on 29th August 1880, the son of George and Sarah Jane and the grandson of James Logan who, it is said, founded the first ropeworks in Ireland at Newry Street Banbridge, in the year 1820 when he was nineteen years old.
Logan also built a ropeworks in High Street, Newry, Co.Down and erected the building where the "Patrisse Coffee Lounge" and the Banbridge "Job Centre" are situated, the gateway between these two shop fronts, (nos. 48 and 50 Newry Street) was the entrance to the ropeworks which stretched from Newry Street to a lane-way known as "Bird Lane", later to be officially named as Townsend Street. Across the lane from the ropeworks was a row of workers cottages which belonged to Logans and behind the cottages was a large field known as "The Glen" where Granda Logan in his early days bred prize winning dogs. The Glen is now part of a large housing estate.
James Logan died on 6th February 1867 and on his death he left property in 48 and 50 Newry Street, Downshire Place, dwellings between Doctor's Lane and Porkhouse and Rathfriland Street, Banbridge, and he also left houses and a ropeworks in Newry Co.Down. He left the Banbridge ropeworks to his son George and the ropeworks and property to his son Henry who sold the Newry property and moved to Portadown where he opened the Portadown ropeworks.
Granda Logan never expected to inherit the Banbridge ropeworks from his father Logan (sen). It was expected that the eldest son, George (Jun), would follow him into the rope manufacturing business. Another brother, James, had joined th Irish Constabulary and became a District Inspector on the police force. Joseph was killed by a Hayes Mill cart at the entrance to the ropeworks when he was only five years old. Harry the youngest brother had not made up his mind what career he wanted to follow. Granda was always interested in a political career but did not get the chance pursue this idea. George Logan (jun) had no interest in the rope manufacturing business and he left home to join the army. In the Boer War, during the fighting, he was buried three days when buildings blown up by the Boers fell on him, at the "Battle of Ladysmith". By the time World War 1 broke George had risen to the rank of Major.
When George (sen) died in 1901, he left the family ropeworks to his son William (Granda) and his son Harry, who had no interest in the business and also joined the army. After World War 1 George and Harry went to Canada. George died in 1936 and Harry died aged 91 in an old soldiers' home in Canada. George and Harry's names are on the "Roll of Honour" at the Council Offices, Banbridge. In 1906 Granda Logan married my grandmother, Matilda Morrow, in Banbridge Methodist Church. This turned out to be an ideal partnership as my grandmother was a quiet person who was a first class business woman. Her personality complemented my grandfather's outgoing personality and thanks to her he was able to combine a successful business career with an interest in public affairs.
In 1909 at the age of 29 my grandfather, like his father before him, was elected as a member of Banbridge Urban Council. At his death, in 1952, he was a senior member and he had "topped the poll" for twenty five of his forty three years as a council member. He had been Chairman of the council several times. During the 1914-1918, war George and Harry Logan came home on leave from the Western Front. A concert was held in The Temperance Hall, Banbridge, to raise money for the troops. George and Harry were accomplished musicians and were asked to play at the concert. Granda, at the time was a strict "teetotaller". To his horror George and Harry forgot their surroundings and broke into such soldiers' favourites a: "Here's to the Good Old Whiskey", "Little Brown Jug", "Beer Beer, Glorious Beer'' and other songs in this vein. Granda was mortified !
I remember the ropeworks very vividly. Such names as Willie Martin (who worked in the ropeworks for fifty years and was foreman), Bertie Magill, Mickey and Barnes Trainor, Jimmie and Bobby Anderson, Jimmie Burns, Tommie Potts, (The Ulster Flyweight Boxing Champion), Frank Redpath and Sarah Gray, who was the only woman in the ropeworks, are some of the people who spring to mind. In the ropeworks and shop Granda Logan wore a dark grey shopcoat. I can remember him working alongside the men spinning the ropes in the rope walk. One day when l was dodging in and out through the ropes my hair got caught in the ropes. Willie Martin yelled at the men at the bottom of the rope walk to shut off the machines. He the shouted to my grandfather. "Hi boss take that "heart scald" out of here and give her good "scalping"!
Sarah Gray was a plump little person who worked with the bobbin machines in the "Bobbin House". Above all the noise of the machinery one could hear Sarah singing all day long. She was a very happy little person. In the "heckling house", where threads were pulled over long nails to remove all knots and dirt, I can remember Granda working alongside Mickey and Barney Trainor or some other men. I can remember dust flew everywhere. Granda could not drive and a few hours later Tommie Potts, who also acted as driver, would get the car out and Granda looking very elegant in a well dressed suit and overcoat, Anthony Eden hat and spats would head off to a meeting somewhere. It was hard to believe that earlier in the day had been covered in dust working in the "heckling house" or one of the machine buildings.
Granda was years ahead of his time as the ropeworks belonged to the "National Scheme for Disabled Men". Very few firms employed disabled people at that time. There is now the "Irish Linen Trail" for tourists. I can remember going with Granda around the various linen mills in the Lagan Valley. Such names as Mr Gough of Dunbar and McMaster Mills at Gilford and Mr Hozack of Hayes Mills Seapatrick were mills which I remember. These managers, as well as business associates, were personal friends of Granda and we often visited them at their homes. We visited many mills all along the Lagan Valley area. Unfortunately many of these great mills are now closed.
Most mornings Granda and other businessmen could be found at William Bambrick's saddler shop where events of local interest were discussed. I remember J.U.Finney always wore spotted bow ties and Panama hats in summer. He was a flamboyant figure. This morning gathering of local business men was known as "Number Ten". Every morning Granda would cross the road to Mrs Mary Kate Fitzpatrick's for "Gold Flake" cigarettes and sweets for myself. The latest events in the town were related in a most humorous fashion by Mrs Fitzpatrick. It is not surprising that her grandson, Gene Fitzpatrick, is a well known comedian and T. V. personality, as it would seem he inherited his grandmother's sense of humour.
Such shops as Proctor's furniture store, McMurray's, Johnston's, Young's and Walkers drapers were places we often visited. Croziers and Paddy Reavey's butchers shops, McCormacks and also Martins hardware shops also spring to mind. Stevensons Cycle Shop, Scott & Sterritt plumbers and Carsons the coopers lived close to Logans in Newry Street. Mr Bruce Carson is a figure well known in fishing circles at the present day. Dobbins the greengrocers, the "Home and Colonial", McCracken's chemists, Parks chemists (I remember the flight of steps leading up to this shop), Bell's publicans and Undertakers (today, about the oldest family left in Newry Street), Burnetts grocers, George Campbell, newsagents, and the "Downshire Arms Hotel" where Granda received his Belgium Honour.
Council members such as Mr Charlie Creighton, Mr Jack Harvey, Mr Willie McCormack, Mr Paddy Reavey, Mr Hale, Mr Mulligan and Mr Cruickshank were some of the names I remember calling at the house. Miss Jinny Douglas was the lady member of Banbridge Union Council. She was a little lady of under five feet who dressed in long clothes in the style of Queen Mary. She wore flowered or velvet hats and long strings of beads to her knees. She "always spoke her mind"! Granda Logan and Miss Douglas had many heated arguments, but they always remained firm friends. The list of people of "Granda's Banbridge" is endless. Mr William Bradford's home in Bridge Street was "a port of call" as Mr Bradford and his family were close friends of Granda's. Bell's shoe shop, Becks garage, Fusco's cafe and ice-cream establishment (neighbours of Granda's), Doctor Mary Copes and McGuiggans. McGaw's and Mehaffays were places I loved to visit with Granda as I always came out with a book or toy.
The old Banbridge cinema was up an entry close to the Banbridge Chronicle Office. From a tiny child I remember sitting on Granda's knee and seeing such films as "Charge of the Light Brigade", "Marie Antoinette", "Sixty Glorious Years", "Fire over England", "The Three Stooges", "Laurel and Hardy", gangster films and "goodies and baddies". When the pictures were over, we sometimes went to Scappaticcis for fish and chips. When I was staying at Newry Street, I can remember playing marbles and other games with the Stevensons, Eric Lutton, Billy Bell and Edna and Billy Beck to name a few childhood friends.
Granda was good at telling bedtime stories, and I can remember screaming with laughter at the antics of Mary Jane Japelder, Uncle Thomas, the dog chasing the cat, the cat falling into the cream, the dog skidding into the home-made butter and Uncle Thomas being chased by the bull into the duck pond. Bed time stories were always great fun. In Civil Life Granda was President or Chairman of many organizations. He was Chairman of the Banbridge and Portadown Regional Waterworks Board and officially opened the Fofanny reservoir in the Mourne Mountains. He was Chairman of the Coal Fund and local representative on the Association of Municipal Authorities and the Ulster Tourist Development Association, Chairman of West Down Unionist Association, Vice Chairman of Banbridge Silver Band, Chairman of the Burial Board, a trustee of Banbridge Methodist Church, a member of Royal Blue Lodge No.119 and Royal Arch Chapter No.124 Masonic Lodges. Granda was always deeply interested in all types of sport and as a young man played for Lilybank Football Club. He was President of Banbridge Football Club. He presented many cups to various sporting associations.
© Bann Valley CIC
