Putting sound on the Powerpoint

This has proved to be a learning exercise and a half! Got it done finally after finding out the correct phone app to download and use.

Visit and Interview with prsent day trustee

I visited one of the present day Trustees of the Batts Estate, to get some idea of the  responsibilities and role of the Trustees at first hand. I wanted to make part of the visit a recorded voice interview but unfortunately I must have hit the back button accidently on the phone as only 2 seconds was recorded.

Video added

A short video about Clontifleece School. Sound might be a bit funny as recording to the computer was also picking up the sound of the hard disc and fans whirring. I recorded again using the mobile phone but I can't get the first track off.

Trust Deed Document s

Good result today. The Dept.  of Agriculture has emailed me a copy of the Trust deed document. Also spent a couple of hours trying to edit a video.

Clontifleece School visit

I visited Clontifleece School this afternoon and took pictures of the stone plaque and Batt coat of arms These are on the gable wall of the original building still which forms part of the school today. The Batt connection is still valued in the school as this picture which hangs in the main hallway shows and the school badge is the Batt family Coat of Arms and Motto.


Unfortunately this rural school, with a history dating back 175 years and originally built to replace hedge schools, will finally close this summer - a victim of falling pupil numbers.

Follow up visit to PRONI

I revisited the Public Records Office on Thursday 27th. The off site document was in but it turned out not to be relevant to my project. However I did have much more success with the Landed Estate records and I passed a fascinating few hours tracing the developments of the process where the Batt Tenants became Owners as a result of the Land Acts. The whole process for every individual tenant was on record in fine detail. This was a massive administrative undertaking during WW1 and this was just one Estate!

Visit to PRONI

I visited PRONI on Tuesday 18th to try and find the Trust Deed which the Dept of Agriculture say is deposited there. Search of database in PRONI and examination of a few likely looking files (judging by their titles) produced no results. Another file is held off site by PRONI and will have to be fetched in meaning another visit. I also examined records of Landed Estates and found a number of entries under the married names of the Batt granddaughters who transferred the land to the tenants. These will be followed up on the next visit as I was running short of time.
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I also visited the Belfast Newspaper Library (click to find map) to follow up on information from Downpatrick but I didn't have the correct date so will need to back there too. The Newspaper Library is a useful asset as it has copies of numerous local newspapers going back several years both on microfilm and in folders.

Reply from Department of Agriculture

Department of Agriculture replied to my query and have said the PRONI hold extensive records on the Batts Estate Trust. Nothing is coming up on the online search of the PRONI archives. I've sent an e-mail to PRONI with an enquiry about this and will arrange a follow up visit to them.
I've also been in touch with Clontifleece School to arrange to photograph the stone plaque from the original school building. The plaque bears an inscription to Narcissus Batt who founded the school.

PRONI & National Archives of Ireland websites

Did searches for the wills of different generations of the Batt family. Not helped by one of them entered as Butt!

Land Registry visit

I visited the offices of the Land Registry in Belfast today and did searches on two random pieces of land from the original estate. I now have the ownership trail up to the present day.

Department of Agriculture & Rural Development

E-mail sent to the Department asking if I can get some information on the role of the current trustees of the estate.

Mindmap

Managed to start on the Mindmap using Mindmeister. Can't see how to save it so I have bookmarked the page. Hope that works!

Visit to Newry Museum

I made an appointment with Shane McGivern, a Collections Research Assistant, to view the Reside collection in Newry Museum. This collection had been mentioned elsewhere as a source relating to the Batts Estate. The Reside collection is concerned mainly with the Kilmorey Estate and the only reference to Batts was on an old map which showed the boundaries of the various estates adjoining the Kilmorey Estate. The map showed part of the Batts Estate near Eagle Mountain.
Unfortunately the map had some scorch damage from a fire in the Reside premises and this may have obscured any date that might have been on it. Shane dates the map to somewhere in the nineteenth century.  

I will need to visit the Land Registry in Belfast to follow the history of the changes in ownership.

Starting off

Research has begun mostly internet searches so far but I have also visited Newry & Warrenpoint Public Libraries to search through some local history magazines. I have an appointment to visit Newry Museum to examine the papers of Major Reside as this has been given as a source.