Origins The first settlers in the area, which is now known as Craigavon, arrived around 8,000 years ago. They formed small, nomadic communities around the banks of Lough Neagh and were largely fishermen and food gatherers. Evidence of their existence can still be seen today by the large number of flint tools that have been uncovered from the area. Over several thousand years these nomadic communities became settlements taking advantage of the open pasture and rock free soil to farm and graze cattle. However the ideal climatic conditions which created such good farmland deteriorated around 3,000 years ago and the settlers had to move to lower ground where they used iron and bronze tools to clear woods, till the rocky ground and build forts from where they continued to farm the land.
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Plantation of Ulster Settlers from England colonised the area in the early 1600's as part of the Plantation of Ulster. The present site of Portadown was acquired by the Obins Family who purchased the land from the Powells (the original recipients). The broad pool where Portadown was later erected had been used as a crossing place by early settlers and was actually the only place on which the new town could be built.
The Brownlow family, the largest recipients of plantation lands built Lurgan. Their religious tolerance, which allowed many Roman Catholic tenants to hold land also permitted a significant colony of Quakers to thrive. These members of the Religious Society of Friends many of whom were disenchanted former Cromwellian soldiers form Yorkshire and Cumberland became especially prominent in the early development of the linen industry in the area.
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Effects of the Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution in the 18 th Century brought prosperity to the Lurgan and Portadown areas. Both towns were ideally situated to become a centre of transportation, being located on the junction of the east / west crossing of the River Bann and the north / south spillway - the 'broad shallow' which runs to Newry. The Newry Navigation (the first summit level canal in Britain or Ireland) completed in 1742, was built along this naturally flat spillway. The first lock to be used on this waterway was at Moneypenny's, where the lockhouse and stables are now owned by Craigavon Borough Council and a small museum exists. The Newry Canal and later the Coalisland, Ulster and Lagan Canals all helped to establish Portadown as a leading inland port. In addition the arrival of the Ulster railway in 1842 and the later extension of the railway system also established Portadown as one of the busiest railway junctions in the North.
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The local Linen Industry
It was the introduction of the manufacturing process of linen to Portadown and Lurgan that contributed most to their growth. As Lurgan itself had no heavy industry, the weavers were mostly men whereas in the rest of the country they were mostly women. Portadown, although of a comparable size to Lurgan, was never really as successful in the production of Linen. However the development of power looms led to a resurgence of the linen industry and Portadown came into its own in the latter half of the 19 th Century. Factories concentrated mainly on the smaller items of linen such as handkerchiefs and as a result enjoyed world-wide fame for its fine linen products.
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The formation of the Orange Order and Colonel William Blacker
The Orange Order was formed in 1795 in a neighbouring town of Loughgall in response to faction fighting in the area. One of the founding members of this organisation was 18 year old William Blacker, a local member of the landed gentry, who later went on to command Seagoe Yeomanry (a company of Orangemen who were armed by the government). In the rank of Captain, William led them into various battles during the 1798 rebellion, including Vinegar Hill in Wexford, Ballinamuck in Longford and Saintfield in County Down. He also played a role in forming the Armagh Regiment of Militia and was raised to the rank of Colonel, during which time he also held the office of County Grand Master of Armagh in the Orange.
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First and Second World Wars
The political turmoil of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries resulted in a battalion of the Ulster Volunteer Force being formed in the area under the command of Colonel Stewart Blacker. Men joined the 36 th Ulster Division en masse and it was at the Battle of the Somme on 1 st July 1916 that they were completely decimated.
The Second World War resulted in fewer deaths from this area but it had a greater operational impact. Regiments from Britain, Belgium and the United States were all based here and prisoner of war camps for German and Italian captives soon sprang up.
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Craigavon as a 'New City'
In the 'Belfast and Regional Survey Plan' published in February 1963, Professor Sir Robert Matthew identified three principal functions of a new city and in 1965 the Craigavon Development Commission was created to develop the 'New City' of Craigavon. Craigavon District Council came into being in June 1973, following the reorganisation of Local Government, achieving Borough status in October 1973 continued with this development.
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