There is now sufficient evidence to
assume that Coney island has been visited and lived on for the last 8000 years.
Its strategic offshore position and guarding the entrance to two river mouths
would have added to the attractiveness of the site for habitation. Below is a
simple timeline which will be added to as dates and periods become known or
verified.
Mesolithic 6000BC
Hunters and Gatherers
several backed blades discovered during excavation
Neolithic 4000BC
The Age of Farming and Domestication of Animals
round bottom vessels, scrapers and arrowheads found
pottery and burnt flint
Early Bronze Age 1800BC
food vessels, small scrapers, convex knife, various evidence of structures, cord
ornamated pottery.
Late Bronze Age Early Iron Age 200BC
charcoal rich soil layers, basket shaped pots, evidence of bronze and iron age
dwellings.
Early Christian 450 AD
pottery and evidence of small hearths
Did St. Patrick use Coney Island as a retreat ? It is believed that St. Patrick
walked across from the mainland using a ford now known as St. Patrick's Road.
This belief is perpetuated by a monument of stones bearing the inscription
requiescit a laboribus suis, ( he rests from his labours ) It was from Coney
that the famous road led to Armagh. The road ran across the shallows of Lough
Neagh to Coney and was probably built of oak. So much has now been lost in
the mists of antiquity.
800 - 900
Although there is no evidence yet available it is most unlikely that the vikings
"Danes" did not at least land on Coney during the 9th Century as it is
known that Vikings were in large numbers on Lough Neagh in the years 839-841 and
900. Viking finds have been discovered on or near the River Blackwater.
Anglo Norman 1150 AD
Motte, pottery, lead glazed jug handle 13thC/14thC
earliest known name Inisdaville or Inish Dabhall (island of the Blackwater)
1265.
Motte possibly in operation 1265c
The site would have been one of the most westerly Anglo-Norman outposts in
Ulster.
Late Medieval 1300 - 1500
Some evidence of structures, large hearths, decorated cookery pots, evidence of
important iron workings.
It is stated in a document of 1413 that the island , "now called
Coney" was reserved with the "right of fortification and
ordnance to the crown" and "further reserves the right to grass
six cows "
Post Medieval 1500
fortifications, silver and bronze fittings, clay pipes, barrel locks, nails.
1530 used as the lookout post and storehouse for the treasure of
O'Neills
1566 possibly captured from the famous clan leader Shane O'Neill
1567 island delivered into the hands of Lord Sidney by Queen Elizabeth I
Captain Thomas Fleming handed over to Sidney a silver ewer, a basin of 87
ounces, a bowl of 92 ounces, six standing cups, nine flat cups, one box of
jewels, one cask of gold coins, one gold plate, of Spanish methers and some
other items. These were discovered in a hollow wall in the keep and so passed
the treasurers of the great O'Neill to the chief whip of the English in Ireland.
Gallows Hill , during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I was used for executions.
Shown on a map of 1600 as an Elizabethan native island fort.
Appears on the "Parsons Map" as Fort Sidney 1607
English clay tobacco pipes from the period 1600-1640
Lease of June, 30th 1767 allowed for 10 years John Woodhouse, Butcher and Game
vendor to "graze, take game and wild fowl"
During the
rebellion of 1798 there is no doubt that prisoners were confined to the island,
but there is no evidence available to prove that executions had been carried out
as is locally claimed. "Sixty prisoners held in Dungannon were
moved to the island at the Blackwater Foot and guarded there by the Churchill
Yeomanry"
Garden features and domestic rubbish dating to the 1800's
Cottage constructed 1895 by Alfred Lord Charlemont as a country retreat.
Island excavation 1962-1963
The
Victorian Cottage is now the private home of the island caretaker
