Meeting House Lane is Ballymena is instantly recognisable in this photograph from the Old Photographs of Ballymena Facebook page.

Throwback Thursday - Meetinghouse Lane

Throwback Thursday – Meetinghouse Lane

The picture shows First Ballymena Presbyterian Church on the right and looks towards the end of the street where there is now a roundabout outside St Patricks Church.

First Ballymena Presbyterian Church originally (in 1850) had a distinctive tower as part of their building. This was classed as one of the Seven towers in Ballymena –

934701_380376882085150_788541771_nThe seven towers were:

  • The tower of the Old Parish Church
  • The tower of St Patrick’s
  • The tower of First Presbyterian Church
  • The tower of All Saints Roman Catholic Church
  • The tower of the Castle
  • The tower of the old Town Hall
  • The tower of the Braidwater Mill

Unfortunately the tower sustained damaged during a storm and was demolished some time between 1887 and 1891.

One the other side of the street is the carpark which is still there outside the NRC building at Trostan Avenue. We love seeing the vintage cars lining both sides of the street, and wonder what was on at the First Ballymena Presbyterian church that drew such a crowd!