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Information in being sought on a major land reclamation project which saw close to 3,000 acres of land reclaimed in Co Donegal in the 1800s.
At a meeting in Newtowncunningham held last week, Steward McClean put out a call for information on the project.
“It had a massive effect on our landscape at the time, but there is little known about the project,” he remarked.
McClean has been working on collecting historical information on the construction of the embankments and reclamation of the land for 18 months but has struggled to find detailed information on the project.
“I’m wondering do locals have information such as old drawings, maps, letters or anything which might help document this project for future generations” McClean explained.
Reclamation
The once seaside town of Newtowncunningham is now 5km from the River Swilly, separated by two embankments and 1,000 acres of reclaimed farmland.
The reclamation project first began in the 1830s with the construction of a series of embankments in the parishes of Newtowncunningham (Blanket Nook) and Burt (now known as Grianán Estate).
After the passing of the Lough Foyle & Swilly Land Reclamation Act, the project was funded through the sale of shares in a newly-formed land reclamation company.
The original plan was to reclaim between 30,000 and 40,000 ac of land however this didn’t materialise. By 1866, the reclaimed land was sold for farming.
Contact
Steward McClean can be contacted on 0353 85 256 4460 or on newcomoutpro@gmail.com.
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