Cobbled Footpath

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Decorative cobbled footpath, depicting a hunting scene, set on the W side of the Square. It is located on what is now the public pavement in front of Nos 9-11 The Square.

The footpath depictes a hunting scene comprising of a greyhound (centre stage) persuing a hare (stage right) under the gaze of the trainer.(stage left) The trainer appears to be wearing a frock coat with tails, is carring a walking stick, and is gesticulating with his free arm. To the left of the trainer is a large horseshoe. The scene is outlined with a fine zigzag line with the inscription ‘MILLER ESQR’ positioned centrally.

The footpath is constructed of grey and white rounded pebbles varying in size from 50-100mm approximately. The grey pebbles appear to be greywacke stone. The white pebbles, in which the scene is depicted, are slightly smaller and appear to be either lime stone or flint stone. The stones have been well rounded and may have been collected from a river bed or perhaps more likely from a beach.

Historical information

Part owner of Comber Distillery, John Miller (1796-1883) lived in ‘Aureen’ 9-11 The Square between 1825 and 1871. Since it is inscribed with his name, it would seem likely that the footpath was constructed either by or for him. Local hearsay suggests that the scene represents Master Mc Gra, a greyhound owned by Lord Lurgan , family name Brownlow, who won the Waterloo Cup against the best dogs in Britain on the plains of Altcar in 1869, 1871 and 1872. No evidence to support this was discovered.

Norman Nevin, local historian, records in c.1980 that ‘This footpath was perfectly smooth and was washed with soap and water every Saturday night, to be clean for Sunday’.

Up until 1992, the footpath was privately owned by the owner of ‘Aureen’. Around this time it was adopted by the DoE. The owner of ‘Aureen’ reported that shortly after the adoption, Environment and Heritage lifted and re-laid the footpath. A number of locals complain that the footpath is now much less smooth and is now somewhat difficult to walk on.

References - Secondary sources
1 Norman Nevin ‘The Story of Comber’ (c.1980) [typescript in Comber library].

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

C. Ornamentation

Criteria for listing: historic interest

X. Local Interest
Z. Rarity

Evaluation

Unique decorative cobbled footpath of possible mid nineteenth century origin , constructed grey and white pebbles. It depicts a hunting scene which shows a hare being persued by a greyhound under the gaze of the trainer.