'˜Eternal Springs and Cloudless Skies'¦'¦'

The title describes the Earl Bishop’s feelings about being in the company of Fridiswide Mussenden. His memorial to her - the Mussenden Temple - sits atop the Downhill cliffs - a lonely sentinel looking out upon a turbulent ocean.

What was the Earl Bishop, Frederick Hervey, up to in building a temple dedicated to the girl at this spot and does it hold the key to the secret affair between the Earl Bishop and the young woman who was his second cousin?

In this lecture Ken McCormack will discuss new facts uncovered about a relationship believed to have contributed to Fridiswide Mussenden’s early death and caused considerable heart-searching for Hervey.

Ken McCormack is a popular lecturer, writer and broadcaster well known for his work with the BBC and for his books and drama projects. Mussenden Temple is part of the Downhill Demesne and a National Trust property.

It is open to visitors year round from dawn to dusk. Visit the National Trust website for more details: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/downhill-demesne-and-hezlett-house

The talk will take place on Tuesday 20th September at 7.30pm.

The venue is the Sandel Centre, 6 Knocklynn Road, Coleraine in the Ground Floor Room (turn right when you come through the main door). Cost to non-members – who will be made very welcome – is £3 including tea/coffee and biscuits.

Free to existing members

Cost of membership is £10 per annum

Full details of the Coleraine Historical Society, how to become a member and complete listing of the 2015/2016 programme of talks is available on the website colerainehistoricalsociety.co.uk We are also on Facebook – Coleraine Historical Society NI – we would welcome your comments, queries, photos etc

The next in the series of talks will be on Tues 18th October, at the Sandel Centre venue with guest speaker Pearl Hutchinson entitled ‘From Kilrea to Klondike: a gold rush tale’. Look out for further details in early October.