Formation of Battehill Loyal Orange Lodge No. 395

Number 395 was taken out by the Master and members of No. 948 in 1895.The lodge was first known as Eldon Loyal Orange Lodge.Warrant No. 948 was first established in 1796 by the then Master Thomas Bradshaw at Magarity.

During the period 1823-1827 the lodge was meeting at Crowhill. By 1845 the lodge was meeting at Cranagill but in 1850 the lodge had ceased meeting.Alexander Trotter was handed the warrant on 6th October 1851 but on 7th June 1852 the warrant was lodged with the District lodge.

18553 PTE R. Devlin, served with the Royal Irish Fusiliers. He was wounded in France but survived. Robert was a Battlehill Orangeman for over fifty years. In the picture you can see his war medals and his fifty year loyal Orange order service medal.

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On October 1853 the warrant was taken out again were it was held at Corcullentrough and by 1856 it was at Drumlellum before being returned , in 1857. The warrant was working again in 1867 and in the late 1800s the lodge was meeting at Clonroot.James Hyde was the Master in 1895 with the lodge meetings being held in Mullan's house, Clonroot in an area known locally as Hivy Gap.When No. 948 finally ceased working 1895 James Hyde became the Master of the new LOL 395. When William J. Magee took over as Worshipful Master the lodge moved to the "walk" area of Battlehill and erected a tin hut in Kelly's field in which to hold lodge meetings.This move was after the fire which burned down Mullan's house in Clonroot with the loss of the lodge banner and their lambeg drums.

The No. 395 was recorded in Co. Leitrim, at Manorhamilton District in 1856 with James Sharpe as its Master and by 1857 a duplicate was operating in Fermanagh.This duplicate fell dormant and in 1894 No. 395 at Manorhamilton had been cancelled.

A number of brethren from LOL 395 served during the Great War of whom four did not return, a lambeg drum featuring a portrait of Lord Kitchener was dedicated by the lodge to their memory.

In 1930 when Ballintaggart School House became vacant, members of the Mullholland family, whose relatives are still members of the lodge, spotted a local priest measuring up the site.Captain Lindsay of Hannavale House, another neighbour and Orangeman, became aware of this development and decided action was needed.He summoned Harry Grey WWM of LOL 395 and Bob Devlin DM to a meeting and between them agreed to buy the school house for use as an Orange hall.Captain Lindsay kindly agreed to provide the finance for the venture.The school house was brought from the Reverent Mr Hogarth, Rector of St Saviour's , at the Dobbin, for the sum of £175.

A new banner for LOL 395 was unfurled on 12 July 1936, the ceremony was performed by Bro. Sam Mulholland .The banner featured paintings of King William III crossing the Boyne and "The Secret of England's Greatness". On Easter Mondayy 20th of April 1981 the brethren of Portadown District assembled at Carleton Street and headed by the District Master, Bro. Herbert Whitten, paraded to Battlehill on the re-opening of the hall. The lodge's present banner was unfurled on 11th July 1987.The front features a portrait of the late Captain R. Lindsay of Hannavale House, who was instrumental in organising the purchase of Ballintaggart Old School House for use as Battlehill Orange Hall.

Since the lodge was formed it has maintained its membership at around thirty-five.