John Purdy of Dumfriesshire was granted a lease here in 1655, thus giving his name to this place in perpetuity. Being a miller by trade he erected a corn mill and the stream which drove it became Purdy’s Burn in The Plight of the Big House in Northern Ireland by J.A.K. Dean. Matier’s Belfast Directory 1835-1836 contains references to three members of the Batt Family living at Purdy’s Burn which was categorised under the title: “Neighbourhood of Belfast”. Purdysburn House was located here until it was demolished.
Purdysburn Road existed at least as early as 1899 as shown by references in newspapers.