Sunningdale Park

Sunningdale Park
BT14
Old Park/Skegoneill
Year approved: 1934

According to the author of a history of Cliftonville Golf Club Hugh Daly Sir William Frederick Neill an estate agent and an Ulster Unionist politician and MP bought land on which Cliftonville Club club had 18 holes leaving the club with just the land leased from the Belfast Water Commissioners and thus becoming a 9 hole golf club.  Neill built Joanmount housing estate on it which he named after his daughter Joan.  Daly wrote: “There is a legacy of the 18-hole golf course - nearly all the streets that were built near or on the land sold by Cliftonville Golf Club were named after prestigious golf courses. I assume that this was part of the sale agreement between Sir William and Cliftonville Golf Club”.  He included a table with this information: Sunningdale: Sunningdale Golf Club Berkshire, England; Meyrick: Meyrick Park Golf Club Dorset, England; Coombe Hill: Coombe Hill Golf Club Surrey, England; Prestwick: Prestwick Golf Club Ayrshire, Scotland; Wallasey: Wallasey Golf Club Wirral, England; Formby: Formby Golf Club;  Hoylake: Royal Liverpool Golf Club Liverpool, England Hoylake, England. 

"The Assistant Surveyor submitted application dated 4th inst. from Mr. J. R. W. Taggart that the name Sunningdale Park or, as an alternative, Sunnymeade Park be approved for new street on his property off Antrim Road, and it was. Resolved – That Mr. Taggart be requested to submit other names for the Committee’s consideration".  (5th August 1930).  

"Resolved - That the name Orby Park be approved for a new street on the property of the Blakiston Houston Estate Co. off Castlereagh Road, and the name Coolgreany Park for a new street off Cavehill Road on the property of Messrs. J. & R. W. Taggart."  (26th September 1933).

"The city surveyor submitted letter dated 26 inst. from Messers J. & R. W. Taggart intimating that the name Coolgreany Park submitted by them for a new street of Cavehill Road on approved by this committee on 26th September last does not meet with the approval of the majority of the occupiers of property therein, and submitting alternative names for the committee's consideration. Resolved- that the name Sunningdale Park be approved in lieu of Coolgreany Park". (27th February 1934).

"Resolved - That Mr. McMullan be informed the Committee authorised the change of name at the request of Messrs. J. & R. W. Taggart, the owners of at least nine-tenths of the adjoining land at present in process of development, that Coolgreany Park be changed to Sunningdale Park."  (24th April 1934).