THROUGH THE ARCHIVES: Obituary remembers the life of prominent West Down man

Seapatrick old church near Banbridge, Co Down. The old parish church of Seapatrick dates from 1698. It is said that when St Patrick stopped to water his horse on the Bann he established a church here. Little is known about the subsequent history although it seems that there was a church in the early 14th century and a later one was destroyed during the war in 1641. It is thought that King William III ordered that a church be built on this site. Picture: geograph.org.uk

The News Letter on this day in 1936 reported that Mr S G Fenton, MBE, JP, who had for many years played a prominent part in the affairs of West Down, had died at his home, Seapatrick House, Banbridge, on the Saturday past.

He was the son of the Rev George Metcalf Fenton of Bournemouth, and grandson of Samuel G Fenton, a former Mayor of Belfast.

Mr Fenton had been born at Penzance in Cornwall on October 5, 1864 and had been educated at Radley College.

Fenton had emigrated to Australia when he had been a young man but he eventually returned to Ulster to become associated with the mills at Ligoneil.

But in 1896 he had left behind the mills and moved to Seapatrick in Banbridge and became a director of the thread manufacturing concerns of Messrs F W Hayes and Co Ltd and Messrs Dunbar, McMaster and Co Ltd, Gilford – branches of the Linen Thread Company.

Mr Fenton took a keen interest in public affairs.

He was one of the senior members of Banbridge Rural Council, Board of Guardians, and Committee of Governors of the Banbridge District Hospital.

He was also a member of the Local Education Committee and manager of Seapatrick village school.

Actively interested in the affairs of the Church of Ireland Mr Fenton was a member of the Select Vestry of Seapatrick Parish Church, a member of Synod and parochial nominator.

Mr Fenton was also a senior magistrate on the Banbridge Bench.

A member of West Down Unionist Association and for many years WM of Banbridge District LOL he had also taken an active part in organising the B Specials during the Troubles.