An appeal for information has been issued over the fate of a number of cannons which were once a fixture in one of Derry’s best loved parks.
The mystery came to light after the Derry News was approached by a resident of Rosemount area, Lily Hagan, who spent most of her childhood in the park during the 1940’s and 1950’s.
The 87-year-old has asked the paper to investigate what had happened to the cannons she had her friends would gather around as young children.
The park is set to re-open next month after a £5.6m redevelopment, and while Lily said she was looking forward to seeing the new-look facility she said she love nothing more than to see the cannons take up their place again in the park.
“We would all rush out of school and down to Brooke Park, stopping and lingering at the cannons making our plans,” she said.
“I think the new park looks beautiful, but I would love to see the cannons back in there.”
The Derry News contacted Derry City and Strabane District Council to see if it could shed any light on the fate of the cannons.
Council then sought the advice of Friends of the Derry Walls Project Co-ordinator and local historian Mark Lusby, who was able to give some information on the cannons, one of which he said may have been re-located to the City Walls.
“I’m aware of a number of cannons that were located at Brooke Park over the years,” he said.
“We know that there were two ‘Mega Cannon’ from the First World War that were located outside the front door of the Gwyn’s Institute Building.
“They are featured in a photograph in the McDonald Bigger Collection of old images from the Londonderry Standard with clothed capped school boys sitting on top of them.
“As far as I am aware these were sold for scrap as part of the fundraising effort for the Second World War and were destroyed.”
Mr Lusby added t there was a second cannon located further down the park, which may still be in existence a couple of hundred yards away.
“I am aware from postcards from the 1970s of a second cannon that was located further down the park which was possibly a siege or naval cannon from the 17th or 18th Century,” he continued.
“It is possible that this cannon is now located on the City Walls but there is nothing in the records to confirm that.”
Mr Lusby also appealed for anyone with information about the second cannon to contact the Friends of the Derry Walls.
“We would love to know more about the story of this Brooke Park cannon and where it went to,” he added.
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