12th July Northern Ireland: Artefacts of King William III still treasured in Loughbrickland in 2023

District Secretary Keith Murdock told the News Letter about King Billy's famous stone in the demonstration field. An upright jagged and grey rock about four feet high, the stone certainly stands out as unusual in the middle of a modern agricultural field.

"Allegedly King William on his way from Scarva - heading towards the Boyne - tied his horse to this stone," he told the News Letter. "It is a very famous artefact in our field in Loughbrickland."

Local Orangemen moved their main flagpole in the field to be beside the stone a few years ago to mark its significance, he added.

King Billy also made another famous presentation in the area.

"He did indeed, King William presented the bell to Aghaderg Parish Church, which is in the middle of the village. Anybody is free to go and see it."

"The bell is still in use at the church and visitors currently have to climb a few steps to see it in its working glory but they are bringing it down so it can be seen more easily."

Another famous artifact, he noted, is the famous chestnut tree in Scarva Demesne to which King William allegedly tied his horse when his troops rested there on the way to the Battle of the Boyne. The tree is right next to annual Sham Fight in the village.