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The Causeway become widely known as
the 'Eighth Wonder of the World' from the 1700s when large numbers of visitor's came to
view this amazing array of basalt columns, it is estimated that
there are around 40,000 in total. Today's
visitor is free to wander over the stones but it was
not always the case. Growing worldwide
fame brought increasing numbers of visitors which inspired a syndicate
to engage in a profitable charge scheme to view the stones at
close hand. For over a century prior to this scheme, There had been
disputes of access and ownership, the stones have been fenced off,
access denied and several legal challenges made. However, in
1897 one lengthy legal battle
between this syndicate and
local people who objected took place, the High Court
in London recognised that
a road to the stones had existed for public
access to the foreshore but turned down recognition of access over
the stones. The Giants Causeway Company subsequently improved
the site, fenced off the stones and
levied a charge to view them at close hand. The Causeway came into
public ownership in 1963 when it was bought by the National Trust
but it is thanks to a small band of people who
stood up for an ancient right of way in the late 1800's that has
led to this free access today. A house once stood at the point where the
mini-bus now turns round, a caretaker lived there to monitor
the stones and turnstile, through the Giants Gate was a Victorian tea room - both have long since gone.
There is nothing left of a two hundred year old tradition that existed amongst local people,
who would set
up small stalls along the pathway that leads to the causeway or the
guides who would show you round or the boatmen who would row you
round to Portcoon Cave or round past the Causeway to view the spectacular
Amphitheatre. |
