Magheramorne#Game of Thrones

Nearby is an old limestone quarry owned by Lafarge (formerly known as Blue Circle). Extraction of limestone from the quarry, for use in the Magheramorne cement plant, ceased in 1980.{{cite web|title=Local MP Visits Magheramorne Quarry|url=http://www.magheramorneworks.co.uk/news.html|website=Magheramore: Reinvented|publisher=Larfarge Tarmac|access-date=13 April 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140712203527/http://magheramorneworks.co.uk/news.html|archive-date=12 July 2014}} The high point for limestone extraction at Magheramorne was in the 19th and 20th centuries. In the 19th century, a mission church for labourers at the limeworks was established and became a Presbyterian church.

In September 2009, Lafarge obtained outline planning permission for redevelopment of the quarry and cement works, including a new eco-friendly village and a cycling centre mainly in the quarry.

A regeneration plan was proposed to transform the quarry into a nature conservation, leisure and housing area. If the plans go ahead, the 75 hectare quarry would be home to a World Cycling Centre and the All-Ireland Scuba Diving Centre.[http://www.magheramorneworks.co.uk/quarry.html Magheramorne reinvented by Lafarge] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160628123647/http://www.magheramorneworks.co.uk/quarry.html |date=2016-06-28 }}{{update-inline|date=May 2024}}

The area of Larne Lough, that was used to ship cement out of Magheramorne, is now used as an anchorage for the Blue Circle Boat Club which has a social club in the grounds.{{fact|date=May 2024}} The factory area is now desolate and crumbling and private property with no public access.{{fact|date=May 2024}}

The abandoned Magheramorne quarry area was used as a filming location for the HBO TV series Game of Thrones. Castle Black, Hardhome and The Wall were filmed there, and battlements were built there to serve as King's Landing's defences during the Battle of Blackwater Bay;{{cite AV media |title=Game of Thrones Season 5: A Day in the Life |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9Mi17nLflY |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/p9Mi17nLflY |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|date=8 February 2015 |access-date=17 July 2017 |publisher=HBO |via=YouTube }}{{cbignore}}

scenes shot atop the wall were filmed inside the Paint Hall Studios in Belfast.

The composite set (with both exteriors and interiors) consisted of a large section of Castle Black including the courtyard, the ravenry, the mess hall and the barracks, and used the stone wall of the quarry as the basis for the ice wall that protects Westeros. A functional elevator was built to lift the rangers to the top of The Wall. A castle with real rooms and a working elevator were built near a cliff {{convert|400|ft}} high, CGI fills in the rest to make the wall appear {{convert|700|ft}} high.{{cite news |title=Game of Thrones: 10 decrets about HBO's adaption |url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2011/04/04/game-of-thrones-10-secrets-about-hbos-adaptation-of-a-song-of-ice-and-fire-by-george-rr-martin.html |website=The Daily Beast |date=4 April 2011 |access-date=13 April 2015 |last1=Lacob |first1=Jace }}

The area around the elevator was painted white to make it look like ice. George R. R. Martin said: "It's a pretty spectacular, yet miserable location. It is wet and rainy, and the mud is thick. I visited there; it really gets the actors in the mood of being at the end of the world in all of this cold and damp and chill".{{cite web |title=Travels to season 2 and beyond with Game of Thrones creator George R. R. Martin |url=http://www.fodors.com/news/story_5326.html |website=Fodor's |access-date=13 April 2015 }}

Magheramorne railway station was opened on 1 October 1862.{{fact|date=May 2024}}

File:MSB BBC 2012 Recording.jpg

The area is home to the Magheramorne Silver Band, established in 1882 by a local Orange Lodge.{{fact|date=May 2024}} Other local organisations include the Magheramorne Presbyterian Church and its associated groups for women and children. Several Loyal Orders are based in Magheramorne also.{{fact|date=May 2024}}

The local association football (soccer) club, Newington Rangers F.C., plays in the Northern Amateur Football League.{{fact|date=May 2024}}

• Saint Comgall, founder of Bangor Abbey in County Down, was born at Magheramorne in the 6th century.{{cite book|last1=Sandford|first1=Ernest|title=Discover Northern Ireland|date=1976|publisher=Northern Ireland Tourist Board|location=Belfast|isbn=0-9500222-7-6|page=53}}
• Hugh Nelson (Canadian politician), former Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia, was born at Magheramorne in 1830.{{cite book |last1=Gemmill |first1=J. A. |title=The Canadian Parliamentary Companion |date=1883 |publisher=J. Durie & Son |location=Ottawa |page=67 |url=https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/51/The_Canadian_parliamentary_guide_%28IA_canadianparliame1883unse%29.pdf |access-date=23 May 2021}}

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• [https://web.archive.org/web/20070318004652/http://www.magworks.info/ Magheramorne Reinvented]

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Category:Villages in County Antrim

Category:Surface mines in Northern Ireland