a granite pillar. This unique collection holds almost two thousand artefacts which trace the history of the Bann Valley from 3000 BC through to the first half of the 20th century. Garvagh Forest, the former estate of the Cannings covering over , is on the western outskirts of Garvagh. The River Agivey flows through Garvagh. It is a well known river for Brown trout and Salmon. 2001 Census Garvagh is classified as a village by the NI Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) (i.e. with a population between 1,000 and 2,250 people). On Census day (29 April 2001) there were 1,288 people living in Garvagh. Of these: 22.3% were aged under 16 years and 25.1% were aged 60 and over 46.7% of the population were male and 53.3% were female 25.0% were from a Catholic background and 74.0% were from a Protestant background 3.6% of people aged 16–74 were unemployed For more details see: NI Neighbourhood Information Service 2011 Census On Census day in 2011: 24.5% were from a Catholic background and 71.2% were from a Protestant background Transport Garvagh railway station -formerly on Station Road- opened on 18 February 1880 as part of the Derry Central Railway and was shut on 28 August 1950. Disused remnants of the track still remain in a few locations including several railway bridges. There are several bus stops in Garvagh town operated through Ulsterbus, they are on Main Street and Bridge Street as well as several in the surrounding area. People Sir James Brown Dougherty KCB KCVO PC (1844–1934), clergyman, academic, civil servant and politician, born in Garvagh. Billie Nicholl (1851–1937), New Zealand prospector and gold mine developer Frederick William FitzSimons (1870–1951), South African naturalist, noted herpetologist, born in Garvagh John Laurence Rentoul (1845–1926), Presbyterian minister and poet, emigrated to Australia Education In the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s there were two public schools in Garvagh. Garvagh Public Elementary School, which was the Presbyterian school, was at the Southerly end of the town. Garvagh Youth Club now occupies the premises. The second school, which was known as the Canning Public Elementary School, was the Church of Ireland school, and was positioned where the Christian Workers Union Hall now stands. In 1947 an Education Act was passed, changing education in Northern Ireland. Public Elementary schools were to be called Primary Schools, with pupils transferring at 11+ to Intermediate schools, Grammar schools, and Technical schools. This change