Down – a maritime county of Ulster province, in the NE. of Ireland, having county Antrim on the N., county Armagh on the W., and the sea on all other sides; greatest length, NE. and SW., 50 miles; greatest breadth, NW. and SE., 35 miles; average breadth, 24 miles; coast-line, about 67 miles (or 139 miles including all the inlets); area, 612,399 acres (3004 water), or 2.9 per cent, of the total area of Ireland; population 272,107, of whom 29.8 per cent, are Roman Catholics, 23.4 Episcopalians, 40.1 Presbyterians, and 1.9 Methodists. The coast is deeply indented by the spacious inlets of Belfast Lough, Strangford Lough, Dundrum Bay, and Carlingford Lough. There are numerous islands in Strangford Lough, and Copeland Island lies off the entrance to Belfast Lough. The surface on the whole is irregular and hilly. The Mourne Mountains occupy the S., the highest summit of which is Slieve Donard, altitude 2796 ft. The prevailing rock is clay slate; trap and limestone are abundant in the N., and granite occurs among the Mourne Mountains. Mineral springs are numerous. The principal rivers are the Lagan and the Upper Bann. Good crops of oats, wheat, flax, and potatoes are raised. The manufacture of fine linen fabrics, such as muslin, forms a leading industry. The fisheries are extensive. The county comprises 12 baronies – Ards (Lower and Upper), Castlereagh (Lower and Upper), Dufferin, Iveagh (Lower and Upper), Kinelarty, Lecale (Lower and Upper), Mourne, and Newry lordship; 70 parishes: part of Belfast; the greater part of the parliamentary borough of Newry; and the towns of Banbridge, Bangor, Downpatrick, Dromore, Holywood, Lisburn (part of), Newtownards, &C.
– John Bartholomew, Gazetteer of the British Isles (1887)
Castle Ward – National Trust
Strangford
Downpatrick BT30 7LS
028 4488 1204
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/castle-ward
Explore this exceptional 332-hectare (820-acre) walled demesne dramatically set overlooking Strangford Lough and marvel at the quirky mid Georgian mansion, home of the Ward family since the 16th century. An architectural curiosity, it is built inside and out in the distinctly different styles of classical and gothic.
Down County Museum
The Mall
Downpatrick BT30 6AH
028 4461 5218
Welcome to Down County Museum where the rich heritage of County Down is brought to life in fascinating exhibitions, lively events, hands-on activities and award winning education programmes. The museum is located in the historic buildings of the 18th century County Gaol of Down. In addition to walking through the restored complex complete with cells, visitors can learn more about 9000 years of human history in County Down in the newly launched exhibitions Down Through Time.
Downpatrick & County Down Railway
The Railway Station, Market Street
Downpatrick BT30 6LZ
01396 615779
www.downrail.co.uk
Downpatrick & Co Down Railway is Northern Ireland’s only standard gauge heritage railway. The museum features locomotives and carriages painstakingly restored with guided tours of the exhibitions and workshops.
Newry & Mourne Museum
1a Bank Parade
Newry BT35 6HP
01693 66232
The museum’s diverse collections currently include material relating to prehistoric history; Newry’s Cistercian foundations; Ulster’s Gaelic Order and relationship with the English Crown; the building of a merchant town and the first summit level canal in the British Isles; the working life and folk traditions of rural and mountain areas; fishing, trade and migration by sea; renowned local personalities and businesses; folklore, storytelling and music; and modern experiences of a Border area.
North Down Heritage Centre
Bangor
028 9127 1200
Pieces from our Bronze Age, Early Christian, Plantation and Jordan Collections are all on display in our permanent exhibitions. Further temporary exhibitions are arranged from time to time to bring lesser seen items out of our stores, including pieces from the Percy French Collection.
Portaferry & Strangford Trust
30, the Square, Portaferry
Newtownards BT22 1LR
028 4272 9895
PAST aims to celebrate and promote the maritime and built heritage of Portaferry, Strangford and the surrounding area by regenerating buildings and landscape and developing a maritime centre to promote the rich past present and future of the area.
Saint Patrick Centre
53a Lower Market Street
Downpatrick BT30 6LZ
028 4461 9000
The centre is a new and exciting interpretative exhibition which tells the fascinating story of Ireland’s patron saint. Through Patrick’s own words a light is shone on the arrival of Christianity in Ireland and its development through his mission.
Somme Heritage Centre
233 Bangor Road
Newtownards BT23 7PH
01247 823 202
The Somme Heritage Centre is The Somme Association’s flagship project. Situated adjacent to the Clandeboye Estate outside Newtownards, the centre is a unique visitor attraction of international significance showing the awful reality of the Great War, and its effects on the community at home.
Ulster Folk & Transport Museum
Cultra
Holywood BT18 0EU
028 90 428428
www.uftm.org.uk
Take time to explore one of Ireland’s foremost visitor attractions, recapturing a disappearing way of life, preserving traditional skills and celebrating transport history.
At the open air Folk Museum 60 acres are devoted to illustrating the way of life of people of the north of Ireland in the early 1900s.