A slideshow of photos I took during my first visit to Banbridge in County Down on Monday 23rd September 2019.
Banbridge (Irih: Droichead na Banna) is a town in County Down. It lies on the River Bann and next to the A1 Dublin-Belfast road and is named after a bridge built over the River Bann in 1712. It is situated in the civil parish of Seapatrick and the historic barony of Iveagh Upper, Upper Half. The town began as a coaching stop on the road from Belfast to Dublin and thrived from Irish linen manufacturing. The town is the headquarters for Banbridge District Council. It had a population of 16,637 people in the 2011 Census.
The town's main street is very unusual, and rises to a steep hill before levelling out. In 1834 an underpass was built as horses with heavy loads would faint before reaching the top of the hill. It was built by William Dargan and is officially named 'Downshire Bridge', though it is often called "The Cut".
Banbridge, home to the "Star of the County Down", is a relatively young town, first entering recorded history around 1691 during the aftermath of the struggle between William III and James II. An Outlawry Court was set up in the town to deal with the followers of James. The town grew up around the site where the main road from Belfast to Dublin crossed the River Bann over an Old Bridge which was situated where the present bridge now stands.
The town owes its success to flax and the linen industry, becoming the principal linen producing district in Ireland by 1772 with a total of 26 bleachgreens along the Bann. By 1820 the town was the centre of the 'Linen Homelands' and its prominence grew when it became a staging post on the mail coach route between Dublin and Belfast. A gift of £500 from the Marquis of Downshire around this time helped to alleviate some problems with the steepness of the road and paid for significant improvements. This industry has now greatly diminished in prominence, but Banbridge still has three of the major producers in Ulster; Weavers, Thomas Ferguson & Co, and John England Irish Linen.
Banbridge had three major bombings during the Troubles.
Banbridge has staged an annual busking competition and music festival called Buskfest since 2004. Performers often travel long distances to participate. The competition closes with an evening concert composed of performances by world-famous artists.
Recently, Banbridge has been twinned with Ruelle in France.
Famous People associated with Banbridge
Arthur Cox, actor
Captain Francis Crozier, British naval officer and Arctic explorer, was born in Banbridge in 1796. A monument to him stands in the town square; four polar bears are carved on the base.
Robbie Dennison, former Wolverhampton Wanderers FC winger and Northern Ireland football international.
Samuel Fryar, politician from the 1930s.
Dame Anna Hassan, educator, school principal.
Dermott Lennon world show jumping champion hails from Ballinaskeagh just outside Banbridge.
Samantha Lewthwaite, terrorism suspect.
F. E. McWilliam, surrealist sculptor.
John Mitchel, Irish nationalist activist and political journalist.
Cyril Scott, actor
Joseph M. Scriven, writer of the poem which became the hymn "What a Friend We Have in Jesus".
Jonathan Tuffey, Northern Ireland No 2 goalkeeper, currently playing for Glenavon in the Irish League.
John Butler Yeats, artist and father of four artistic children. Among them were William Butler Yeats and Jack Butler Yeats.
Banbridge is next to the A1 Dublin-Belfast road. The A1 went through Banbridge until 1977 when it bypassed Banbridge. The Banbridge Bypass was upgraded to a dual carriageway in 1988. The nearest railway station is Scarva on Northern Ireland Railways' Belfast-Newry railway line, about 4 miles (6.4 km) west of Banbridge.
Banbridge had its own railway station from 1859 until 1956.
Banbridge is served by the X1/X2A bus route linking Dublin and Belfast which is jointly operated by Bus Eireann and Ulsterbus. Ulsterbus links Banbridge with the neighbouring towns and villages.
Primary Schools in Banbridge are Abercorn Primary School, Ballydown Primary School,
Bridge Primary School(Integrated), Bronte Primary School, Edenderry Primary School,
Milltown Cemetery Primary School and St. Mary's Primary School (Catholic).
Secondary Schools in Banbridge are Banbridge Academy (Grammar), Banbridge High School, St Patrick's College (Catholic)
New-Bridge Integrated College(Integrated).
Churches in Banbridge are St. Therese R.C. Church, St. Patrick's R.C. Church, Holy Trinity Church of Ireland, Scarva Street Presbyterian Church, Bannside Presbyterian Church, Banbridge Methodist Church, Banbridge Baptist Church, Banbridge Elim Pentecostal Church, Banbridge Gospel Hall, First Presbyterian Church, Grace Generation Church.
Негізгі бет A visit to Banbridge, Co. Down in 2019
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