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Frances Street, NEWTOWNARDS, BT23 7DW

A narrow street running from High Street to Frances Street (background). The “meetinghouse” might have been the 1670 predecessor of today’s First Presbyterian church. See also Image

See Image The cast name sign at the Frances Street end.

Looking east on a typical Monday afternoon.

Ann Street runs north from Frances Street.

See Image The Ulster Bank at 22 Frances Street, built from Portland stone, opened in 1926 on the site of its predecessor of 1865. Not a listed building but mentioned on the list as “the facade has been added to on several occasions and is now modern, functional”. Once known as “Mackintosh’s bank” after the first manager, Patrick Mackintosh, who was also a Justice of the Peace who held court in a room in the original building. Continue to Image

Lieutenant-Colonel Robert Blair ('Paddy') Mayne DSO & 3 Bars (11 January 1915 - 14 December 1955) was a Northern Irish soldier, solicitor, rugby union international, amateur boxer and polar explorer. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Blair_Mayne for more information.

Mural on Meetinghouse Lane, Newtownards, by Annatomix https://www.annatomix.com/ .

No British soldier in the Second World War was more decorated than Robert Blair “Paddy” Mayne - one of the six founder members of the Special Air Service (SAS). “Paddy” Mayne was an exceptional Ulsterman, endowed with great physical strength, stature and uniquely swift reflexes, which he used with devastating effect - in the boxing ring, on the international rugby field, in the bars of Belfast and later in battle. His military skill and extraordinary gallantry in battle were legendary, and acknowledged by the award to him of the Distinguished Service Order for leadership and personal courage on no fewer than four occasions (on one of these he was awarded the Victoria Cross, but it was later down-graded – a decision much criticised by his regiment http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Blair_Mayne ). France awarded him both the Croix de Guerre and Legion d’Honneur. He first made his name in the desert campaign in north Africa where he was memorably credited with having destroyed behind enemy lines more German aircraft than the RAF. His audacious exploits continued during the campaigns in Sicily, Italy, France and Germany, throughout which by some miracle he survived almost unscathed. He was one of our outstanding military heroes of the war.More on his exploits at http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=2_ZstVBZSfIC&lpg=PA1&pg=PA137#v=onepage&q=&f=true

Two of the best known names in Newtownards: Knott's café/restaurant and Warden Brothers Department Store - located from 43 to 49 High Street.