IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Canal Row, NEWTOWNARDS, BT23 7NU

Some of these units have been converted into commercial units. The one nearest the camera houses S Clarke & Son Funeral Directors.

The canal, opposite Canal Row Image, looking downstream.

See Image Reinforcing of a wall - on the left in the previous photograph.

Cut bench mark located on a wall of the old Dominican Friary in Court Street. This mark dates from the 1st geodetic levelling of Ireland which took place in 1839-43. It consists of a cut mark with a number "8" just to the left. The mark was in a line from Dublin to Belfast which began at Buckingham Lock, Dublin. The original remarks for the mark describe it as: "Newtown Ards Old Church. Mark on wall at side of door; 3.0 feet above surface". It was initially levelled to 21.816 feet above sea level (shown as 21.8 on OS maps of the time - possibly there was also a "21" beside the "8"?).

A memorial, close to the main war memorial Image, in memory of those who died in a Luftwaffe raid on Newtownards airfield in 1941. There are two theories. One is that the bombs were a mistake and were meant for Belfast. The other (given to me by one who was serving there at the time of the raid) is that the Germans believed that the nearby (elevated) Scrabo Tower Image and the airfield and were being used to track and attack U-boats in the Irish Sea.

A small Department of Agriculture and Rural Development office on the Portaferry Road (Castle Street on the Google map). Architect not recorded but most likely designed by the Chief Architect’s Branch of the Ministry of Finance when TPO Rippingham held the post. Image shows the Royal cypher.

The royal cypher GVIR on this building Image

Outside a funeral parlour in Court Street.

Vacant building, on the Portaferry Road Image (Castle Street on the Google map), next to Image (right). Offered for sale and described as “This commercial building has Planning Permission for the demolition of the existing building and erection of 10 apartments with associated car parking and landscaping (X/2008/0033/F), granted 2nd January 2009. Consisting of commercial premises, with offices and warehouse space on a site of c. 0.21 acres, the site is located on the edge of Newtownards Town Centre, in close proximity to the Castlebawn Development and main shopping areas. The property lends itself to either refurbishment of the original building for commercial use, or re-development into residential apartments”. This photograph appears as a matter of record only. I have no connection with any of the parties involved in the sale.