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Maryville Crescent, BANBRIDGE, BT32 3LY

Kenlis Street was laid out around 1866 when it connected Newry Street to Rathfriland Street and the Rathfriland Road. The street was realigned at the western end to connect into the new roundabout Image The old bit (opposite the war memorial) was re-named “Old Kenlis Street”. This is the view outwards at Townsend Street. Once upon a time the Ormeau Bakery Image had a depot (near the dark car on the left) where it kept its breadvans for door-to-door deliveries. In those distant times it was in local competition with Inglis (“English’s”) and Preston’s. Some might remember that the breadman had a long pole which he used to pull out the drawers in the breadvans.

See Image This is the Bann at Solitude (between Lindsay’s Bridge Image and the Water Bridge Image). It is very high after prolonged heavy rain. Solitude was originally the grounds of Solitude House. It is now a rather forlorn public park. The view is towards the Castlewellan Road.

The Cut through the centre of Banbridge was completed in 1834 in response to the needs of the mail coaches which found the streets through the town too steep. It is 200 yards long and 15 feet deep. Bridge Street is in the foreground and Newry Street is out of sight in the dip. Rathfriland Street is to the left of the top of the bridge and Scarva Street to the right. The bridge is officially the “Downshire Bridge” but is commonly known as the “Jinglers Bridge” from the sound of the change jingled by 19th century market traders who used it to sell their wares. To go back a few years see Image

This is Bridge Street with the Cut Image at middle left and Victoria Street at middle right beside the Ulster Bank. The view is towards Newry Street. Continue to Image

The view along Newry Street, towards the Burn Hill, from the Jinglers Bridge, with the Cut Image on the left.

The original market house was demolished to make way for the Cut Image It was replaced by a new building which later became the Town Hall (in the days when that meant the meeting place for the council). It is now the old town hall. This is the clock (accurate) with the former fire siren visible behind the coat of arms (bottom left).

The “Welcome”, at the corner of Scarva Street and Bridge Street, is part of the old town hall Image It served as a place for the exchange of news and gossip in the days before television and the internet.

Citybus and Ulsterbus are two distinct companies operating in Belfast and rest of NI respectively. In the 70’s, when many vehicles were destroyed by bombs or riots, buses were borrowed from one fleet to cover the short-term needs of the other. In this case a Citybus double-decker is departing Newry Street, Banbridge for Portadown (service 62). Both places were well outside Citybus territory.

Banbridge war memorial was designed by F. W. Pomeroy. It is opposite the Downshire Arms in Newry Street. It depicts a soldier with a steel helmet in his right hand and a rifle in his left.