We were originally of Scottish Blood

My life in Pictures

Last Update 18 November 2009

Newtownards, my birthplace.

Hope you all like the new and faster drop down menu system..

Click on the small arrow beside either box below and a list of streets or places will drop down, simply scroll down to the one you want and click,..

Thanks to Stewart McClean for this pic.

An aerial shot of the area around Court Square

Jim McMeekan Jnr. sent in this stunning pic..  click to enlarge and see how many
interesting places you can spot...

2250 BC Portal Tombs found at the Kempe Stones in Newtownards
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1244 AD Around 1244, the Dominican Friary of Villa Nova [Newtownards Priory] was founded by the Savage family. Destroyed by the Gaels
1842 AD Henry V111 Dissolved the Monasteries - Movilla Abbey founded by St.Finian in 540 AD falls into ruin.
[O'Neill's] in 1572, it was rebuilt in 1607 by Sir Hugh Montgomery. The existing tower and belfry are of that period. After falling into disrepair, a small church was built on the site by the Colville family and this was used as the parish church until the building of St Mark's in 1817.
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1572 AD Queen Elizabeth's Secretary, Sir Thomas Smith made an attempt to settle North Down with Englishmen. The local O'Neill chieftain, Sir Brian McPhelim rose up in revolt and conducted a scorched earth policy against the people of North Down. He destroyed nearly every building in the area including burning the abbeys at Greyabbey , Holywood and the Priory at Newtownards
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1606 AD Sir Hugh Montgomery took up household in the remains of the priory and began the construction of the Scottish plantation town that was to be the basis of modern Newtownards.
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1613 AD James I granted the charter which created the 'Borough of Newtowne in the Ardes'.
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1636 AD The Market Cross of Newtownards was built to reflect the growth of the town.Bargains made in its shadow were legally binding.
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1744 AD Robert Colville, under the influence of his mistress, sold Newtownards to Alexander Stewart for the sum of 42,000 pounds sterling.
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1765 AD The Market House - later to become the Town Hall in Newtownards, was erected by the Stewarts.Originally there was a great archway in its centre which spanned the line of the North/South street axis.The market occupied the ground floor while the upstairs held function rooms which were used by the local gentry for social events and civic matters.

                                                           1913 Telephone Directory
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New..! What happened then,.. see below

Anyone got any ideas as to the reason for these stone heads. The one on the left was rescued from above Peter McCabes Pub on the corner of Mill Street and Frederick Street and the one on the right can still be seen on the corner of William Street and Corry Street.

More soon