Portaferry

Portaferry Walking Guide

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1 Portaferry Castle and d Visitor Information Centre Cooke 2 The Northern Aquarium Street 3 Credit Union Jetty 4 Market House 5 St Cooey’s Oratory 6 Ballyphilip Parish Church and Temple Craney Graveyard 7 National School 8 The Presbyterian Church and Portico 9 Steel Dickson Avenue 10 Joseph Tomelty Blue Plaque 11 Blaney’s Shop 12 Dumigan’s Pub 13 Methodist Church 14 The Watcher 15 RNLI Lifeboat Station 16 Queens University and Marine Laboratory Additional Route (Follow Arrows) 17 The View Point Additional Route Please note that this map is not 18 Tullyboard Windmill to scale and is for reference only Portaferry Walking Guide Historical Walking Trail of Portaferry, Co

The main route consists of flat The tour will last approximately concrete footpaths with pedestrian one hour. For your convenience, crossing opportunities. Please be there are also public toilets and a aware when crossing the road and wide range of cafes and restaurants keep an eye out for traffic at all times. in Portaferry.

We hope you enjoy learning more about the area. Be sure to look out for the other walking guides in the series. These can be downloaded from www.visitstrangfordlough.co.uk along with ideas on what to see and do in the area. We appreciate your comments and suggestions so please contact us via the website.

Let’s begin the walking trail

Portaferry Castle and Visitor Information Centre 1 From your starting point at the Visitor and floors being originally of wood. Information Centre, stand for a moment It formed the focus of the sizeable to consider Portaferry Castle, a fine estate of the Savage family and example of a tower house fortified home. remained inhabited until 1765. It is Take in the view from the site as it in the care of the overlooks the Narrows with a good view Environment Agency and access is of Strangford, Audley’s castles and Castle permitted during the summer season. Ward across the lough. It was probably The Visitor Information Centre building built in the early 16th century, for one of has seen many uses. It was a stable the Savage family with an unusual “L” block and had a large coach house/ shaped plan. It is of square design with garage area where the main information one projecting tower to the south. Here desk is currently situated. There were the entrance is defended by a small arch originally no internal stairs in the shaped machicolation. A machicolation is building and the first floor was reached a floor opening between the supporting by a perpendicular iron rung ladder from corbels of a battlement, through which the stalls area. It appears there may stones, or other objects, could be dropped also have been an external staircase on attackers at the base of a defensive which provided access by one of the wall. Similar to earlier towers, it has loft doors. The floor timber in the coach spiral stairs, but like later ones, lacks house actually sat over an under floor a stone vault ceiling, all the ceilings fresh water tank. During the Second

Pages 2 – 3 Portaferry Castle and Visitor Information Centre continued... 1 World War, it was used by an RAF air sea floor was set up as stage area with a rescue unit who provided entertainment bank of spotlights and had a small bar, for the people of the town. Recollections complete with a thatched roof and of the time say that one half of the top paintings of hula girls on the wall!

The Northern Ireland Aquarium 2 From here turn right, walk up the steps Around that time there were 30 vessels through the gate and you will find carrying to the ports around Strangford yourself in Castle Street. Turning left, Lough. Cargoes of wheat and barley were you will see to your left the entrance to exported to places such as Liverpool and the The Northern Ireland Aquarium and Dublin. The Northern Ireland Aquarium car park. This short walk along the road is Northern Ireland’s only aquarium and to The Northern Ireland Aquarium from seal sanctuary, presents the wonders Castle Street is known as Rope Walk, so of and the coastline named as it was here that ropes were through an enjoyable experience and is made for the very important ship-building well worth a visit. The aquarium also has industry in Portaferry in the 18th century. a café on site.

The Northern Ireland Aquarium Portaferry Walking Guide

Credit Union Building 3 Back out onto Castle Street you will of the town’s fish market. In 1870 the notice to your right Portaferry Credit Union Portaferry Orange and Protestant Hall Building just a little further up the hill. was built on land purchased from the Two hundred years ago this was the site Nugent Estate.

Market House 4 Shortly after this landmark, you come to revenue cutter “Buckingham” moored in The Square. Markets and fairs were held Strangford Lough. The Market House is now here on a regular basis. On the west side used as a community centre and a country standing prominently on its own is the market is held every Saturday morning, Market House. Built in 1752 by Andrew selling local foods, plants and crafts. Savage, in a Neo –Classical style, the On the opposite side of The Square, the upstairs was used by the town’s Literary former Northern Bank building was at a Society and later as a petty sessions court. time a small hotel owned by the Savage During the United Irish rebellion of 1798, and Nugent families. It is now the office the building was defended by a small of the Strangford Lough and garrison under the command of Captain Partnership. Matthews and supported by fire from the

St Cooey’s Oratory and Templecraney Graveyard 5 In the Square you will also see St Cooey’s Presbyterian Church whose Royalist Oratory – a very modern building on your minister, the Reverend John Drysdale right hand side close to the Fire Station. was arrested by a Cromwellian officer. Built in 1968 by the architects, McLean Around 1662, after the restoration and Forte, the design resembles the shape of the monarchy, he was deposed for of a boat, and is dedicated to St Cooey, a non-conformity and the church was local saint. given over to the Church of Ireland and remained in use until 1787 when the As you leave the square, continue to present Parish Church was built. walk up Church Street and look for wrought-iron gates on your left, Brewery Yard which is located past the including an old gate into a graveyard, graveyard and close to the Police Station known as Templecraney. A medieval is of interest. In the 1840’s Portaferry church is thought to have originally boasted its own distillery, brewery and stood on this site, but it is probably scutch mill which were all located in better known as the first site of a what is now Brewery Yard.

Pages 4 – 5 Ballyphilip Parish Church 6 The entrance to Ballyphilip Parish Church Leaving the grounds of the church, is directly opposite Templecraney on the continue onwards up Church Street and other side of the road. The present building at the roundabout, turn right into Anne originally had a lofty spire but in 1810 this Street. At the top, turn right into High had become so dangerous it had to be Street where, opposite the chemists shop removed. The church replaced an earlier Portaferry’s former cinema was opened one on the Cloughey Road, dedicated to by the Hinds family in 1923 and operated St. Nicholas, the patron saint of sailors. until 1988.

National School 7 As you meet the top of The Square, turn with perhaps its greatest achievement left into Meetinghouse Lane and just past being a significant increase in literacy the car park (where bonded warehouses during the 19th century. This building once stood), you will see the old National is now owned by the Presbyterian School. Established in 1831 it provided Church. The Presbyterian Church can education for all children between the be seen on the opposite corner of Steel ages of 6 and 12, the National School Dickson Avenue. system provided a good basic education

PORTICO Portaferry Walking Guide

The Presbyterian Church and Portico 8 Having lost their original place columns and pulpit while discreetly of worship at Templecraney, the incorporating 21st century comforts and Presbyterians erected a meeting house technology. The fully refurbished organ of their own on the site now occupied features a beautifully designed modern by the present church. One of the first console and glass panels reveal the seven Presbyterian meeting houses in inner workings. Co. Down, it was rebuilt in 1751 and again in 1839 after the “Night of the Big Owned and run by the charity Friends Wind” on 6-7 January did untold damage of Portaferry Presbyterian Church, throughout Ireland. The architect was PORTICO is open to all and hosts a John Miller who designed a classical range of arts and heritage events and building on Greek Doric lines with an activities, including concerts in all Ionic interior. The building took a year to music genres, film screenings, heritage complete and cost £1999.12s.6d. exhibitions, craft workshops and literary talks. Regular opening hours PORTICO, the Arts and Heritage Centre are 11am – 4pm Tuesday to Saturday on Meetinghouse Street, is the product and Sunday 2pm – 5pm from May to of an extensive £1.5m restoration of September. During the rest of the year, what was Portaferry Presybterian Church. PORTICO is open by appointment only. The Grade A listed building is modelled For further information on PORTICO and on the Greek Temple of Nemesis and its programme of events, go to www. is architecturally unique. The building porticoards.com has been restored to its original 1841 grandeur, retaining its pews, marbled

Steel Dickson Avenue 9 Steel Dickson Avenue is named after a grave threat to stability by the Stuart the Presbyterian minister, Rev William Kings of England. They were prohibited Steel Dickson (1744-1824), who was from any influence in the government one of the leaders of the 1798 rebellion and forbidden to perform marriages, by the United Irishmen. Descendants of baptisms and funerals in their the Lowland Scots who came to own churches. Down and in the late 16th and early 17th centuries, the Presbyterians If you wish to extend your walk at this were known as Dissenters by the ruling point please skip to point 15. Anglican church and were considered

Pages 6 – 7 Joseph Tomelty Blue Plaque 10 Just a little further along, on this side the Group Theatre in Belfast and wrote you will note a house with a blue plaque. weekly scripts for a radio production The blue plaque indicates the location called the McCooeys. He acted in British where Joseph Tomelty was born. He was and Hollywood films (like Odd Man Out, an actor, playwright, novelist and theatre Bhowani Junction and Moby Dick). The manager. Born in Portaferry on 5 March blue plaque was unveiled in March 2011 1911, he died in Belfast on 7 June and there is also a housing estate named 1995. He was instrumental in forming after him on Windmill Hill.

Blaney’s Shop 11 Continue down the street towards the In the early 1920’s there were many shore, and take left. Blaney’s Shop is confectionery shops on the shore front, located on the shore front just across but now it is the only one remaining. from the marina. The shop was opened The shop is still managed by the niece in 1917 by Mrs AJ Blaney and it is and nephew of the original owner. the oldest of its type in Portaferry. Portaferry Walking Guide

Dumigan’s 12 Continue on down Steel Dickson Avenue Ferry Street is home to Dumigan’s, one of towards the Lough shore. Turn right along the smallest licensed pubs in Ireland. In Shore Road and up Ferry Street on your the mid 19th century, Portaferry boasted 33 right. This is a street of great interest and public houses and in 1822 it is recorded character and where some of the oldest that whisky cost 11/2d per glass and 10d houses in Portaferry are to be found. for a pint! (A “d” equals 1 old penny).

Methodist Church 13 John Wesley, the founder of the as there wasn’t enough room to Methodist Church first came to Portaferry accommodate everyone. From 1830– in 1778, and the church was established 1850 a school was held in the church in Portaferry in 1780. In 1789, Wesley and in 1904 the church interior was returned again to the town and had completely renewed in its present form. to preach in the Presbyterian Church

Pages 8 – 9 Strangford Ferry, Portaferry

“The Watcher” by Raymond Watson 14 Turn back and you will see the Ferry and industries as well as its people. Terminal and the ferry on your left hand Although it is known that the Vikings side. A ferry has been in operation since arrived in the region in the 9th century 1180 when it was introduced by the and named the Lough “Strangfjorthr,” Savage family. At the ferry quay you (meaning strong fjord) nothing has as yet will notice “The Watcher” statue been revealed to offer clues as to where sculpted by local man, Raymond Watson. they settled in the area. It represents the Viking influence on the Lough, as well as making visual reference to the history of the town, its past crafts

RNLI Lifeboat Station 15 Opposite the ferry quay you will see a RNLI lifeboat. The building has a copper dramatic new building finished in spring roof and was designed by the Hutchinson 2009 to house the new “Blue Peter” Irvine Architectural Partnership.

QUB Marine Laboratory 16 Just past the lifeboat station, you will see with such features as sash windows and the Queen’s University, Belfast Marine pilasters highlighting the main entrance Laboratory. Founded in 1972, it is part of (looks like a column but is used for the school of Biological Sciences. decorational purposes). If you backtrack At one time this building housed the a few yards and turn up Castle Street Belfast Bank which opened in 1865 to the left, you will arrive back at the and closed in 1936. The building is an Tourist Information & Visitor Centre. example of Neo-Classical architecture, Portaferry Walking Guide

Tullyboard Windmill

Additional Route

The Viewpoint – Additional Route 17 If you wish to extend your walk, you can views across the Lough of the County follow this additional route. Please be Down countryside. On a clear day, you aware there is a slight climb involved may also see the Mountains going up to the viewpoint. Instead of and , the Isle of Man and coming down Steel Dickson Avenue, Scotland. The viewpoint is an ideal go straight up Windmill Hill for superb vantage point.

Tullyboard Windmill 18 You may also walk across to the local landowners, whose tenants would Tullyboard Windmill and climb the steps then pay to use it or would hand over a inside it for an excellent view over the percentage of their crop as payment. countryside. Built by the Savage family When looking in a southerly direction in 1771, it had two sets of millstones from Windmill Hill, you can see but was completely destroyed by fire Portaferry Gaelic Athletic Association on Christmas Day 1878. Only the mill (GAA) pitches. Hurling is very popular stump remains and is still an important and games can be seen played here navigational aid to shipping coming up at weekends. the Lough. Walking further on down Windmill Hill With over 50 windmill sites in the area, you will come to a junction. To your left is the Peninsula is known as the St Patrick’s Catholic Church, Ballyphilip; “Little Holland of the North.” These built in 1762 by the Rev James McTaggart mills were used for flax scutching and to replace the old mass house. for grinding grain. Most were built by

Pages 10 – 11 For more information contact any of the following Visitor Information Centres: Bangor Ards Visitor Information Centre 31 Regent Street BT23 4AD Newtownards S 028 9182 6846 Belfast k [email protected]

Bangor Visitor Information Centre Portaferry Tower House, 34 Quay Street Bangor B20 5ED S 028 9127 0069 k [email protected]

(Seasonal office Easter – end August) Portaferry Visitor Information Centre The Stables, Castle Street PORTAFERRY BT22 1NZ S 028 4272 9882

(Seasonal office Easter – end August) @VisitStrangford Cockle Row Visitor Information Centre The Harbour, Main Street /VisitStrangfordLough BT19 6JR S 028 9127 2269

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Ards and North Down Borough Council presents the information as a public service, and while every effort has been made to ensure its accuracy, the Council cannot accept responsibility and assumes no liability for any action undertaken by any person using the information contained herein. The content of this guide is copyright of Borough Council and should not be reused without permission.