Bangor Town Walk and Cultural Trail

visitardsandnorthdown.com Welcome to the Bangor town walk and cultural trail.

Bangor’s history is a wide and varied one. The town may take its name from the Gaelic Beannchor meaning “horned bay”. The first settlements date back to Neolithic times, but it was the founding of the monastery by St Comgall in AD558 and the establishment of a centre of learning that laid the town’s foundations.

Since that time Bangor has been attacked by Vikings, settled by the Scottish Planters, developed as a seaside town and saw General Eisenhower visit ships taking part in D Day. Today it is a thriving maritime town.

The trail focuses on many aspects of Bangor’s history highlighting its key sites and buildings of interest. This walk will take approximately 1½ hours to complete (unless you follow the coastal path for a time or take a walk through one of the parks). The walk does involve several gradients; these are highlighted on the map.

Begin your walk at Tower House, Bangor’s Visitor Information Centre on Quay Street. Tower House

1 Tower House Harbour Master’s Office 2

Tower House, originally the town’s Custom House, was built in 1637 by Sir James Hamilton the area’s Scottish landlord at that time. The Scottish Baronial architecture is unique to Bangor and rare in Ulster. Throughout its 300 year history the building has served several purposes including private dwellings, antique shop and housed hot seawater baths. The status of the building was protected in 1979 when added to the “List of Buildings of Special Interest” by the The building was constructed around Department of the Environment. 1860 with the lower part being the Today it serves as the Council’s Visitor boathouse and offices above. The Information Centre. building has taken on many roles in the Open all year: Jan - Apr & Sept - Dec years since including a lifeboat station Mon, Tues, Thur, Fri 9.15am-5pm, Wed and even a restaurant. 10am-5pm, Sat 10am-4pm. Extended opening May - Aug include From the Harbour Master’s Office walk Sat 10am - 5 pm and Sun 1pm - 5pm, right towards the Eisenhower Pier, Accessible for disabled visitors. RNLI Lifeboat Station and Long Hole. (Please refer to map for directions)

Cross the road and opposite Tower House you will find the old Harbour Master’s Office.

visitardsandnorthdown.com 3 Eisenhower Pier, RNLI Lifeboat Station & Long Hole

Bangor’s Lifeboat station was built in 2002 replacing the out of date premises and is now one of the busiest in Ireland. At the start of the pier, to the right of The Eisenhower Pier (formerly known the Lifeboat Station is the Long Hole, as the North Pier) was re-named in 2005 by Mary-Jean Eisenhower, granddaughter of former U.S. President D D Eisenhower to commemorate his relationship with the town and his address to the Allied warships heading to bombard the German positions at D Day. At the end of the pier you can view mosaics depicting the scenes from Bangor’s history.

formerly a boat harbour created in approximately 1815. Beyond is Seacliff Road with its rows of fine Victorian houses and the Royal Ulster Yacht Club, the red brick building sitting on top of the hill. The club was established in 1866 as the Ulster Yacht Club and three years later it received its Royal warrant.

From the Eisenhower Pier turn back The pier is also famous for its rare towards the town and head for the colony of black guillemots, known as Sunken Gardens and Bregenz House. “Bangor Penguins”, which nest in the harbour wall. Throughout the summer (Please refer to map for directions) fishing and boat trips depart from the pier. 4 McKee Clock, Sunken Gardens & Bregenz House

Close to the clock you can see the old wrought-iron fountain placed in memory of a Mrs Coates by a local sailing club in 1893. Looking to your right towards the marina is Bregenz House home of the Coastguard. The station is named after Bangor’s twin town of Bregenz in Austria.

The McKee Clock stands at the entrance to the Sunken Gardens at the bottom of High Street, marked by its early Victorian symmetrical corner buildings. The clock, named after its benefactor James McKee a local rates collector who donated Walk on through the Sunken Gardens £200 (a very large sum of money at the and along the promenade overlooking time) towards its construction, is one of the Marina. the seafront’s oldest and most enduring (Please refer to map for directions) landmarks. Designed by the town’s surveyor, Mr Bell, it was built in 1915 by John McNeilly from stone quarried at Ballycullen. On the base of the clock, a black granite slab is engraved with the inscription, “8 July 1915. This stone records the appreciation of the Bangor Urban District Council for the generous gift of this clock to his native town by James McKee. The above James McKee died on 28th April 1919”.

visitardsandnorthdown.com swimmers until heated indoor pools 5 Promenade & Bangor Marina became the chosen option leading to its closure in 1986. The promenade was developed along Now a family fun park is situated here. with the Marina, replacing what was Children can enjoy a pedal on a giant for many years a beach enjoyed by swan on the boating lake, 18 hole mini generations of day-trippers. It runs golf, a playground or enjoy a ride on the alongside the marina with beautiful Pickie Puffer miniature railway whilst views to Pickie Fun Park and children’s adults relax in the onsite cafe. playground. Bangor Marina is one of Ireland’s largest with over 500 berths and holds the The Coastal Path 7 prestigious Five Anchors and Blue Flag awards. If you are feeling energetic at this point you can continue on and sample part of the North Coastal Path towards . The path has beautiful views up Lough, across to

Continue on round the promenade to Pickie Fun Park. (Please refer to map for directions) Carrickfergus and on a clear day you can 6 Pickie Fun Park/Playground see Scotland. You can turn and rejoin the town walk at any time.

To continue on the town walk turn up Tennyson Avenue at this point with its villas dating to the 1880’s (Tennyson Avenue is located just before Pickie Fun Park and adjacent to the fountains).

Approximately 20 metres up Tennyson Avenue turn left along Princetown Road. Follow the rows Pickie Fun Park and playground stand of Victorian Terraces and across to on the old site of Pickie Pool. The pool, Avenue which was built in which was the best-known outdoor pool 1865 after the arrival of the railway. in Ireland, opened in 1931 and for over Please note this involves a gradient half a century was the hub for summer towards the railway station. (Please refer to map for directions) 8 Dufferin Avenue Post Office 10

The Avenue is named after the Dufferin Across the road on the corner of Main family of Estate and it also Street and Castle Park Avenue is Bangor finds a mention in the works of Frederick Post Office. A rare and interesting sight is Forsyth (Author of Day of the Jackal). the post box marked Edward VIII - the King who abdicated in 1936. Only a few post boxes in the UK bear his insignia.

9 Bangor Rail and Bus Station

The original building designed by Sir Charles Lanyon was constructed in 1865. The railway led to Bangor becoming a busy seaside town and was the starting point for many a holiday or day-tripper. The railway also led to the expansion of Bangor with people being able to commute from Bangor to Belfast for work. The current station dates from 2000.

Head away from the town centre with the station on your right up Abbey Street. (Please refer to map for directions)

visitardsandnorthdown.com 11 Bangor Abbey is known locally as Malachy’s Wall, the oldest surviving remnant of the Abbey, St Comgall founded the Abbey in 558AD adjacent to the Old Gate Lodge. The main and it grew to become one of the most body of the building dates from the 1830’s important seats of learning in Ireland, and 1840’s but the tower is from the 15th with almost 3,000 monks worshipping century and the octagonal steeple dates at the time of Comgall’s death in 601AD. from 1693. The churchyard has many old Two of its most famous students, and interesting gravestones including a memorial to the assistant surgeon of the Titanic local man John Simpson. (Located just before the side gate if approaching from the front of the Abbey).

When you leave the Abbey head right and back towards the town centre through the wooded path up the hill towards Bangor Castle, Bangor’s Town Hall. (Please refer to map for directions)

Columbanus and Gall, travelled Bangor Castle 12 throughout Europe setting up monasteries in Luxeuil, Bobbio and Completed in 1852 for The Hon Robert Bregenz. Artefacts from the monastery’s Edward Ward, this imposing mansion in earliest period can be viewed in the the Elizabethan-Jacobean revival style North Down Museum. The most celebrated literary work to come from the monastery is the seventh century Bangor Antiphonary, a collection of hymns, prayers and poems now kept in the Ambrosian Library in Milan.

Bangor’s vulnerability to attack from the sea resulted in the Abbey falling into disrepair following many Viking raids. It was partially restored by Saint Malachy in the 12th Century when he was Abbot had no fewer than 35 bedrooms and in Bangor. His work can be seen at what incorporated a huge salon for musical recitals. When the then municipal authority, Bangor Borough Council, acquired the Castle and grounds, the music salon became the Council Chamber. The first Council meeting was held there almost exactly 100 years after the building now known as the Town Hall was first completed. Situated in Castle Park, the gardens have won many awards for their outstanding blooms. Continue to the rear of the Castle where Ward Park 14 you will find North Down Museum. Created in 1910 on the site of the old 13 North Down Museum brickfields the park is now well known for its wildfowl and children’s play area. Located in the old Castle stables, At the Hamilton Road end of the park ’s most visited small stands the town’s War Memorial located museum hosts a number of exhibits and alongside the gun of the German displays covering the fascinating history submarine UB 19, which surrendered of the area from early Christian monks with the rest of the German fleet at the through to its development as a seaside end of WW1. town.

Coincidentally it had been active round Here you will see examples of the north of Ireland in the war. The archaeological finds, such as the gun was presented to the town by Ballycrochan Swords, dating from the Admiralty in honour of local Barry 500BC and the 9th Century Bangor Bell. Bingham, who won a Victoria Cross Here you can also have a rest and enjoy at the Battle of Jutland, the V.C. can a meal or snack in the Restaurant. be seen in the North Down Museum. The foyer sales desk offers a range of Bangor library, recently re-developed, books and literature on the area. stands within the park. It was opened Open Tues - Sat 10am - 4.30pm, Sun in 1910 to act not only as the library but 12pm - 4.30pm, July & Aug Mon - Sat also the town’s Technical School. 10am - 4.30pm, Sun 12pm - 4.30pm. If time is short from the traffic lights If you have time you can take a head up the slight hill towards the detour to the Walled Garden (open town passing Bangor Hospital built seasonally). in 1910. Further on again on the right hand side is Bangor Parish Church, St From the museum head away from Comgall’s dating from 1899. the town centre down Castle Park Turn left at the Parish Church and Road to the traffic lights at Ward Park. walk approximately 100 metres. (Please refer to map for directions)

visitardsandnorthdown.com 15 Spectator Offices Town Hall in the 1930’s and 40’s before becoming a bank. Many Irish writers began their careers in local newspapers and Bangor’s own Colin Continue on down Main Street past Bateman (author of Murphy’s Law amongst Trinity Presbyterian Church (built in other bestsellers) and Jo Bannister (work Yorkshire stone in 1889) to Easons. includes Echoes of Lies) both worked here. Star Trek 18 Virtually opposite the Spectator offices you will see First Bangor On the site of Easons you will be Presbyterian Church. surprised to know that the father of “Scottie” of “Star Trek” (actor 16 First Bangor Presbyterian James Doohan) had a chemist’s shop! With its distinctive weeping Ash tree, the church dates from 1831 with the spire Having completed the walk why 1881. not treat yourself to a refreshment in one of the many coffee shops or restaurants in the area or return to the promenade for a rest?

If you have enjoyed this walk and have time then why not try the town walk and trail too. Reading List: Bangor Abbey Through Fifteen Centuries - Canon James Hamilton M.A. Old Bangor - John Hanna Retrace your steps and cross at the The Lost World of North Down, lights to the Northern Bank. Photographs 1870-1940 - North Down Museums Publication 17 Northern Bank Bangor Light of the World - Ian Adamson This fine old building dates back to 1780 and was originally the town’s market Peers and Plebs - Madeline Bingham house with open arcades on the ground My Bangor - Charles Milligan floor. It was later a school and the Victorian Bangor - Grenfell Morton Bangor, A Historical Gazetter - Marcus Patton Reminiscences of Old Bangor - WC Seyers Buildings of North - CEB Brett

Most of these publications can be viewed at Bangor Library and some may be purchased locally. 7 3

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Bangor Castle Walled Garden

Steep gradients at Your Route Tennyson Avenue and Dufferin Avenue visitardsandnorthdown.com For further information on Bangor contact Bangor Visitor Information Centre 028 9127 0069 [email protected] North Down Museum 028 9127 1200 [email protected] visitardsandnorthdown.com

Other walking trails in the area include the North Down Christian Heritage Trail and the North Down Coastal Path

© and North Down Borough Council 2016