Local Area
Banbridge (from the Irish: Droichead na Banna meaning “the Bridge on the Ban (river)”) is a market town in County Down, Northern Ireland. It lies on the River Bann and the A1 road. It grew as a coaching stop and from Irish linen manufacturing. Its population was 14,744 people in the 2001 Census. The town is the headquarters for Banbridge District Council. The town was named after the first bridge built over the Upper Bann in 1712.
The main street is very unusual, and rises to a steep hill. Banbridge used to be an important stop on the Belfast to Dublin stagecoach route and the town’s best known feature is the underpass constructed in 1834 by William Dargan known colloquially as The Cut. The official name is ‘Downshire Bridge’. It is thought that this was the first underpass ever built. Its construction was due to pressure from the Post Office, which was concerned that its horses could not pass through the centre of the town without fainting before they reached the top of the hill.
Nearby towns and villages include: Rathfriland, Corbet, Annaclone, Magherally, Seapatrick, Donaghcloney, Blackskull, Lawrencetown, Loughbrickland, Dromore, Scarva and Gilford.
Fishing – Nearby Corbet Lough
Golf – Banbridge Golf Club
Pony Trekking in Castlewellan
We have put links to sites that we find interesting and informative for you visiting this site.
Wikipedia article on Banbridge
