Bangor Town Walk
and Cultural Trail
www.northdowntourism.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
Tourist Information Centre on Quay Street.
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Tower House
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 Department of
the Environment. Today it serves as the
Council’s Tourist Information Centre.
Open all year: Jan-May & Sept-Dec Mon,
Tues, Thur, Fri 9am-5pm, Wed 10am-5pm,
Sat 10am-4pm (June 10am-5pm). Extended
hours July & August to 6pm Sat 10am-5pm
and Sun 1pm-5pm. Accessible for disabled
visitors.
Harbour Master’s Office
The building was constructed around 1860
with the lower part being the boathouse
and offices above. The building has taken
on many roles in the years since including a
lifeboat station and even a restaurant.
From the Harbour Master’s Office walk
right towards the Eisenhower Pier, 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.
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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.
The Eisenhower Pier (formerly known 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.
The pier is also famous for its rare colony
of black guillemots, known as “Bangor
Penguins”, which nest in the harbour wall.
Throughout the summer fishing and boat
trips depart from the pier.
At the start of the pier, to the right of the
Lifeboat Station is the Long Hole, 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
towards the town and head for the
Sunken Gardens and Bregenz House.
(Please refer to map for directions)
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 £200
(a very large sum of money at the time)
towards its construction, is one of the
seafront’s oldest and most enduring
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”.
Walk on through the Sunken Gardens
and along the promenade overlooking
the Marina.
(Please refer to map for directions)
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Promenade & Bangor Marina
The promenade was developed along with
the Marina, replacing what was for many
years a beach enjoyed by generations of
day-trippers. It runs alongside the marina
with beautiful views to Pickie Fun Park and
children’s playground.
Bangor Marina is one of Ireland’s largest with
over 500 berths and holds the prestigious
Five Anchors and Blue Flag awards.
option leading to its closure in 1986.
Now a family fun park is situated here.
Children can enjoy a pedal on a giant swan
on the boating lake, paddle in the pool or
enjoy a ride on the Pickie Puffer miniature
railway whilst adults relax in the onsite cafe.
The Coastal Path
If you are feeling energetic at this point
you can continue on and sample part of
the North Down Coastal Path towards
Crawfordsburn. The path has beautiful
views up Belfast Lough, across to
Carrickfergus and on a clear day you can
see Scotland. You can turn and rejoin the
town walk at any time.
Continue on round the promenade to
Pickie Fun Park.
(Please refer to map for directions)
6
Pickie Fun Park/Playground
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).
Pickie Fun Park and playground stand on
the old site of Pickie Pool. The pool, which
was the best-known outdoor pool in Ireland,
opened in 1931 and for over half a century
was the hub for summer swimmers until
heated indoor pools became the chosen
Approximately 20 metres up Tennyson
Avenue turn left along Princetown Road.
Follow the rows of Victorian Terraces
and across to Dufferin Avenue which
was built in 1865 after the arrival of
the railway. Please note this involves a
gradient towards the railway station.
(Please refer to map for directions)
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Dufferin Avenue
Post Office
The Avenue is named after the Dufferin
family of Clandeboye Estate and it also
finds a mention in the works of Frederick
Forsyth (Author of Day of the Jackal).
Across the road on the corner of Main
Street and Castle Park Avenue is Bangor
Post Office. A rare and interesting sight is
the post box marked Edward VIII - the King
who abdicated in 1936. Only a few post
boxes in the UK bear his insignia.
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)
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11 Bangor Abbey
St Comgall founded the Abbey in 558AD
and it grew to become one of the most
important seats of learning in Ireland, with
almost 3,000 monks worshipping at the
time of Comgall’s death in 601AD.
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)
Two of its most famous students,
Columbanus and Gall, travelled throughout
Europe setting up monasteries in Luxeuil,
Bobbio and Bregenz. Artefacts from the
monastery’s earliest period can be viewed
in the 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 in Bangor. His
work can be seen at what is known locally
as Malachy’s Wall, the oldest surviving
remnant of the Abbey, adjacent to the Old
Gate Lodge.
The main body of the building dates from
the 1830’s and 1840’s but the tower is from
the 15th century and the octagonal steeple
dates from 1693. The churchyard has many
old 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).
Bangor Castle
Completed in 1852 for The Hon Robert
Edward Ward, this imposing mansion in the
Elizabethan-Jacobean revival style had no
fewer than 35 bedrooms and 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.
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Continue to the rear of the Castle where
you will find North Down Museum.
13 North Down Museum
Located in the old Castle stables, Northern
Ireland’s most visited small museum
hosts a number of exhibits and displays
covering the fascinating history of the area
from early Christian monks through to its
development as a seaside town.
Here you will see examples of
archaeological finds, such as the
Ballycrochan Swords, dating from 500BC
and the 9th Century Bangor Bell.
Here you can also have a rest and enjoy
a meal or snack in the Castle Garden
Restaurant.
The foyer sales desk offers a range of books
and literature on the area.
Open Tues-Sat 10am-4.30pm Sun 2pm4.30pm, July & August Mon-Sat 10am4.30pm Sun 2pm-4.30pm
If you have time you can take a detour
and wander through the park.
From the museum head away from the
town centre down Castle Park Road to
the traffic lights at Ward Park.
(Please refer to map for directions)
Ward Park
Created in 1910 on the site of the old
brickfields the park is now well known for
its wildfowl and children’s play area. At the
Hamilton Road end of the park stands the
town’s War Memorial located alongside
the gun of the German submarine UB 19,
which surrendered with the rest of the
German fleet at the end of WW1.
Coincidentally it had been active round the
north of Ireland in the war. The gun was presented to the town by the Admiralty
in honour of local Barry Bingham, who
won a Victoria Cross at the Battle of
Jutland, the V.C. can be seen in the North
Down Museum. Bangor library, recently
re-developed, stands within the park. It
was opened in 1910 to act not only as the
library but also the town’s Technical School.
If time is short from the traffic lights
head up the slight hill towards the town
passing Bangor Hospital built in 1910.
Further on again on the right hand side
is Bangor Parish Church, St Comgall’s
dating from 1899.
Turn left at the Parish Church and walk
approximately 100 metres.
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15 Spectator Offices
Many Irish writers began their careers in
local newspapers and Bangor’s own Colin
Bateman (author of Murphy’s Law amongst
other bestsellers) and Jo Bannister (work
includes Echoes of Lies) both worked here.
Virtually opposite the Spectator offices you
will see First Bangor Presbyterian Church.
16 First Bangor Presbyterian Church
With its distinctive weeping Ash tree, the
church dates from 1831 with the spire 1881.
Continue on down Main Street past
Trinity Presbyterian Church (built in
Yorkshire stone in 1889) to Easons.
Star Trek
On the site of Easons you will be
surprised to know that the father of
“Scottie” of “Star Trek” (actor James
Doohan) had a chemist’s shop!
Having completed the walk
why 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 Holywood
town walk and trail too.
Reading List:
Retrace your steps and cross at the lights
to the Northern Bank.
17 Northern Bank
This fine old building dates back to 1780
and was originally the town’s market house
with open arcades on the ground floor. It
was later a school and the Town Hall in the
1930’s and 40’s before becoming a bank.
Bangor Abbey Through Fifteen Centuries Canon James Hamilton M.A.
Old Bangor
John Hanna
The Lost World of North Down,
Photographs 1870-1940
North Down Museums Publication
Bangor Light of the World
Ian Adamson
Peers and Plebs
Madeline Bingham
My Bangor
Charles Milligan
Victorian Bangor
Grenfell Morton
Bangor – A Historical Gazetter
Marcus Patton
Reminiscences of Old Bangor
W C Seyers
Buildings of North County Down
C E B Brett
Most of these publications can be viewed
at Bangor Library and some may be
purchased locally.
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Bangor
To Ballyholme / Groomsport
© 2008 North Down Borough Council
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eld Park
For further information on Bangor
Contact Bangor Tourist Information Centre
T: 028 9127 0069
E: [email protected]
North Down Museum
T: 028 9127 1200
E: [email protected]
www.northdowntourism.com
Other walking trails in the area include the
North Down Christian Heritage Trail
and the North Down Coastal Path
© North Down Borough Council 2008