Gazetteer of
British Place Names

Bangor is a city, lying around Bangor Bay on the south shore of Belfast Lough in County Down. It is within the townlands of Corporation, Carnalea, Ballykillare, Ballyvarnet, Rathgill, Balloo, Ballyree, Ballymagee, Ballycroghan, Ballymaconnell, Ballyholme and Ballymacormick, in the civil parish of Bangor. Bangor Abbey, founded around 558 by St Comgall, grew to be an influential monastery which survived in various forms until the Dissolution. The modern town was founded during the Plantation by Sir James Hamilton. Hamilton had a new parish church built from the ruins of the abbey. James I granted Bangor the status of a port in 1620. The Old Custom House was built by Hamilton around 1637. In the late 18th century Colonel Robert Ward improved the harbour and promoted the cotton industries. The first Bangor Castle was built in the late 18th century, on the site of Hamilton's original residence overlooking Belfast Lough. Bangor Castle was rebuilt in 1852 for Robert Edward Ward and became the Town Hall in 1952. The railway arrived in 1865 and Bangor became a fashionable resort. The 20th century saw a huge expansion in Bangor with its economy becoming closely tied with that of Belfast. Bangor Marina, opened in 1989, has become a popular yachting location. Bangor was granted city status in 2022. The city is within the council area of Ards and North Down.

Place Type: City
Historic County: Down
Lat, Long: 54.660845,-5.668005
Grid Reference: J 5053 8169
Townland: Corporation TD
Civil Parish: Bangor CP
Council Area: Ards and North Down CA
Police Area: Northern Ireland PA
Devolved Legislature:  Northern Ireland Assembly

GBPN ID: 321829
Entry Type: Main listing (P)
URL: https://gazetteer.org.uk/place/Bangor,_Down_321829

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