Gazetteer of
British Place Names

Newtownards is a market town, lying at the north end of Strangford Lough, on the Ards Peninsula in County Down. It is within the townlands of Corporation North, Corporation South, Bootown, Movilla, Ballyharry, Whitespots and Gregstown, in the civil parish of Newtownards. The town was established by Sir Hugh Montgomery in 1606, close to the site of two former monasteries. St Finian founded Movilla Abbey in AD 540. It was re-established as an Augustinian abbey in 1135 and dissolved in 1542. The ruined 15th century abbey church stands in Movilla Cemetery. The Savage family founded a Dominican Priory (now called Newtownards Priory) around 1244 (dissolved 1541). Hugh Montgomery built a house within the ruins, the tower of which remains. Sir Hugh laid the town out around two main streets, linked by a market square. The Market Cross dates from 1636. The Stewart family acquired the town in 1743. Robert Stewart commissioned the Market House (1771), designed by Ferdinando Stratford in a Grecian-Doric style. In the 19th century the town's economy became increasingly tied to that of Belfast, the railway connecting Newtownards to Belfast and to Donaghadee in the middle of the century. It saw significant suburban expansion from the mid 20th century, developing as a commuter town. St Mark's Church (C of I) was built in 1817 in Strawberry Hill Gothic Revival style. The town is within the council area of Ards and North Down.

Place Type: Town
Historic County: Down
Lat, Long: 54.593467,-5.696024
Grid Reference: J 4896 7413
Townland: Corporation North TD
Civil Parish: Newtownards CP
Council Area: Ards and North Down CA
Police Area: Northern Ireland PA
Devolved Legislature:  Northern Ireland Assembly

GBPN ID: 321929
Entry Type: Main listing (P)
URL: https://gazetteer.org.uk/place/Newtownards,_Down_321929

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