Looking on Down from above

Looking on Down from above

7 January 2015

HERE’S a selection of aerial views of local towns and villages from the not so distant past. You mightn’t think much changes in County Down or elsewhere in Northern Ireland, but you would be wrong.

The fascinating views of Downpatrick, Castlewellan, Seaforde, Portaferry, Ballygowan, Comber and Newtownards show just how much the respective areas have changed over the past few decades.

The main image of Downpatrick town centre shows the former Belfast and Co. Down Railway station in Market Street which was one of the town’s most iconic buildings before it was bulldozed.

While the town centre road layout has not changed over the years, many buildings have been redeveloped with the passage of time.

The main image of Castlewellan shows just how much the town centre has developed over the years, in particular, the Station Road area which is now covered in private homes. When this image was taken there were just green fields. Castlewellan Lake is also just visible at the top right hand of the picture.

Seaforde has remained largely unchanged with the passage of time with the photo of the picturesque village providing a bird’s eye view of Seaforde Demesne.

The historic core of Portaferry is captured in the image of the village which nestles on the shores of Strangford Lough and, like Downpatrick, while much of its core remains unchanged, many buildings have been redeveloped since the photograph was taken.

Many people will be very familiar with the old Woolco shopping centre in Newtownards which was an extremely popular attraction, while the aerial shot of Comber town centre, will bring memories flooding back for many, illustrating as it does the town square and cenotaph.