Ballygown town

This postcard of Ballygowan c. 1900 was kindly sent to me by Wendy O'Keefe.

Ballygowan was originally owned by the monastery on Mahee Island. The part proprietor in 1837 was Mr. Mussenden, of Larchfield whose agents were Rev. Cleland & Mr. Orr & Mr Ralf of Comber. In 1836 the land quality was described as middling. The farms were from 6-20 acres, with 2 being of 90 acres. The average rent was 25 shillings an acre. There were 79 males & 77 females.There was a flax mill & tuck mill and a mill for washing woollen clothes here in 1833 and a corn mill in 1859. Saintfield Catholic Parochial House and a railway station were in this town in 1863. The population in 1910 was 241 people.

Newspaper articles from Down Recorder;
article 26 Aug 1837; Illicit Distillation 23 Feb 1861;at O'Neills crossing, young man threw himself under train near Ballygowan station 13 Apr 1872; Amateur Dramatic Society presented 2 plays at Orange Hall 9 Apr 1928*; Ballygowan Agricultrual Society annual show 7 May 1928 *

Newspaper articles from Northern Independent;
a Tale of Comber & Ballygowan 14 Sep 1872+

Newspaper articles from Newtownards Chronicle;
experiments with dynamite 1 Apr 1876; steeple chasing 6 Jan 1883

Trinity Presbyterian Church, Ballygowan
on Church Hill

In 1837 the upper part of a barn was fitted up as a place of worship. It could hold 200 people. The foundation stone for the Trinitarian or Unitarian meeting-house was laid by Lord Dufferin on Monday, 14th Aug 1837 and the church competed in 1838 by Rev. J. Gamble, minister, in the present traditional style. Although the exterior is very plain, the interior is "beautifully furnished with the best timber that the Empire could provide, finely joinered and producing a sense of solidarity and well-being". Rev. T.S.Woods,was minister in 1893 & 1898.(MSch) & Rev. W.K. McLernon in 1910. The Manse was in Ravara House c. 1865- 1980.

Records from 1860, gravestone inscriptions available UHF Vol 5; oldest stone 1839; email me for a gravestone look-up
http://www.presbyterianireland.org/congregations/ballygowan.html

Ballygowan Flute Band 1880

Names listed;
Back Row: Thomas Mills; George Hinds; Thomas Curragh; Willie Reid; John Gourley; Alfred Kinghan; Henry Carse; James Murray; Robert Bennett; John Simpson
Middle Row; John Dempster; William John Bowman; William Carse; Robert Carse; Samuel Simpson; George McVeigh; David Boyce; Robert Mills
Front Row; John Heron; William McDowell; Willie Bennett; John McVeigh

This photo was kindly sent to me by Geoff Carse gcarse@burcom.com.au -researching Carse & Gourley, Magherascouse Co Down