DOWN RESOURCES

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Libraries, Museums & History Groups

The Local Studies Collection, located in the South Eastern Education and Library Board Headquarters, Windmill Hill, Ballynahinch, Co. Down contains books, maps, newspapers and illustrations on the history, topography, industry, transport, literature and culture of County Down and South Antrim.

Down County Museum

‘The Blair Mayne Research Group’. was formed in 1995 by some local amateur military historians in the Newtownards area to research the life of Lieutenant Robert Blair Mayne, DSO (Three bars). When the Group had completed their research of the life of Lieutenant Blair Maybe (better known as Colonel Paddy), and a statue had been erected in his honour in Newtownards, it was re-named ’The Blair Mayne Research Society’, with the aim of continuing research into the lives of all Servicemen and Servicewomen from the "Ards" area who served the crown from the 1600s up to the Korean War.
The members of the Society have received many enquiries and have succeeded in finding a great deal of information. If you would like help please feel free to contact the Society.

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Schools, Workhouses, Institutions, Occupations

19th century Co. Down schools
More information of Co. Down schools

PRONI have many school registers and materials relating to education
www.proni.gov.uk/index/family_history/family_history_key_sources.htmin their collection.  (see bottom of page)
www.proni.gov.uk/introduction__education_archive-2.pdf

A free school was founded at Annahilt in 1796 by Thos. Jamieson
Assumption Grammar School in Ballynahinch opened 1933
Banbridge Academy was founded as a private school in 1786
Two schools in Carrowdore  were founded prior to 1837.
Donaghadee parochial school was founded by Lady Mount-Alexander pre 1837
Guiness Primary School, Dunmore, near Ballynahinch, was founded 1848. It was a small rural school, staffed for the greater part of its existence by two teachers. Guiness closed its doors to pupils for the final time this year (2008?). 
Southwell Charity Schools and Almshouses were built by Edward Southwell in 1733 to provide almhouses for six men and six women with schools for ten poor children.

The IGP Co. Down site has a section relating to Education in the county which contains a number of photographs with the  names of pupils.

WORKHOUSES: Banbridge, Downpatrick, Kilkeel, Newry, Newtownards note: direct links added 12/11

Subscribers’ names to the Newry Dispensary and Fever Hospital for 1827

Pubs in Newry

Co. Down coastguards  broken link 29/11/10
Those who go down to the sea in ships: seafaring connections and Ulster gravestones

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Books, Newspapers, Magazines

Lots of online books & journal information containing a wealth of individual names, histories, personal memories by individuals, pictures
http://www.lisburn.com/lisburn_books.html

Content Examples:
Reprint of book "Betsy Gray or Harts of Down a tale of ninety eight " by W.G. Lyttle, 1896

Lisborn Historical Society Journals v6, pt.3
List of Voters (Names, Addresses) at the Lisburn election held February 21, 1863 (even lists for whom they voted for) Intresting note added about John Brady and Thomas Corry re the voting process. With the success of Mr. Barbour you wonder if there were other attempts much more successful.

Dromore Historical Society - Vol.1 - Some Are Gone But Not Forgotten
Places which have either disappeared or their names are fading from common usage- i.e.
PURGATORY : A pleasant walk-way running between Lurgan Rd and Lower Quilly Rd, passing through Mill buildings
McQUAIDE'S ROW : The row of old houses on Hillside which is now redeveloped

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Misc. & General Sources

Ards Borough Council
Banbridge District Council
Castlereagh Borough Council
Newry and Mourne District Council
North Down Borough Council

ALEC BÁN MAC CONAILL's Co. Down Genealogy site contains details of Saul R C Parish Records, Strangford Estate Book 1874, Tenants of de Ros 1862 - 1874, Map of Strangford circa 1870 and more. See also this post.

Many Co. Down items on Peter J. Mearney's site - well worth a look.

This link includes twelve ships from Newry http://freespace.virgin.net/alan.tupman/sites/irish.htm

More ships sailing from Newry

1847 Famine Map

Chronology of the famine in Co. Down from "The Down Recorder"- 2000 people left Co. Down for the USA on 14th April 1849