Newtownards Priory

Newtownards, United Kingdom

Newtownards Priory was a medieval Dominican priory founded by the Savage family around 1244. Only the lower parts of the nave and two blocked doors in the south wall leading to a demolished cloister, survive from the period of the priory's foundation. The upper parts of the nave date from a 14th-century rebuilding and the western extension and the north aisle arcade were undertaken by the de Burgh family.

The priory was dissolved in 1541, and was sacked and burned. It was granted to Hugh Montgomery and he built a house within the ruins, rebuilding the north aisle and adding a tower at the entrance.

References:

Wikipedia

Address

Court Square 11, Newtownards, United Kingdom

See all sites in Newtownards

Details

Founded: 1244
Category: Religious sites in United Kingdom

More Information

en.wikipedia.org

Rating

4.4/5 (based on Google user reviews)

Interesting Sites Nearby

Scrabo Tower (1,9 km)
Bangor Abbey Church (7,3 km)
Movilla Abbey (1,3 km)

Belfast City Hall (15,3 km)
St. Anne's Cathedral (15,3 km)
Albert Memorial Clock (15 km)
Grand Opera House (15,6 km)
Carrickfergus Castle (15,5 km)
Ulster Museum (15,7 km)
Belfast Castle (17,1 km)
Botanic Gardens of Belfast (15,4 km)
Parliament Building of Belfast (9,1 km)

User Reviews

Gaggy Mott (5 years ago)
Thankfully, the Dominican Friary at Court Square in Newtownards has been 'cleaned up' and restored over recent years: Ivy removed, sympathetic windows added, pathways cleaned etc. Sadly though, most days, it can only be viewed from the road....Doors are locked, except on Heritage Days and a few other dates in the year...sad really ?

Terence Tasker (6 years ago)
Went for remembrance service. Very nice.

Sarah Ferguson (6 years ago)
I live close to the Priory and always find something to examine

Darren Cardy (6 years ago)
Been lucky enough to get a look around the inside of this historic building.

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Finest Norman castles in Italy

Exploring the History of Northern Poland

Discovering Slovenia's Historic Wonders

Photo from Flickr, copyright Andy Hay

Historic Site of the week

Argos Theater

The ancient Argos Theater was built in 320 BC. and is located in Argos, Greece against Larissa Hill. Nearby from this site is Agora, Roman Odeon, and the Baths of Argos. The theater is one of the largest architectural developments in Greece and was renovated in ca 120 AD.

The Hellenistic theater at Argos is cut into the hillside of the Larisa, with 90 steps up a steep incline, forming a narrow rectilinear cavea. Among the largest theaters in Greece, it held about 20,000 spectators and is divided by two landings into three horizontal sections. Staircases further divide the cavea into four cunei, corresponding to the tribes of Argos A high wall was erected to prevent unauthorized access into the theatron and may have helped the acoustics, but it is said the sound quality is still very good today.

Around 120 CE, both theaters were renovated in the Roman style.