Local landmarks feature in new book of South Down architecture

Local landmarks feature in new book of South Down architecture

24 April 2019

A STUNNING new publication featuring a number of local landmarks is set to be unveiled next month.

The Ulster Architectural Heritage — which has an unrivalled reputation for publishing high quality illustrated books celebrating and promoting the Province’s historic built environment — will be unveiling its latest publication entitled “Buildings of South County Down” at Ballydugan Mill.

The May 1 event presents an opportunity to see the stunning new publication compiled by historian Philip Smith and illustrated with photographs by Alan Turkington. 

Described as “handsomely designed and richly informative”, the new book will be launched by Dr Edward McParland who will be joined by an audience of invited guests in the majestic surroundings of the impressively restored late-18th century mill outside Downpatrick.

While ‘landmark’ and ‘seminal’ can be overused terms, it is no overstatement to say that the Ulster Architectural Heritage’s ‘Buildings of…’ series justified both publishing deors. 

The late Sir Charles Brett authored the now famous trio of Buildings of North County Down (2002), Buildings of County Armagh (1999) and Buildings of County Antrim (1996) with the Times Literary Supplement describing them to be “of immense use in the broadest educational sense”.

The Irish Times described the publications as ‘indispensable as reference works … [with a] superb combination of words and pictures … a joy to handle and use’.  

The new publication — priced £28 and which features 230 pages and 280 illustrations —  is set for launch in a few weeks’ time, takes up where Sir Charles Brett left off, completing the architectural journey around the southern part of County Down.

Like Brett in the predecessor volumes, author Philip Smith does not set out to provide an inventory of buildings but, rather, represents a selection of some of the more important or interesting buildings in the area.

The geography covers those parts of the county belonging to Newry, Mourne and Down Council and to the pre-2015 Banbridge Council, now part of Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council.

The format follows that established in the earlier volumes, both in terms of presentation and building types included. 

Sections cover antiquities, churches and chapels, grand houses, middling-sized and small houses and cottages, public and commercial buildings, and follies and monuments. 

The buildings are described in detail with information on their history, the people involved and lively anecdotal snippets. 

Primary and secondary sources of information are provided in footnotes and each entry is illustrated by at least one excellent colour photograph specially taken for the book by recently retired architect Alan Turkington.

For the author, this new book has been the result of extensive research and writing. 

“As a child, I was always interested in history in a visual sense, imagining how things would have looked in the past,” Philip explains.

“I used to wander home from school, taking in the buildings I passed along the way and wondering when they were built, why they were designed as they were and who was responsible for their construction?”

He added: “I have been fortunate to translate this interest into my working life, having been involved in surveying and writing about historic buildings in Ireland, both north and south, for much of the past 20 years. My enthusiasm for the subject remains undimmed. 

“I hope some of this emerges from Buildings of South County Down and, if it does and prompts others to take an interest in what they see in the landscape around them, then this book will have served its purpose.”

Copies of the book can be pre-ordered via https://www.ulsterarchitecturalheritage.org.uk/shop/buildings-of-south-county-down-preorder-now/