More about Newtownards

Newtownards is classified as a Large Town by the NI Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) (ie with population between 18,000 and 75,000 people). On Census day (29 April 2001) there were 27,821 people living in Newtownards. Of these: 22.2% were aged under 16 years and 15.9% were aged 60 and over 48.3% of the population were male and 51.7% were female 3.6% of people aged 16-74 were unemployed.

The town of Newtownards is overlooked by the 100-foot (30 m) high Scrabo Tower which sits atop a 534-foot (163 m) volcanic plug. The tower is 41 metres high, and was erected as a memorial to Charles Stewart, 3rd Marquess of Londonderry, in recognition of his concern for the plight of his tenants during the great potato famine. It is open to the public and houses a historical and local environment exhibition. The basalt topped sandstone hill at Scrabo is one of the dominant features of North Down. The Tower now stands tall in Scrabo Country Park park with its woodland walks and parkland through Killynether Wood.

The Somme Heritage Centre, which is situated a little north of the town, is The Somme Association's flagship project. Situated adjacent to the Clandeboye Estate outside Newtownards, the Centre is a unique visitor attraction of international significance showing the awful reality of the Great War and its effects on the community at home. The centre commemorates the involvement of the 36th (Ulster) and 16th (Irish) Divisions in the Battle of the Somme, the 10th (Irish) Division in Gallipoli, Salonika and Palestine and provides displays and information on the entire Irish contribution to the First World War. The centre promotes cross-community contact, mutual understanding, an appreciation of cultural diversity, and is a major visitor attraction. The centre is built on ground provided by Ards Borough Council in what is to be the Whitespots Country Park. It is linked to Helen's Tower on the Clandeboye Estate via the Ulster Way. Historically, the 36th (Ulster) Division trained over the Estate during the first few months of the war and German Prisoners of War were interned there. A replica of Helen's Tower was built on the Somme battlefield as Northern Ireland's national war memorial.

Also to the north of the town is the Ark Open Farm, specialising in rare and endangered species of cattle, sheep, pigs and poultry, many of which are no longer seen in Ireland today. Facilities at the farm include a petting zoo, pony rides and restaurant.

On the east shore of Strangford Lough, a few miles outside Newtownards and near Greyabbey, stands Mount Stewart, an 18th century house and garden — the home of the Londonderry family. The house and its contents reflect the history of the Londonderrys who played a leading role in British social and political life. The ninety-eight acre garden at Mount Stewart have been proposed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Largely created by Edith, Lady Londonderry, wife of the 7th Marquess, in the 1920s, it has an unrivalled collection of rare and unusual plants.

To the south of the town lies Newtownards Airport, home of the Ulster Flying Club — Northern Ireland's largest, non commercial training and flying organisations. This is where many future airline commercial pilots from Northern Ireland do their Private Pilot License training before going on to Oxford aviation to further the flying career as commercial airline pilots. The airport is used for an Air Display show every June. This is one of the largest in Northern Ireland,[citation needed] displays include the Red Arrows, TA and Royal Air Force.

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