Issue 242 - East Down BT24 • BT30 • BT31 • BT33
Lottery Heritage Awards Community Heritage Park
Saintfield Community Association has welcomed the news that their application to The National Lottery Heritage Fund for a grant to provide a community heritage park at the Windmill Field has been successful.
Content creator Steph Duke and family with Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Deputy Chairperson, Councillor Gareth Sharvin
Where You Shop Makes a Difference
Over the past number of weeks residents in Newry and Downpatrick may be aware of a fresh new advertising campaign featuring local faces on outdoor advertising and digital sites. Newry, Mourne and Down District Council’s Make It Local spring campaign carries the strapline ‘Where You Shop Makes a Difference’ and was designed specifically to encourage residents to support their high streets. By introducing some of the friendly faces behind Newry and Downpatrick’s
independent businesses, the campaign focuses on the message that small business owners are a vital part of our communities - they are our neighbours and our friends. The campaign highlights the local offering in Newry and Downpatrick. From fantastic gift shops, boutiques, family-run
cafes and restaurants to independent retailers, town centres enrich communities and add value to people’s lives. Now is the time to show your local area some love. The campaign has been funded by the Department for Communities (DfC), which has also supported an incredible free
programme of events in Newry and Downpatrick over the last three months including temporary, interactive sound and light exhibitions, enhanced St Patrick’s Day celebrations and a free classical Easter concert.
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The three acre site behind Saintfield Community Centre is home to an early 19th century windmill tower, flour mill and millers cottage that are of heritage importance in the area, and the park design includes work to stabilise these key buildings and make them safe to enter. The park is now expected to become a reality before the end of 2025. The final design for the park takes into account feedback from public consultations over the past few years and so provides access for all abilities from the community centre car park to the higher ground in the park, including two interpretation panels and viewing points for the windmill and railway track bed.
The site for the park contains the only surviving buildings of an industrial complex from the 18th and 19th centuries. The windmill was built in 1803 and operated until 1839, when the sails were blown off in The Big Wind and never repaired. It is a testament to the high-quality work of the stone masons that the tower is in such good condition today. A team of volunteers has been working for 10 years to provide the shared outdoor space for the residents of the Saintfield area. Saintfield Community Association is looking for new volunteers who would like to be a part of this exciting project. See the website www. discoversaintfield.com for more information.