Newtownards

Town in County Down, Northern Ireland, near the head of Strangford Lough; population (2001) 24,200. Synthetic fibre, linen yarn, carpets, and jeans are manufactured here. The town is a shopping centre for a rich farming district and there is food processing. Newtownards was planned in the 17th century, centred on a large square.

The ruins of a Dominican friary founded in 1244 by Walter de Burgh can be seen here, but most of the present town originated during the plantation period.

Scrabo Hill (165 m/540 ft), 2 km/1 mi from Newtownards, is a red sandstone and basalt hill. On its summit is Scrabo Tower, erected as a memorial to the Marquis of Londonderry in 1857.

Newtownards has a small airfield.