North Down Museum

About the museum

North Down Museum is housed at the rear of Bangor Castle, which also serves as Bangor’s City Hall. The castle was built in 1852 for the Hon. Robert Edward Ward, brother of the third Viscount Bangor and High Sheriff of Down, and is an example of Elizabethan-Jacobean Revival architecture. The museum occupies the former laundry, courtyard and stable area of the house.

The galleries present the history of the North Down area through a series of rooms, each covering a different period from the Bronze Age to recent times. Among the best-known objects are the Ballycroghan Swords from the Bronze Age, the Bangor Bell from the early Christian monastic settlement at Bangor Abbey, and the Raven Maps, the only complete folio of maps of the Plantation era in Ireland.

The museum belongs to the arts, culture and heritage service of the local council and runs talks, family events and workshops alongside its permanent displays. Entry to all of its facilities is free.

Highlights

• Bronze Age Ballycroghan Swords
• The Bangor Bell from the monastic settlement at Bangor Abbey
• Raven Maps, the only complete folio of Plantation-era maps in Ireland
• Galleries on local history from the Bronze Age to the present day
• Coffee Cure café and gift shop on the ground floor

Permanent exhibitions

• North Down through the ages – A series of rooms presenting the history of the North Down area from the Bronze Age to recent times.
• Raven Maps – The only complete folio of Plantation-era maps in Ireland.
• Bangor Bell and Ballycroghan Swords – Key objects from Bangor Abbey and from Bronze Age North Down.

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Entry to all of the museum’s facilities is free. Some talks and workshops are ticketed.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

A lift links the ground and first floors, and public areas on both floors are wheelchair accessible. The ground floor has an accessible toilet that uses a Radar key lock. There are three Blue Badge parking spaces about 150 yards from the main entrance. Guide, hearing and assistance dogs are welcome; other dogs are not allowed in the museum or courtyard. Visitors with special requirements are asked to contact the museum in advance.

Kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Baby changing facilities

Baby changing facilities are available in all of the museum’s toilets. The museum asks visitors to supervise children at all times and publishes a free email list for family events and activities.

Getting there & parking

The museum is at the rear of Bangor Castle (City Hall), Castle Park, Bangor.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Restaurant: not available
• Museum shop

Coffee Cure café and a gift shop are on the ground floor.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit