Downhill, County Londonderry facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Downhill, County Londonderry
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village and townland
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 Downhill, County Londonderry
Location in the United Kingdom
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Downhill is a small village and townland located in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It's close to the town of Castlerock and is part of the Causeway Coast and Glens area. A famous writer, C.S. Lewis, who wrote "The Chronicles of Narnia," visited Downhill with his brother Warren when they were children. They came here in July 1901 during a holiday in Castlerock.
Downhill is also known for its beautiful coastline. The sandy stretch of beach here is called Downhill Strand. It runs between Benone Strand and the tall cliffs below Mussenden Temple. A small river, called Downhill Burn, starts in the hills above the village. It flows through Downhill, goes under the main road and the railway tracks, and then crosses Downhill Strand before emptying into the Atlantic Ocean. Sometimes, the entire Benone Strand area is also called Downhill Strand.
What is the History of Downhill?
The area where Downhill is located today was once known by a different name: Dunbo. This name comes from the Irish language words Dún Bó, which means "fort of the cows." This suggests that long ago, there might have been a fort or a safe place for cows in this area.
A very important person in Downhill's history was Bishop Hervey. He became the 4th Earl of Bristol in December 1779. People often called him 'the Earl Bishop' because he held both a church title (Bishop) and a noble title (Earl). He was known for building grand structures in the area, including the famous Mussenden Temple and Downhill House.
How Can You Travel to Downhill?
Downhill once had its own railway station. This station first opened on 18 July 1853, making it easier for people to travel to and from the village. However, passenger train services stopped on 3 September 1973. The station then closed completely on 18 October 1976. Today, you would travel to Downhill by road.
