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 near Castlerock in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It is situated within Causeway Coast and Glens district. It was visited by the Lewis brothers (Warren and C.S. Lewis) in their childhood, when, in July 1901, their nurse took them for a visit while on a holiday in Castlerock.
Downhill Strand runs along the coast between Benone Strand and the cliffs immediately beneath Mussenden Temple. Downhill Burn flows from the hills above Downhill, flowing through the village of Downhill and crossing under the main road and under the railway, flowing on across Downhill Strand and emptying directly into the Atlantic Ocean. Sometimes, all of Benone Strand is referred to as Downhill Strand.
History
The area Downhill resides was formerly called Dunbo, derived from the Irish dún Bó, meaning "fort of the cows".
Started in 1776, Downhill was the romantic vision of Frederick Hervey, 4th Earl of Bristol and Bishop of Derry. The Earl Bishop created an elegant country house, called Downhill House, which now lies in ruins, and on the nearby clifftop he built the circular Mussenden Temple as his library, modelled on the Temple of Vesta. It is now a National Trust property.
Transport
- Downhill railway station was opened on 18 July 1853, closed for passenger services on 3 September 1973, and finally closed altogether on 18 October 1976.
