Industrial And Transport

From Flood to Future: Preserving Downpatrick Railway’s historical heritage Bridges

This project will protect and restore a rare and historically significant surviving section of the former Belfast & County Down Railway, safeguarding four bridges recorded on the Historic Environment Record of Northern Ireland. Without urgent intervention, their accelerated deterioration following the extreme weather of 2023 risks irreversible loss. Restoration will maintain public access to the Loop Platform, Inch Abbey and the wider heritage landscape, ensuring continued operation of the Downpatrick & County Down Railway as a valued community, tourism and educational asset. Alongside capital repairs, the project will deliver a flood-awareness and infrastructure lifecycle initiative for local schools through curriculum-linked activities. Pupils will explore why Downpatrick floods, how bridges are engineered to withstand extreme weather, and how climate resilience is built into heritage conservation, an especially relevant issue for the town. Volunteers will also receive structured working-over-water awareness training. Together, these measures protect heritage, build resilience and reinforce long-term sustainability.