Comber, United Kingdom
Comber is a town of 9,190 people in Northern Ireland, United Kingdom.
Why visit Comber
Townapedia lists 4 museums and landmarks, 2 parks and trails, 6 places to eat and 2 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Tudor Cinema, Scrabo Tower and WWT Castle Espie Wetland Centre.
Weather in Comber
Forecast from MET Norway (CC BY 4.0). Full forecast
About Comber
Comber (from Irish An Comar, meaning 'the confluence' , CUM-ber, locally cummer) is a historic market town in County Down, Northern Ireland. It lies 5 miles (8 km) south of Newtownards, at the northern end of Strangford Lough. It is situated in the townland of Town Parks, the civil parish of Comber and the historic barony of Castlereagh Lower. Comber is part of the Ards and North Down Borough.
From the Wikipedia article Comber (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do2
Museums and landmarks4
Scrabo Tower
Monument and historic site · 2.4 mi
Tower in County Down, Northern Ireland
Parks, trails and playgrounds2
WWT Castle Espie Wetland Centre
Park · 2.3 mi
Nature reserve in United Kingdom
Restaurants and cafes6
The Potting Shed
Cafe · Coffee Shop · 1.5 mi
49 Ballyhenry Road, Comber
Th-Sa 10:00-16:30
History
The confluence of two rivers, which gave the town its name, is that of the Glen River and the Enler River which meet here.
During the influx of Scots in the early 1600s (see Plantation of Ulster), a settlement grew up at Comber, although it was focused about one mile (1.6 km) further south than at present, in the townland of Cattogs, and there is evidence that the settlement was a port used by traders and fishermen. By the 1700s, however, the focus of the town had moved to the area of the present main Square and Comber became established as an industrial centre with several mills.
The Andrews family made Comber a centre of both linen production and grain processing by the second half of the 1700s. Whiskey distilling was a prominent industry by the mid-1800s, the most prominent of the distillers being John Miller, uncle of William James (Lord) Pirrie and Eliza (wife of Thomas Andrews Snr.). One member of the Andrews family, Thomas Andrews, was the designer of the RMS Titanic and lost his life when the ship sank in 1912. By 1841 the town had 1,400 inhabitants. The 20th century saw Comber lose much of its industry but re-establish itself as a commuter town for the Belfast urban area, swelling in population from 4,000 in 1961 to 8,933 according to the 2001 census.
Read more of the history
In Comber's square stands the statue of Major General Rollo Gillespie. Gillespie was a local war hero from the 19th century, famous for his heroic exploits in India. It was constructed under the oversight of John Fraser, the first county surveyor of Down, and was unveiled on 24 June 1845 (St. John's Day). Fifty lodges of the Masonic Order were present, in what is believed to be the biggest Masonic gathering in Irish history. It was calculated that 25,000 to 30,000 people crowded into the town to witness the ceremony. The column is 55 feet high. At the foot of the column are many Masonic symbols and his famous last words "One shot more for the honour of Down". The Square also has a memorial to those who died on the Titanic, which has strong links to the town. The town has its own "Comber Titanic Audio Trail which guides you to special places of interest throughout Comber that relate to the Titanic story."
In 1978, the Provisional Irish Republican Army bombed La Mon restaurant, killing 12 people.
The Enler River in Comber has flooded many times. As a result, the Comber flood wall was built along the river through the town which has held the water back since.
From the History section of Comber on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
More about Comber
Arts and culture
The Comber District Loyal Orange Lodge is a name for the 18 Orange Lodges that make up the Comber District LOL No. 15. They are a significant part of the Orange Order and host parades including their annual Comber Twelfth of July.
The Kilmood Art Club is an organization that brings together local artists and other members of the community. The club holds regular meetings, workshops, and exhibitions.
A variety of marching bands originate in Comber, these include Pride of Comber Flute Band, Crimson Star Flute Band, Goldsprings True Defenders Flute Band, Comber Accordion Band and Comber Pipe Band.
Richard Parkes is a pipe major from Comber, who led the Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band for 44 years, and won 13 Pipe World Championships in competitive piping. He also placed first at the All Ireland 7 times, the Ulster Championships 9 times and the Piper of the Year 8 times. This has made Parkes the most successful pipe major in pipe band history.
Education
One of the three local primary schools is Comber Primary School. There are 15 teachers at the school. Notable alumni include Northern Ireland footballer Stephen Craigan.
The other local primary school is Andrews Memorial Primary School, operating under the headmaster, Ralph Magee, which is of a similar size and as part of the school buildings includes the Andrews Memorial Hall, which was built by the citizens of Comber in memory of Thomas Andrews, the shipbuilder of the RMS Titanic.
The third primary school is St. Mary's Primary School, which is much smaller in size.
Many pupils from these schools go to Nendrum College, Comber, next door to Comber Primary, and Regent House Grammar School, Newtownards.
From the Wikipedia article Comber, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Notable people from Comber
Jonny Kaneracing driverPhoto: David Merrett from Daventry, England, CC BY 2.0
Ottilie PattersonIrish singer (1932–2011)Photo: Joop van Bilsen for Anefo, CC0- Thomas AndrewsBritish businessman and shipbuilder (1873–1912)
- Tommy CaseyNorthern Irish footballer (1930-2009)
- William McFadden OrrIrish mathematician (1866–1934)
- Robert Rollo GillespieOfficer in the British Army (1766–1814)
- J. M. AndrewsPrime Minister of Northern Ireland from 1940 to 1943
- Albert Morrowillustrator (1863–1927)
- Edmund De WindCanadian and British soldier
- Thomas MacDonaldcricketer (1908-1998)
- James MacDonaldcricketer (1906-1969)
- Jack AndrewsBritish politician (1903-1986)
Born in Comber, according to Wikidata (CC0). Each name links to its Wikipedia article.
Churches and places of worship3
Shopping3
Gas and EV charging2
Schools, colleges and libraries5
Map of Comber
27 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Getting there and nearby towns
George Best Belfast City Airport (BHD) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 7 miles away.
- Newtownards 4 mi northeast, about 6 min by car
- Dundonald 4 mi northwest, about 6 min by car
- Holywood 7 mi northwest, about 11 min by car
- Saintfield 7 mi southwest, about 11 min by car
- Greyabbey 7 mi east, about 12 min by car
- Belfast 8 mi northwest, about 13 min by car
- Bangor 8 mi north, about 13 min by car
- Newtownabbey 10 mi northwest, about 16 min by car
- Donaghadee 10 mi northeast, about 17 min by car
- Lisburn 12 mi west, about 19 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Towns near Comber
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Keep exploring
Local news
Headlines from INDB.
Reviews, tips and questions
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Sources and licences
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, coordinates, regions and time zone
- Mapillary (see each image): photos
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Ardarawood, Comber, July 2011 (02), Ardfern, CC BY-SA 3.0
- StMarysComberViewFromChancel, Pulsar.co.nr, CC BY-SA 3.0
- 2nd Comber Presbyterian Church - Comber, Co Down. - panoramio, Pastor Sam, CC BY 3.0
- Scrabo - Scrabo Tower (Londonderry Monument) - 20240820110149, Elkay62, CC BY-SA 4.0
- The ornamental duck pool at Castle Espie 2013-10-31 22-14, User:SeamusSweeney, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Street-level photo, rachsustrans, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, firefishy, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, username23, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, username23, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, firefishy, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, rachsustrans, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, username23, CC BY-SA 4.0
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