A heritage trail exploring a Co Down town’s history of executions looks set to be developed.
The hanging of prisoners can be linked to the Gallows Hill area of Downpatrick during the 18th and 19th centuries.
However the area has more recently seen a rise in anti-social-behaviour and it is hoped to the new trail could help address the issue.
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The Down Museum, which was once the Downpatrick Gaol, held the prisoners who were due to be publicly hanged just half a mile away.
The gaol also held prisoners who fought for Irish independence in the rebellion of 1798, including Thomas Russell who was executed at the then new gallows outside the gaol walls on October 21, 1803.
The modern day residential area has become an “anti-social hotspot since its development by Newry, Mourne and Down District Council”.
Plans are now underway for a heritage trail detailing the crime and punishment history of Gallows Hill with co-operation of a local community group. Chairman of the Knocknashinna Residents Association, Dan McEvoy is in discussions with the council over the new tourism attraction.
He said: “As residents we would like the area to attract tourism and investment through what is an area of historical significance and interest for Downpatrick.
“Unfortunately, when the area was developed some time ago by the council in the late 1990s to early 2000s it then became an anti-social hotspot. It has not been maintained and it has been allowed to go by the way side.
“The location of Gallows Hill provides some of the most beautiful views across the town and we would hope that the heritage plans will help to bring further investment to the area.”
Downpatrick’s grim history of capital punishment has attracted film and TV stars such as Sean Bean who was in the town for the filming of ‘The Frankenstein Chronicles’. Gallows were re-created at the gaol for the filming of the movie and are still there.
The heritage plans for the locality will also allow for digital information to be viewed by tourists visiting Gallows Hill, with a potential mix of fact and film adaptation accessible through QR codes.
Council enterprise, regeneration and tourism committee member, Cllr Terry Andrews (SDLP) said: “This will be a great investment for the area of Downpatrick that will go some way in revitalising the area for the whole community.
“There is a great historical story of the area that will now be shared as a place of interest for tourism that will benefit the town. Locally the development is to be welcomed and hopefully we will see similar schemes throughout the district in the near future.”
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