Ballygowan period, and subsequent to the introduction of the Belfast & County Down Railway in 1850, that the village began to grow. Ballygowan railway station opened on 10 September 1858, but finally closed on 16 January 1950. After the railway closed in 1950 the village became an attractive "dormitory" town and the ensuing 50 years have seen rapid growth. On Monday, 15 September 2014, the remains of The Baron Bannside (better known as The Rev. Ian Paisley) were buried in the graveyard attached to Ballygowan Free Presbyterian Church. Lord Bannside was a former First Minister of Northern Ireland and a former
Anthony Gifford, 6th Baron Gifford Anthony Gifford, 6th Baron Gifford Anthony Maurice Gifford, 6th Baron Gifford, QC (born 1 May 1940) is a British hereditary peer and senior barrister. He inherited the title of 6th Lord Gifford on the death of his father, the 5th Lord Gifford, in April 1961. Lord Gifford was educated at Winchester College and King's College, Cambridge, was called to the Bar in 1962 and took silk in 1983. He was a co-founder of the North Kensington Neighbourhood Law Centre, Britain’s first law centre. He founded Wellington Street Chambers and was its head for 15 years. He joined 8 King’s Bench