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
Rupert Mitford, 6th Baron Redesdale lives with his wife and four children near Tufnell Park, north London as well as in Northumberland. The heir apparent to the title is Hon Bertram Mitford, born in 2000. Rupert Mitford, 6th Baron Redesdale Rupert Mitford, 6th Baron Redesdale (born 18 July 1967) is a British hereditary peer, Liberal Democrat politician and member of the prominent Mitford family. Mitford was educated at Milton Abbey and Highgate School, before going up to Newcastle University, where he graduated with the degree of B.A.. He succeeded his father as 6th Baron Redesdale, of Redesdale, Co. Northumberland, in 1991. Following the removal of