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
David Trustram-Eve, 2nd Baron Silsoe David Trustram-Eve, 2nd Baron Silsoe David Malcolm Trustram Eve, 2nd Baron Silsoe QC, (2 May 1930 – 31 December 2005), who was known as David Silsoe, was a prominent British lawyer who succeeded to the title of Baron Silsoe in 1976 on the death of his father, Malcolm Eve, 1st Baron Silsoe. He assumed the familial title on succession; prior to that he was known by his family name, Trustram Eve. Educated at Elm Park Preparatory School, County Armagh, Winchester College and Christ Church, Oxford, he was called to the Bar in 1955. In 1963 he married Bridget Min Hart-Davis,