BANBRIDGE

banbridge, a town of co. down, ireland, in the west parliamentary division, on the bann, 23 m. s.w. of belfast on a branch of the great northern railway, standing on an eminence. pop. of urban district (1901) 5006. to mitigate a steep ascent, a central carriage-way, 200 yds, long, is cut along the main street to a depth of 15 ft., the opposite terraces being connected by a bridge. banbridge is an entirely modern town. it is the principal seat of the linen trade in the county, and has extensive cloth and thread factories, bleachfields and chemical works. a memorial in church square commemorates the franklin expedition to the discovery of the north-west passage, and in particular captain francis crozier, who was born at banbridge in 1796 and served on the expedition.