Editing Downpatrick (section)

===18th century===
Four main thoroughfares are shown converging on a town plan of 1724, namely English Street, Scotch (now Saul) Street, Barrack (now Scotch) Street, and Irish Street. The landscape limited the growth of the town. The early-18th-century street plan continued largely unchanged until 1838 when Church Street was built, followed by Market Street in 1846.

The condition of the town was greatly improved in the 18th century by a land-owning family named Southwell. The first Edward Southwell was responsible for building a [[slaughterhouse#History|shambles]] in 1719 and paving of the streets, which started in 1727. In 1717 he built a quay and grain store at Quoile Quay, contributing to the economic growth of the town. The second Edward Southwell was responsible for building Southwell School in 1733.

Down County Infirmary was established in a house in Saul Street in October 1767, where it operated for seven years. It was moved to Barrack Lane (now Fountain Street) where the former Horse Barracks was bought in 1774 for £150 by [[Bernard Ward, 1st Viscount Bangor]] for use as the [[wikt:infirmary|Infirmary]]. It was used until the new Infirmary (later known as the [[Downe Hospital]]) was opened in 1834.

In June 1778, [[John Wesley]], the founder of [[Methodism]], preached in the new preaching house in Downpatrick and in The Grove beside the ruins of Down Cathedral, which he called a "noble ruin".

[[File:Countynstables! (8241200776).jpg|thumb|Downpatrick in the late 19th century]]