Water tower at Downshire Hospital, Ardglass Road, Downpatrick, Co Down, BT30 6RA

This is a cylindrical water tower, likely constructed around 1920, originally serving the Down Mental Hospital, now known as Downshire Hospital. The tower was built to provide water for the hospital complex, which is situated to the northeast of Ardglass Road on the southeastern outskirts of Downpatrick. The structure is approximately 11.5 metres high with a diameter of 4.5 metres, and features a water tank measuring roughly 4 by 5 metres at the top. Situated to the rear (east) of the main hospital block, it is now largely surrounded by trees. The base of the tower incorporates a series of tall, semicircular arched niches, one of which is an open doorway. A further arched opening, now filled with a metal grill, is located halfway up the tower, and a 'machicolation' frieze is positioned just below the water tank at the top. The tower stands on a raised, grass-covered area, beneath which lies a reservoir. According to Dr Fred Hamond, the tower likely dates from around 1920 and is of industrial archaeological interest due to its rarity and innovative structural system.