The Newtownards
Road
By Bill McNaughten
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I loved that Road in days of yore
How good to walk past shops galore,
So come with me for a little stroll
And the years will backward start to roll.
Remember the chippies, Rolston's and the "Don"
Think of Desano's and Fusco's now gone,
The new One and Pop where you could see pictures
And plenty of sweet shops to buy dolly mixtures.
Willie Wilson's and Paramount at the corner of
streets
Elsie Williams and Drysdale's also sold sweets,
Shepherds Dairy and Maypole were popular shops
Likewise were Maitland's and Job's and Dunlop's.
McQuitty's the chemist and a place called Mahood's
Where you could buy all your cycling goods,
Stewarty Johnston's and Moreland's are sadly no longer
Nor is the pawn shop at Pitt Street Corner.
Marsden's and Trimble's they sold meat
At Gemnell's of course you could buy pigs feet,
Wright's was a Grocer and Pat Jordan could make
Great soda farls and the best apple cake.
Pubs too were many, just stop and think
Plenty of places that sold strong drink,
Hastings, McMahons and the Vulcan Bar
People went there to sample a jar.
Churches of course in those days of yore
Still with us now and much to the fore,
St Patrick's, St Martins and the Megain
The Methodist's and Westbourne still remain.
Remember the barracks near Witham Street
A policeman based there was named "Corney Feet",
The barracks was facing the old snooker hall
And received from its owners many a call.
In Scotch Row the playground where we went to
play
In Pitt Street the mission where we went to pray,
In Templemore Avenue that terrible school
Without it no doubt I'd have grown up a fool.
I was born and brought up in old Cable Street
I was chased many times by the Cop on the beat,
But I loved that place and had many a friend
What a pity those days have come to an end
The Road is so different, many shops are no more
What a change taking place from the great days of yore,
The Ropeworks have gone as well as the Mill
They are trying their best, that great road to kill.
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