Newbuildings

Coordinates: 54°57′29″N 7°21′18″W / 54.958°N 7.355°W / 54.958; -7.355

Newbuildings or New Buildings is a large village in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It lies about 1 km (0.6 mi) from the banks of the River Foyle and 5 km (3 mi) south of the city of Derry. It had a population of 3,381 in the 2011 Census.

History

The village was founded in the early 17th century as part of the Plantation of Ulster, on land allocated to the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths of London. It remained a small settlement until the 1960s, until large amounts of social housing was built on adjoining townland. Today, the village has four churches (Methodist, Independent Methodist, Church of Ireland and Roman Catholic). It also has two primary schools – one administered by the Western Education and Library Board, one by the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools. Newbuildings also has a post office, community association, retail units and a wide range of housing.

Geography

Newbuildings sits on an area of flat land between Clondermot Hill to the east and the River Foyle to the west.