A popular resort village, Millisle grew quickly in the early 1900s around its long sandy beaches and at that time two Presbyterian churches, one of which still remains, right on the beach.
Ballycopeland Windmill is one of the area’s most famous buildings. At one point there were so many windmills on the Ards Peninsula that the area was known as‘little Holland’. The Windmill was in operation until the 1970s, and opens occasionally during the year.
Millisle’s most famous daughter was the missionary, children and women’srights campaigner and author Amy Carmichael. Her parents are buried at thesecluded Ballycopeland graveyard. Millisle Baptist Church has a blue plaque in her memory; it was originally the local primary school which Amy attended.
Just north of Millisle, Templepatrick townland was where the telegraph cable from Scotland came ashore. 1500 years ago it is said that St Patrick landed here, where a small church and well once attracted visitors to the tiny graveyard. Legend has it that St Patrick’s horse left hoof prints on a rock on the beach, which can still be seen at low tide.
Just south of Millisle, Woburn House was built by John Gilmore Dunbar in the early 1800s as his summer residence. His family originated in Hempriggs near Caithnessin Scotland. A descendant also founded nearby Christ Church, where the poet Louis MacNeice is buried.
