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Hinds Bros. of Bow Street
This week’s Virtual Museum post is another item drawn from our photographic collection. Taken in the early 1900s, it features several workers standing in the doorway of Hinds Bros. Grocers, 45 Bow...
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The old Lisburn court house
This week’s Virtual Museum post is another drawn from our photographic collection. It captures the demolition of the old Lisburn Court House on Railway Street. The court house was built in 1884 and...
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Remembering the Great Fire of Lisburn, 20th April 1707
This week’s Virtual Museum post features an important artefact from the town’s rich history. Located at the entrance of the Museum, it is a stone slab which is inscribed and dated 1708. The stone is...
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Lisburn’s Hugh McCall (1805-1897)
Journalist, historian and author, Hugh McCall was born on the 21st April 1805 in Chapel Hill, Lisburn. He was the eldest child of Robert McCall, a local muslin manufacturer. The family lived in...
View Article‘Lisburn and the assassination of Field Marshal Sir Henry Wilson MP’ with...
The second talk in our 2023 Winter Talks Series features Ronan McGreevy. This talk examines Field Marshal Sir Henry Wilson MP and Brigadier John Nicholson as Irish imperialists and martyrs for the...
View Article‘Who do we think we are?’: Issues of Identity and belonging.
This panel discussion, part of our 2023 Winter Talks Series, discusses lesser-explored identities in Northern Ireland. Panellists Lisa Rea Currie, Linda Ervine and Carmel Duggan are joined by the...
View ArticleThe Plight of the Big House with JAK Dean
The fifth talk in our 2023 Winter Talks Series features J.A.K. Dean on the plight of an endangered species, The Big Houses. Looking at ‘Big Houses’ in Northern Ireland since 1921, this talk focuses on...
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The Unveiling of Lisburn’s War Memorial, 28th April 1923
The 28th April 2023 marks the centenary of the unveiling of Lisburn’s War Memorial at Castle Gardens. This week’s Virtual Museum post is a photograph drawn from our collection which was taken during...
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The Coronation of George VI in Lisburn: a ‘Very Happy Day Spent’
With preparations for King Charles III’s Coronation celebrations underway, our Virtual Museum post this week looks at a previous Coronation celebration in the town. This photograph, taken on the day...
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Lisburn Girl Guides
This week’s Virtual Museum post is another photograph drawn from our extensive collection. Dated 1939, it features a group of Lisburn Girl Guides on a camping trip. The Girl Guides is a longstanding...
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Robert Stewart Mill Workers 1938
The Virtual Museum post for this week is a 1938 photograph of employees at the Robert Stewart & Sons thread mill. One of a number of linen-related photographs from our collection, this photo...
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‘Putting milk into babies’: The Welfare Foods Scheme
Our Virtual Museum post this week is a photograph from our collection, dated June 1951. Pictured at the Child Welfare Clinic in Seymour Street are Mr. A. N. Stevenson, Chair of the Lisburn Urban...
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A more elegant way to travel!
This week’s Virtual Museum post is a snapshot from our photographic collection. A family heading off on an outing at a time when travel was more environmentally friendly. This photograph was taken by...
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Classic cars on Bridge Street!
This week’s Virtual Museum post is a walk down Bridge Street, featuring some classic cars of the era. Can you spot the museum building at the top of the street? (Photo by D. McWilliam) The post...
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Limestone Lintel of Ramses III
Today’s Virtual Museum post features one of the standout artefacts from the British Museum’s touring exhibition ‘Egyptian hieroglyphs: unlock the mystery’. The Limestone Lintel of Pharaoh Ramses III,...
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Luxor Temple – Egypt
This photograph of Ramses II’s statue at the Luxor Temple was taken by Lisburn-born soldier, Major William Sinclair Corken MBE. Born in 1899 in the town’s Market Square, Corken was stationed in Cairo...
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Shabti Dolls
Do you know what a Shabti doll is? Would you like to know how three of them ended up in the Lisburn Museum? Shabti (or shawbti) dolls were small figurines which were included in ancient Egyptian...
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The Lisburn cotton famine and Moby-Dick
What connects a gold watch from our collection and the classic novel, Moby-Dick? During the devastating ‘cotton famine’ of 1861-5, when American Civil War disturbances blocked cotton shipments to...
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The Rosetta Stone
One of the most significant archaeological discoveries of modern times was made on July 15, 1799. What is known as the Rosetta Stone was uncovered in the town of Rashid (Rosetta) in the Nile Delta by...
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‘Ancient Egypt: Lisburn Stories’: Private Alec Martin at the Pyramids, 1915
Private Alec Martin (1895-1915) was born in Magheragall, near Lisburn. In 1913, seeking new opportunities he emigrated to New Zealand. When war broke out in August the following year Alec enlisted in...
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An adventuring Lisburn MP, Sir James Emerson Tennent
Author, traveller, and one-time MP for Lisburn, Sir James Emerson Tennent (1804–69) was a prominent early member of the Belfast Natural History & Philosophical Society. A generous contributor to...
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Remembering loved ones in ancient Egypt
Worshiping the dead was an important feature of ancient Egyptian society. While pyramids and elaborately decorated tombs were prominent memorials to kings and queens, countless other items were used...
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Linen from the tomb of Tutankhamun
Did you know that your local museum has a sample of Tutankhamun’s linen on display? Do you know how it got here?Like Lisburn in years gone by, Linen was everywhere in ancient Egypt. A highly prized...
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Drawing in ancient Egypt
Rectangular drawing and writing boards were important educational tools in ancient Egypt. Made from wood and covered with a thin layer of plaster, they were used by those wealthy enough to receive a...
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Ireland’s Egyptologist, Rev. Edward Hincks
Did you know that a County Down-based Church of Ireland clergyman had a significant role in our understanding of hieroglyphs? Rector of Killyleagh, the Rev. Edward Hincks (1792-1866) was one of the...
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Frederick Douglass and Lisburn
In late July 2023 a statue of the famous 19th-century social reformer and abolitionist, Frederick Douglass was unveiled in Lombard Street, Belfast. Born into slavery, Douglass escaped and told his...
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The Egyptian Book of the Dead
You may have heard of the ominous sounding Egyptian ‘Book of the Dead’, but do you know what it actually is? The ‘Book of the Dead’ is not actually a book or a fixed text. It is a modern term for a...
View ArticlePodcast: The assassination of Field Marshal Sir Henry Wilson MP, with Ronan...
Irish Times journalist Ronan McGreevy joined our Research Officer Dr Barry Sheppard to talk about his book, Great Hatred: The Assassination of Field Marshal Sir Henry Wilson MP. Ronan discusses the...
View ArticlePodcast: ‘Who do we think we are?’: Issues of Identity and belonging in...
In this episode we welcomed Linda Ervine, Lisa Rea Currie and Carmel Duggan to the Lisburn Museum to talk about their work in East Belfast communities. We discussed issues around language and identity...
View ArticlePodcast: The Regimental Museums of Northern Ireland with Dr Laura Patrick
Regimental Heritage officer, Dr Laura Patrick joined us to discuss her work in the Regimental Museums in Northern Ireland. Laura spoke about the growth in the museum sector and links with museums in...
View ArticlePodcast: The Big Houses of Northern Ireland, with J.A.K. Dean
This episode features architectural historian, J.A.K. Dean on the plight of an endangered species, The Big Houses of Northern Ireland. Dean’s work looks at ‘Big Houses’ in Northern Ireland since 1921...
View ArticlePodcast: William Sharman and the Volunteers in Lisburn and the Lagan Valley...
This episode features Professor Peter Gray of Queen’s University Belfast. Peter’s work examines the political culture of the Irish Volunteer movement in Lisburn and the Lagan Valley between 1778 and...
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The staff of Woolworths, Lisburn
Woolworths in Lisburn opened in 1928 on Bow Street, the town’s main thoroughfare. Expanding following a major refurbishment in 1966, the store was badly damaged in a bomb blast in 1976. Woolies, as...
View ArticlePodcast: A conversation with Dr Ken Griffin of the Egypt Centre, Swansea
In this conversation, we chat with Dr Ken Griffin of the Egypt Centre, Swansea. Ken shares his career history, his work as a curator on a large collection, and his thoughts on the hot topics in...
View ArticlePodcast: A conversation with Prof Eileen Murphy on the Belfast Mummy, Takabuti
In this conversation, we chat with Prof Eileen Murphy of Queen’s University Belfast. Eileen shares details of her work on Belfast’s famous Mummy, Takabuti! Who was Takabuti? What are Lisburn’s links to...
View ArticleEgypt: Land of the Gods, Pharaohs, and Wonderful Things‘ with Dr Ken Griffin,...
Ancient Egypt is one of the most fascinating and mysterious civilizations in history. Its rich culture has captured the imagination of people for centuries. This talk will explore the many wonders of...
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Launch of New Exhibition Marks 400 Years of Lisburn Cathedral
Councillor Thomas Beckett, Communities & Wellbeing Chairman at Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council Committee, Very Rev Dean Sam Wright, Lisburn Cathedral, and David Burn, LCCC Launch of New...
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A.T. Stewart (1803-76) and the development of the department store
A.T. Stewart, c. 1876 (ILC&LM Collection) The department store is something that we take for granted, whether it be part of our weekly shop or at special occasions like Christmas. Did you know...
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Rockin’ around the Christmas tree? Guess the year and street location …
Christmas is almost upon us, and we hope that your tree is looking a little more festive than this one from our photographic collection! Can you guess the year and street location? What are your...
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Ho, ho, ho! Santa Claus in Lisburn, 1957
Santa Claus has a long-standing association with Lisburn. He has visited for many decades to ask the children if they have been doing their best all year, to receive their letters, and to hear what...
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‘The Wombles’, Boxing Day, and the environment: toys by a Lisburn artist
Selection of stuffed toy Wombles, by Anna Cheyne, c. 1970s (ILC&LM Collection) Do you remember ‘The Wombles’? Wouldn’t these toys have been a delight to find under the tree on Christmas morning?...
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Christmas greetings from Egypt: a Lisburn story
Christmas card from Egypt, Royal Army Ordnance Corps, c. 1940s (ILCLM, W.S. Corken Papers, Folder 2, Box 1) Most Christmas cards you receive will likely have an image commonly associated with the...
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Hilden Mill in the Snow, by Neil Shawcross
Hilden Mill in the Snow, by Neil Shawcross MBE, RHA, RUA, c. 1985 (oil on canvas, ILC&LM Collection, copyright Neil Shawcross) The artist was inspired to paint this scene when witnessing the...
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Back to school: Largymore, c. 1906
Largymore New National School, Lisburn, c. 1906 (Margaret Hanthorne Collection, ILC&LM) It’s back to school for most pupils this week. Here is a postcard of the students of Largymore New National...
View Article‘Oh, you fierce little man!’: Jack Frost, 1905
The following poem was published in the Lisburn Standard newspaper in December 1905: Jack Frost Jack Frost, he is with us again; He comes every winter, you know; But we’re hardy and bold, And we don’t...
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Photo: The Grain Market at Smithfield
Smithfield has been a market-trading location in Lisburn as far back as the 1830s. East of the site was the Brown Linen Market, constructed by Lord Hertford in the 1750s, and on the west of the site,...
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‘Snow Snap’: guess the year and location
Smithfield Street looking towards Market Street, Lisburn, 1951 (ILC&LM Collection) The post ‘Snow Snap’: guess the year and location appeared first on Irish Linen Centre & Lisburn Museum.
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The Grain Market at Smithfield, part 2: meetings galore!
Ordnance Survey map, second edition (1846-62), showing in the top left the location of Lisburn’s Grain Market, which was also known as the ‘New Market’. Note its location in relation to the ‘New...
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Winter Talks Programme 2024
We are delighted to announce our Winter Talks Programme for 2024. Starting on 23 February and running until 13 March, we have a great line-up of researchers and speakers who will talk on a broad range...
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Photo: guess the year and location …
Royal Hillsborough, junction of Main Street and Ballynahinch Street, 1924. Postcard by Allen D. Coon (1867-1938), of Letterkenny, Co. Donegal, and Moira, Co. Down. The post Photo: guess the year and...
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