Virtual Museum

In the late nineteenth century cycling became a popular pastime across many parts of the world. Initially a quite expensive and dangerous hobby, it was people from middle and upper class backgrounds who were most likely to own a bicycle. However, by the time the 1890s rolled around, innovations such as ‘the safety bicycle’ and

Hillsborough Castle, the famous eighteenth century Georgian mansion, which is today the official residence in Northern Ireland of Queen Elizabeth II, was once the ancestral home of the Downshire Hill family. Used as the Irish residence of the Marquess of Downshire up until 1922, when it was given over to the Northern Ireland Government, the

Do you ever feel like you’re being watched by paintings? Don’t worry, you aren’t actually imagining things. The reason for this sensation is actually rooted in science. Due to the fact that perspectives, shadows and light are fixed in the painting, and therefore don’t change as you move around, your brain will try to interpret

Object: Postcard Featuring The Lake, Wallace Park c1900 With summer right around the corner, it’s time to take advantage of the glorious weather, get outdoors and explore our surroundings! Here’s a look back at one of Lisburn’s more tranquil beauty spots at the beginning of the last century. This section of Wallace Park remains largely

Arch welcoming King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, June 1937 As the people of Lisburn & Castlereagh mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, let’s take a look back at some of the pageantry surrounding the visit of her parents, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth in 1937. This photograph shows a welcoming arch on the Hillsborough

Can you guess the year? The Radio Valley float as part of the Lord Mayor’s Parade. Crowds can be seen on Castle Street, Lisburn, enjoying the colourful display. Fredrick Thomas’s shop can be seen in the background.  But can you guess the year?

Video: a Barbour Rolls Royce What a fantastic video!  Follow the link to view this ITV video of John D. Barbour discussing the return of the family’s Rolls Royce Phantom.  The video is uploaded by Northern Ireland Screen’s Digital Film Archive. CLICK TO VIEW

Proof Cloth, Clemow’s Hotel Queenstown, woven at John Shaw Brown’s Donated in 2021 this fantastic proof cloth was woven at John Shaw Brown’s damask factory Edenderry in 1927.  The cloth belongs to the Clemow’s Royal Hotel Queenstown, South Africa.  Have you been?  Did you work at John Shaw Brown’s?  If so, get in touch!

Photo: Main Street, Hillsborough, 1924 Do you recognise this view?  This 1924-postcard from the Alan Coon photography studio.  As the Dictionary of Ulster Biography notes: Alan Daniel Coon (1867-1938) was born in Buffalo, New York and was Attorney-at-Law in the United States. In 1902 he came to Ulster and opened a photographic studio in Derry