From the Collections: Flax Medal, Dunbar McMaster, 1903
Hugh Dunbar, W.A. Stewart and John Johnston began manufacturing at the new spinning mill on Mill Street, Gilford, in 1836. Within two years the firm employed over 200 workers. Later, a large five-storey complex was added to the works, and by the 1840s the firm began trading as Dunbar, McMaster & Co, producing linen thread. Gilford Mill later joined The Linen Thread Co., the world’s largest linen thread conglomerate, and which included Barbours at Hilden. The mill closed in the 1980s.
This medal was awarded during the 27th Annual Banbridge Show, August 4th 1903, and the competition was supported by Dunbar, McMaster & Co.. The medallists in the flax-growing competition were:
- James Murland, Annsborough
- John Kelly, Katesbridge
- James Mallon, Dromara
- Robert Taylor, Katesbridge
This medal was generously donated to the Irish Linen Centre & Lisburn Museum by the Taylor family in 2017.