Mr Michael Thomas, during a recent visit to the museum, gifted a portrait of his relative to the collection. Councillor Tim Mitchell, Communities and Wellbeing Chairman, kindly accepted this portrait of James Corry (1772-1848).
As Secretary of the Irish Linen Board, Corry visited Lisburn in 1816 and toured William Coulson & Sons damask manufactory on Linen Hall Street. The Linen Board was established in 1711 to regulate and promote all aspects of linen manufacture in Ireland. Members of the Board of Trustees were drawn from all parts of Ireland and met at the Linen Hall in Dublin. Premiums were awarded to encourage good spinning, weaving, bleaching and finishing. The board was wound up in 1828, under Corry’s guidance.
The portrait is a wonderful addition to the collection, and is photographed here alongside a bust of Corry, acquired by the museum in the 1990s.
