Long-eared owl (Asio otus)
Long-eared owl (Asio otus)LMILC.1992.9, purchased There are many myths about owls, but what we do know about these birds is […]
Long-eared owl (Asio otus) Read More »
Long-eared owl (Asio otus)LMILC.1992.9, purchased There are many myths about owls, but what we do know about these birds is […]
Long-eared owl (Asio otus) Read More »
Mr Michael Thomas, during a recent visit to the museum, gifted a portrait of his relative to the collection. Councillor
Important donation of a portrait of James Corry (1772-1848) to the museum Read More »
Castle Street, Lisburn, c.1993 (ILC&LM Collection). Note Montgomery’s shops on the left. Montgomery’s of Castle Street – chippy, sweet shop,
Montgomery’s: a Lisburn ‘institution’ Read More »
Castle Street, Lisburn, 1980s (ILC&LM Collection)
Photo: Castle Street, 1980s Read More »
Field Marshal Montgomery (‘Monty’) at Thiepval Barracks, Lisburn, 13 September 1945 (ILC&LM Collection) On 13 September 1945, Field Marshal Montgomery,
Photo: ‘Monty’ in Lisburn, 1945 Read More »
As part of EHOD 2025, the museum is opening its doors for two unique tours on Saturday 13 September. Booking
Behind the scenes: European Heritage Open Days (EHOD) Read More »
Mary and Tom Kennedy with ‘Shandy’, Dublin, 1944 (LMILC.2024.390.12, given by Gail Sproule) Mary and Tom Kennedy were from Lisburn
Photo: The Kennedys and ‘Shandy’ the dog, 1944 Read More »
Railway Street, Lisburn, 1993 (ILC&LM Collection, given by John Press)
Photo: Railway Street, Lisburn, 1993 Read More »
In conjunction with the LGBTQIA+ Heritage Project, this summer we’re hosting four fantastic events to mark Pride Season. Discover the
Free Workshops: LGBTQIA+ History this August Read More »
Label, Stewart’s golf thread, c.1925 (LMILC.2025.317, gift) Back when golfers used clubs with a wooden shaft, waxed linen thread was
Label: Stewart’s golf thread, Lisburn, c.1925 Read More »
Embroidered Irish linen frock, 1940s (LMILC.2005.110, given by Nonagh Boyd) This dress was purchased with coupons in London after the
Dress: Embroidered Irish linen frock, 1940s Read More »
Postcard, Tennis in Wallace Park, Lisburn, 1905 (LMILC.2023.115, given by Margaret Hanthorne) Lisburn’s Wallace Park was the setting for many
Postcard: Tennis in Wallace Park, Lisburn, 1905 Read More »
Penny-farthing bicycle, c.1885 (LMILC.1987.9, purchased) The penny-farthing was an early type of bicycle that was popular in the late nineteenth
Object: Penny-farthing bicycle, c.1885 Read More »
Illustration, ‘Potato disease in Ireland: timely measures to check it’, from the Penny Illustrated Paper, 15 November 1890 (LMILC.1996.21, purchased) The
Illustration: Preventing potato disease in Ireland, 1890 Read More »
Reconstruction of Moira Demesne, c.1725. Pen and watercolour by Phillip Armstrong. (LMILC.2015.475, purchased) The Rawdon family had an interest in
Reconstruction of Moira Demesne, c.1725 Read More »
Beehive skep (LMILC.1992.26, given by Hugh Bass) A ‘skep’ is a traditional, straw-woven basket that is placed open-end-down and used
Object: Beehive skep Read More »
Folk dancing at Ballinderry, 1933 (ILC&LM Collection) The Lambeg Irish Folk Dancing Society was formed in the early twentieth century
Photo: The Lambeg Dancers, Ballinderry, 1933 Read More »
Point paper, Royal St. George’s Golf Club, Sandwich, by Coulsons of Lisburn, c.1930 (LMILC.2002.338.66, given by Lisburn Historical Society)
Point Paper: Royal St. George’s Golf Club, Sandwich, c.1930 Read More »
‘Boy with rabbit’, watercolour by Samuel McCloy (1831-1904) (LMILC.1997.99.56, given by Barbara Lamb)
‘Boy with rabbit’, by Samuel McCloy (1831-1904) Read More »
VE Day celebrations in London, 8 May 1945 (©IWM) We are delighted to announce a programme of three talks in
VE Day 80 – Talks Programme Read More »
Young Street, Lisburn, c.1910 (ILC&LM Collection)
Photo: Young Street, Lisburn Read More »
American soldiers, possibly in Lisburn, c. 1943 (LMILC.2024.204.08, gifted by Margaret Tanuvasa) We believe this photo of local women with
Photo: American soldiers in Lisburn Read More »
Postcard, ‘Greetings on St. Patrick’s Day’ (LMILC.1990.135) This postcard features a spinner. Did you know that we have live spinning
Postcard: ‘Greetings on St. Patrick’s Day’ Read More »
WVS uniform, c.1941 (LMILC.1989.81, gifted) Our exhibition marking the 80th anniversary of D-Day in 2024 included a Women’s Voluntary
Maureen Louisa McKinney, née Crothers (1919-2003) Read More »
John Gough, Practical arithmetick in four books (revised ed., Belfast, 1793) ILC&LM Collection The English-born Quaker, John Gough (1721-91), was
Book: ‘Practical arithmetick’, by John Gough Read More »
Postcard, ‘Greetings from the heart of Lisburn’, 1910 (LMILC.2003.95, gifted) The woman who sent this postcard to her ‘valentine’ in
Postcard: ‘Heart of Lisburn’, 1910 Read More »
Willow pattern point paper, by Tommy Donnelly, 1996 (LMILC.2004.389) A point paper is a design made on graph paper, and
Point Paper: Willow pattern, 1996 Read More »
We are delighted to announce our Talks Programme for 2025. Starting on 25 February and running until 11 March, we
Talks Programme 2025 Read More »
Holocaust Memorial Day is held on 27 January. First marked in the UK in 2001, it allows people to remember
Holocaust Memorial Day: Objects from the museum’s collection Read More »
ARP cigarette cards, W.D. & H.O. Wills, 1938 (LMILC.1994.122, gifted by Lila Reid) Cigarette cards were a type of trading
Object: ARP cigarette cards, 1938 Read More »
Lisburn ARP Rescue Squad, Wallace Avenue, c.1944 (ILC&LM Collection) The ARP had several squads that carried out their own specific
Photo: Lisburn ARP Rescue Squad Read More »
ARP warden’s helmet, c. 1940 (LMILC.1990.202, gifted) The ARP (Air Raid Precautions) was established before the outbreak of the Second
Object: ARP helmet Read More »
Embroidered alphabet and numbers sampler, 1810 (LMILC.2009.96, gifted by Carl and Patricia McHargue) This sampler was found by the donors
Embroidered alphabet and numbers sampler, 1810 Read More »
Santa Claus has a long-standing association with Lisburn. He has visited for many decades to ask the children if they
Ho, ho, ho! Santa Claus in Lisburn, 1957 Read More »
Bachelors Walk, Lisburn, 1980s (ILC&LM Collection) This was outside a shop called Motor and Sport, which offered a savings and
Photo: ‘The Xmas Club’, Bachelors Walk, 1980s Read More »
Postcard, ‘Christmas Greeting’, Station Square and Court House, Lisburn, 1908 (LMILC.2023.345, gifted by Margaret Hanthorne)
Postcard: ‘Christmas Greeting’, Lisburn, 1908 Read More »
The Christmas tree in Market Square, Lisburn, c.1980s (ILC&LM Collection).
Photo: Lisburn’s Christmas tree, Market Square, c.1980s Read More »
The old terrace at Chapel Hill, c.1950s (ILC&LM Collection, gifted by Lisburn Historical Society) This terrace was located above St.
Photo: The terrace at Chapel Hill, c.1950s Read More »
Thomas E. Dewey, Governor of New York and Republican presidential nominee, admiring Sinton’s tie at the Republican National Convention in
George Chapman Sinton (1886-1976): from Lisburn ‘Old Scholar’ to US presidential elector Read More »
Lisburn Standard, 17 October 1924 We often associate Halloween food with pumpkin pie and toffee apples, but did you know
Barmbrack: a Lisburn Halloween delicacy Read More »
Some of the players at the fundraising cricket match in Wallace Park. Left to right: W. Adams (Lancashire County Cricket
The Constantine cricket match, Lisburn, 1946 Read More »
‘Lady with cat’, unsigned, McCloy Collection (LMILC.1997.99.15, gifted by the Lamb family) A portrait of a woman and her feline
Portrait: ‘Lady with cat’ Read More »
Colourised OS map of Old Warren, 1833, showing the plantations of the 3rd Marquess of Hertford, the landlord at the
The woods of Old Warren Read More »
Quay Street, Lisburn, including the Lisburn Amateur Boxing clubroom, c. 1950 (ILC&LM Collection) Some people told us that their memories
Lisburn Amateur Boxing Clubroom, Quay Street Read More »
Mrs Betty McCrory receiving a gift from the Very Rev. Dr William Boyd, senior minister of 1st Lisburn Presbyterian Church,
Betty McCrory of Warren Cottage Read More »
Bridge Street, c.1970 (ILC&LM Collection) What are your memories? How have things changed? Let us know.
Photo: Bridge Street, c.1970 Read More »
Hilden School’s infant division, 1912 (ILC&LM Collection) For some of these young children, this was most likely their first ever
First day at Hilden School, 1912 Read More »
Warren Cottage, Lisburn, c. 1980s (ILC&LM Collection) Warren Cottage was located opposite Warren View terrace on the Hillsborough Road, Lisburn.
Warren Cottage, Lisburn Read More »
Railway Street from North Circular Road, 1969 (Lisburn Historical Society Collection, ILC&LM) What are your memories of getting the train
Photo: Railway Street, 1969 Read More »
Postcard of ‘The Longstone, Lisburn’, 1906 (LMILC.2023.145, gifted by Margaret Hanthorne) The Longstone area of Lisburn gets its name from
Postcard: The Longstone, Lisburn Read More »
The armorial bearings of Sir Richard Wallace (LMILC.1990.220, purchased 1990) The coat of arms of Lisburn’s landlord from 1870-90,
A strange-looking creature … Read More »
Some members of the Women’s Auxiliary Services in Warren Gardens, Lisburn, 1941 (ILC&LM Collection). The full list of names from
The Women’s Voluntary Service (WVS) Read More »
Sgt. David Maginnity (c.1824-64), in the uniform of the old mounted police. By kind permission of Ron Frew. Sgt. David
Sgt. David Maginnity (1824-64) Read More »
Sheep shearing at Annahilt, near Hillsborough, c. 1930s (LMILC.2004.469, purchased 2004) Sheep farmers normally ‘shear’ or ‘clip’ the wool from
Photo: The Annahilt Shearers Read More »
Lisburn Temperance Silver Band, c. 1926 (ILC&LM Collection, gifted by Lisburn Historical Society) Lisburn Silver Band was formed c. 1900,
Photo: Lisburn Temperance Silver Band, c. 1926 Read More »
Lib. [Liborio Prosperi], The Lobby of the House of Commons, 1886 (LMILC.2012.50, purchased 2012). Lithograph print for Vanity Fair, 1886.
Print: The Lobby of the House of Commons, 1886 Read More »
Private F. Ferris (left) of Lisburn, Co. Antrim, cleaning his Thompson submachine gun during a break in fighting on the
Lisburn and the Italian campaign, 1943-5 Read More »
Lisburn Leisure Park under construction, 1997 (ILC&LM Collection)
Photo: Lisburn Leisure Park, 1997 Read More »
E.M.B. Memorial Hall, Hilden (ILC&LM Collection) The E.M.B. Memorial Hall at Hilden was erected in 1911 by John Milne Barbour
The E.M.B. Memorial Hall, Hilden Read More »
Laganbank Road, Lisburn, late 1980s (ILC&LM Collection)
Photo: Roadworks in Lisburn Read More »
Prisoners of war in what is believed to be Göttingen POW camp, Germany. Thomas McCormick is seated on the left.
A Hilden Mill story: Thomas and Agnes McCormick Read More »
Flax of different dates of sowing, Glenmore, 1927 (ILC&LM Collection) Traditionally, flax was sown in Ireland in early May
The flax sowing debate Read More »
Last year, we were delighted to host a 360° video inside our weaving workshop about Thomas Beggs, an Ulster-Scots weaver
Video: ‘The Weaver Poet: Thomas Beggs, The Woven Word’ Read More »
W. A. Green, ‘Gorse and fern “to keep the fairies out”, a May Eve custom’ (© the artist’s estate. Image
Fire, ferns, and fairies! May Eve festivities around Lisburn Read More »
Rich Phillips (right) beside our model of the Mary Edson on which his great great grandparents travelled to the USA
Lisburn cotton-weaving family’s descendant comes ‘home’ Read More »
British troops storm Sword Beach, Normandy, 6 June 1944 (©IWM) We are delighted to announce a programme of two talks
D-Day 80: Talks Programme Read More »
Col. William Barbour and family of the USA, c. 1910 (image credit: Adirondack Experience) We’ve got a very exciting talk
Talk on the USA Barbour family of Paterson, New Jersey Read More »
Group of men, Ballinderry, early 1900s (ILC&LM Collection) We know little about this group of men, other than that they
Photo: ‘The Ballinderry Men’ Read More »
Hans Petticrew’s store, 57 Bow Street, Lisburn, early 1900s (ILC&LM Collection). Could Hans Petticrew be the man standing in
Photo: Hans Petticrew of Bow Street, Lisburn Read More »
Piper Hill, Lisburn. Ink and colour wash drawing by Jim Dunlop, c. 1970 (LMILC.2013.211, gifted). Viewed from Hill Street, the
Art: Piper Hill, Lisburn, by Jim Dunlop Read More »
Petticrew Bros., 21 Bow Street, Lisburn, c. 1900. The two members of staff are likely the brothers who founded the
Photo: Petticrew Bros. of Bow Street, Lisburn Read More »
Advertisement for a replica display, at Hanningtons of Brighton, of Old Bleach linens prepared for Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House (Brighton
Fit for a queen: miniature items by the Old Bleach Linen Company Read More »
Enjoy the Lisburn Museum podcast on the go, follow the link and listen on Youtube, Spotify or your Podcast app!
The Lisburn Museum Podcast: stay up to date! Read More »
Model of the Mary Edson, by Werner Geyer, 2023 (ILC&LM Collection) The following poem was written by William McComb (1793-1873)
A poem for the Mary Edson, 1863 Read More »
A child and dog on a farm near Annahilt, Hillsborough, c. 1930 (LMILC.2004.469, purchased 2004) This child took the term
Photo: A ‘working’ dog Read More »
Product label, William Barbour & Sons Ltd. (LMILC.1998.44.9, gifted) The symbol of an open, red, left hand was synonymous
The shamrock and red hand: a Barbour trade mark Read More »
Maria Pirrie Gordon (1842-1921). Oil on canvas by Frank McKelvey (1895-1974). LMILC.2010.147. Maria Pirrie Gordon (née Barbour) was like so
Maria Pirrie Gordon (1842-1921) Read More »
Hugh McCall, The cotton famine of 1862-’63 (Belfast, 1881) – ILC&LM Collection The cotton famine of the
Book: The cotton famine of 1862-’63, by Hugh McCall Read More »
Ulster Star, 22 February 1964 In 1964, a group of Lisburn students organised a ‘Miss Leap Year’ competition in aid
Lisburn’s Miss Leap Year, 1964 Read More »
Warren View, Hillsborough Road, Lisburn, c. 1960s (ILC&LM Collection) Thank you to everyone who contacted us about an unknown terrace
Photo: Warren View, Lisburn Read More »
This Virtual Museum post is by Cameron Gilchrist, a student at the South Eastern Regional College, Lisburn. He is on
Post card: a wartime sweetheart in Annahilt Read More »
Ferguson radio, model 383A, 1956 (LMILC.2018.395, donated 2018) This radio was manufactured in 1956 by the Ferguson Radio Corporation Ltd.
Ferguson Radio, 1956 Read More »
Rolls-Royce factory, Dundonald, shortly before closing in 1977 (Belfast News-Letter, 7 February 1977) The Rolls-Royce factory at Dundonald was short-lived,
The Rolls-Royce factory, Dundonald Read More »
Terraced houses, unknown location, c. 1950s (ILC&LM Collection) We are uncertain of this photo’s location, though we believe it was
Photo: Do you recognise this terrace? Read More »
A. T. Stewart’s residence, Fifth Avenue and 34th Street, Manhattan, New York, c. 1900 (Image credit: New York Public Library)
Lisburn cotton weavers’ address to A. T. Stewart, 1863 Read More »
Lisburn historian, Fred Kee, ringing the old Grain Market bell, 1971. Watching on are officers of the Lisburn Historical Society
The Grain Market at Smithfield, part 3: one last chime Read More »
Robert Burns, by Samuel Cousins, 1830, after Alexander Nasmyth, 1787 (image credit: Yale Center for British Art) Robert Burns (1759-96)
Robert Burns (1759-96) and his brief career in ‘lint’ Read More »
Royal Hillsborough, junction of Main Street and Ballynahinch Street, 1924. Postcard by Allen D. Coon (1867-1938), of Letterkenny, Co. Donegal,
Photo: guess the year and location … Read More »
We are delighted to announce our Winter Talks Programme for 2024. Starting on 23 February and running until 13 March,
Winter Talks Programme 2024 Read More »
Ordnance Survey map, second edition (1846-62), showing in the top left the location of Lisburn’s Grain Market, which was also
The Grain Market at Smithfield, part 2: meetings galore! Read More »
Smithfield Street looking towards Market Street, Lisburn, 1951 (ILC&LM Collection)
‘Snow Snap’: guess the year and location Read More »
Smithfield has been a market-trading location in Lisburn as far back as the 1830s. East of the site was the
Photo: The Grain Market at Smithfield Read More »
The following poem was published in the Lisburn Standard newspaper in December 1905: Jack Frost Jack Frost, he is with
‘Oh, you fierce little man!’: Jack Frost, 1905 Read More »
Largymore New National School, Lisburn, c. 1906 (Margaret Hanthorne Collection, ILC&LM) It’s back to school for most pupils this week.
Back to school: Largymore, c. 1906 Read More »
Hilden Mill in the Snow, by Neil Shawcross MBE, RHA, RUA, c. 1985 (oil on canvas, ILC&LM Collection, copyright Neil
Hilden Mill in the Snow, by Neil Shawcross Read More »
Christmas card from Egypt, Royal Army Ordnance Corps, c. 1940s (ILCLM, W.S. Corken Papers, Folder 2, Box 1) Most Christmas
Christmas greetings from Egypt: a Lisburn story Read More »
Selection of stuffed toy Wombles, by Anna Cheyne, c. 1970s (ILC&LM Collection) Do you remember ‘The Wombles’? Wouldn’t these toys
‘The Wombles’, Boxing Day, and the environment: toys by a Lisburn artist Read More »
Christmas is almost upon us, and we hope that your tree is looking a little more festive than this one
Photo: Rockin’ around the Christmas tree? Read More »