Modern history: 1800-1900
The Industrial Revolution and the expansion of the British Empire conspired to accelerate trade and growth in the 1800s. North-east Ireland was transformed as a result.
National Museums NI industrial collection contains a wide range of engineering and linen-related material from this period, charting Ulster’s growth from a largely agrarian to industrial society. Linen was the biggest sector, but others prospered too. The collection includes artefacts from the rope making, engineering, tobacco, tea, and soap industries. It illustrates the development of technology too, in the progression from steam and paraffin, to diesel and petrol fuels.
The 1800s made Belfast. It grew from about 20,000 people to almost 350,000 over the course of the century, as the new industries pumped wealth into the economy. It briefly eclipsed Dublin as Ireland’s largest city. This rapid expansion had social costs. Men and women poured in from the countryside seeking industrial work. Many lived in back-to-back terraced houses, and the poorest struggled to survive. The Great Famine of the 1840s made the gulf between rich and poor all too apparent. Trade and exports continued to boom, even as starvation took hold and thousands emigrated. Our collection holds famine tokens and cooking pots from this period.
Our Domestic Life collection holds a variety of items that offer a glimpse into everyday life in 1800s Ulster. Cradles, pine kitchen dressers, and spinning wheels were once valuable and much-loved items. Religious and cultural pieces embody the hopes and diversions of ordinary people living through extraordinary times.
BELUM.P59.1973
A CHART / OF THE SEA COASTS OF / IRELAND / FROM / DUBLIN / TO / LONDONDERRY
MAP; Sea chart
BELUM.P16.1986
A Map of the County of Tyrone divided into Baronies and Parishes
Map
BELUM.W2012.266
Aideen rescuing the body of Oscar
Poster
BELUM.W2012.262
All Round Coercion
Poster
BELUM.P14.1977
ARMAGH.
MAP; Town plan
BELUM.W2012.260
Away God Speed!
Poster
BELUM.P658.1963
BELFAST
MAP; Town plan
BELUM.Y6918
Belfast Riots 1886
Photographic negative
BELUM.W2011.1426
Character of King William
Postcard
BELUM.P15.1977
COLERAINE. / FROM THE ORDNANCE SURVEY.
MAP; Town plan
BELUM.P39.1978
COUNTY OF THE CITY / OF / WATERFORD
MAP; Town plan
BELUM.P37.1978
DUNDALK. / FROM THE ORDNANCE SURVEY
MAP; Town plan
BELUM.P16.1977
DUNGANNON / FROM THE ORDNANCE SURVEY.
MAP; Town plan
BELUM.P38.1978
ENNISKILLEN / FROM THE ORDNANCE SURVEY
MAP; Town plan
BELUM.V2556
Gladstone
Chamber pot
BELUM.W2012.263
Help! Help!
Poster
BELUM.W2011.1295.72
Henry O'Neill
Postcard
BELUM.W2012.265
Her Own Patron
Poster
BELUM.P531.1939
I. SLATER'S, / (LATE) / PIGOT AND CO. / NEW MAP OF / IRELAND. / EMBRACING EVERY RECENT / ALTERATION
Map
BELUM.W2012.255
Ireland to Parnell
Poster
BELUM.W2012.254
Ireland to Parnell
Poster
BELUM.W2012.258
Ireland's National Order
Poster
BELUM.W2012.261
Ireland's Valentines
Poster
BELUM.P21.1978
IRLANDA
Map
BELUM.O44.1976
IUA junior Branch
Badge
BELUM.P17.1977
KINSALE
MAP; Town plan
BELUM.W2012.252
Left out in the Cold
Poster
BELUM.P19.1917
MAP / OF / THE COUNTY OF ANTRIM
Map
BELUM.W2012.251
Mocking Hunger
Poster
BELUM.W2011.1295.47
Mr Chamberlain
Postcard
BELUM.W2011.1295.48
Mr Chamberlain at Glasgow
Postcard
BELUM.W2011.1425
No Surrender
Postcard
BELUM.W2012.259
Orange Prudence and Self-Denial
Poster
BELUM.W2012.716
Oxdised Silver Shrine Casket to contain Illuminated Address to the Earl of Shaftesbury
Design
BELUM.P51.1974
PLANS OF THE PRINCIPAL TOWNS, FORTS AND HARBOURS IN IRELAND, FOR MR. TINDAL'S CONTINUATION OF MR. RAPIN'S
BELUM.W2012.21
Quis Separabit
Badge
BELUM.W2012.250
Realizing the Police Tax - When Mule met Mule
Poster
BELUM.W2011.1258
Sir Edward Carson, KC, MP
Postcard
BELUM.W2012.253
The Gale theat Ought to be Hanging
Poster
BELUM.P3.1976
THE GROUND PLAN OF BELFAST AND / THE DESIGNE FOR ERECTING A CITTADEL / UPON THE STRAND / pr. Tho. Phillips / Anno /
BELUM.W2012.151
The Loyal Orange Lily
Postcard
BELUM.W2012.264
The Orange Jack the Giant Killer
Poster
BELUM.O33.1976
Ulster Unionist Convention 1892
Bannerette
BELUM.O579.1922
Ulster Unionist Convention 1892 Bannerette
Bannerette
BELUM.O352.1929
Ulster Unionist Demonstration 1893
Badge
BELUM.W2012.22
Ulster Unionist Demostration
Badge
BELUM.O140.1913
Union is Strength
Badge
BELUM.X45546
Union is Strength
Badge
BELUM.X640.1935
Union is Strength 1892
Badge
BELUM.W2011.1261
Unionist Headquarters
Postcard
BELUM.O187.1979
United We Stand
Badge
BELUM.O141.1913
United We Stand
Badge