- Wikidata identifier:
- Q111895849
- Part of:
- Mid and East Antrim Borough Council
- Instance of:
- museum; local authority museum
- Museum/collection status:
- Accredited museum
- Accreditation number:
- 2117
- Persistent shareable link for this record:
- https://museumdata.uk/museums/q111895849/
Collection-level records:
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Collection history (Collection development policy)
Carrickfergus Museum was officially opened in 2005 following a £674,000 grant award from the Heritage Lottery Fund. In addition to a permanent exhibition gallery, there is a gallery for temporary exhibitions, a community archive area and education room. The building houses a café and is also the main administrative centre in Carrickfergus for Mid and East Antrim Borough Council.
The permanent exhibition gallery focuses on the history of Carrickfergus. It contains an object rich display which includes items of local and national importance. These are sourced from the Council’s own collection as well as numerous items on loan from other institutions including: The Ulster Museum, The Ulster Folk and Transport Museum, Royal Armouries Museum and British Museum. The gallery was refurbished in 2021/22.
Source: Collection development policy
Date: 2022
Licence: CC BY-NC
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Collection overview (Collection development policy)
Carrickfergus Museum holds a mixed collection that covers the following subjects/themes:
- Civic Life eg: historic town charters (1606-1949), ceremonial sword and mace (1712), official weights and measures (1835) Mayor’s chain of office, Deputy Mayor’s and Lady Mayors’ chains, Freeman’s rolls, town seals (12th to 19thcentury), town records / leases, town fire engine with lamps and helmet (1908).
- Works of Art paintings associated with the town by various artists including A.C Stannus, J.W. Carey, William Conor, Kenneth Webb, Maurice Wilks, and other miscellaneous items relating to the town and district
- Social Life and activities, rowing and sailing clubs, cups, drama and music festivals, plaques, costume.
- Industrial Life Ship Building Tools, Fishing, Salt Mining, Textiles, Man- Made Fibre Industries
- Military Life (reflecting Carrickfergus’ role as a garrison town) two mounted canons (1779), medals – Crimean War, WWI medals, Royal Irish Rifles WWI drum, Ulster Defence Regiment and Royal Irish Regiment presentation artefacts, naval cannon ball
- Crime and Punishment paintings by Dr James Moore and plans of County of Antrim Courthouse and Jail (1779), sets of hand irons / manacles and leg irons etc.
In addition in addition to this collection, the Museum displays a range of items on loan from other institutions, eg the Ulster Museum and Historic Environment Division of Department for Communities. This includes a large amount of archaeological material relating to the medieval and early modern period. A number of items are also on loan from the British Museum. The Royal Armouries, Leeds, has loaned the Museum and extensive range of arms and armour.
Source: Collection development policy
Date: 2022
Licence: CC BY-NC