A new exhibition about Victorian Coleraine opens in the Town Hall on Thursday, October 6th. It explores the period from 1837 – 1901 when Queen Victoria was on the throne.
Through images and objects from Coleraine Museum’s collection, the exhibition looks at what was happening in Coleraine during this time and introduces you to some of the people that lived and worked in the town during Victoria’s reign.
Visitors will have the opportunity to explore the development of the town during the Victorian era, which saw the building of Coleraine Workhouse (1841), the Model School (1847), Courthouse (1852), Railway Station (1855), Coleraine Academical Institution (1860) and even Coleraine Town Hall itself (1859) among other buildings. It is interesting to note that many of these buildings are still in the town today.
The Coleraine Chronicle started printing in 1844 and its archives provide a wealth of information on the happenings in the town and the people that lived in the area.
It reports on a horse fair in 1857 with 600 – 700 horses in the Diamond! It also gives details of court charges. These include the case of Hugh McNaught, one of the ‘best bad characters’, who was charged for drunkenness in 1898. There are many more stories such as this to be discovered in the exhibition.
Items from the Victorian Coleraine loan box will be available to handle, alongside replica bonnets and Victorian toys. On Saturday October 22nd from 11.30am – 1.30pm there will be a free ‘make and take’ event with local craftspeople and artists in Coleraine Town Hall. This event is suitable for the whole family, so why not come and enjoy the history.
The exhibition is open until October 29th, Tuesday – Saturday, 11am-4pm in Coleraine Town Hall. Entry is free.