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Over the coming weeks we will be doing a series of articles on the contents of some of the display cases in the Museum. The series begins with a look at a few of the artefacts in a display case in Gallery 3 of the Museum which is themed around local businesses in the decades before World War II.
On permanent display in Newry and Mourne Museum are artefacts from local businesses that operated in the area in the early part of the 20th century. The artefacts give a fascinating insight in to the local economy at the time.
Two of the more eye-catching artefacts on display is a pair of black leather lace-up ladies’ boots and a poster, both dating from the early 1900’s, from Sloan’s department store in Kilkeel. Founded by RJ Sloan in 1887 on Newry Street in Kilkeel the shop sold fabric, dressmaking and tailoring supplies. In the early years of the 20th century, he moved to larger premises on the opposite side of Newry Street and began to sell all types of ladies’ and gentlemen’s clothing. The first shop in Kilkeel to have gas lighting installed, it was known for specialising in high quality goods.
An interesting artefact on display is a hat brush from what was then known as Foster’s & Co on Hill Street in Newry. It shows a time when people regularly wore formal hats. Foster’s & Co was started by Robert Foster as a draper’s and outfitter’s shop in North Street in 1870, and soon expanded the business to Hill Street. In 1907 the business became a limited company. A new, three-story building opened in Hill Street in 1909 after a fire damaged the previous building. It operated until the 1970s selling a range of goods including cosmetics, lingerie and corsetry, ladies’ fashion to household goods.
The case also includes 1908 photographs of Clanrye Mill and it’s employers. The mill was owned by Robert Sands, a cattle feed manufacturer. The photograph showcases the impressive Venetian Style architecture of the building which was designed by William Watson and built in 1873. The photograph of the employees shows how the workers would have dressed.
A number of family chemists operated in the area at time such as O Hagan and O Hare, which was established on Hill Street Newry in 1900 and operated until the 1980s. The case displays a medicine bottle and receipt from the chemist. The receipt lists merchandises sold to the Christian Brothers in Newry.
Tailoring and dressmaking were very popular businesses in the early half of the 20th century as most clothes were not mass produced. Artefacts on display from such businesses include a tape measure from 1900 used in a dressmaker’s shop in Canal Street, Newry and large pair of scissors used in Gallagher’s tailors’ shop in North Street Newry from c.1930.
Another typical shop found in towns and villages at the time were grocers and seed merchants. The display includes a bag from 1900 used for tea leaves from Martin, Nesbitt and Irwin which was established in Hill Street in Newry in the 1870s.
Also on display is a brass cart sign from the early 20th century belonging to John O Hanlon. The signs were used to identify a farmer’s or tradespersons cart.
Although there was a wide range of thriving businesses, the early decades of the 20th century were a time of economic hardship for many. On display is Pawn Ticket from 1919. In times of poverty or unemployment in years gone by, people often pawned their possessions to raise money.
The Museum is currently offering free tours of the exhibition galleries on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 2.00 pm. These must be booked in advance by calling our Education Officer at 0330 137 4422.
Newry and Mourne Museum is open Tuesday – Saturday 10.00 am – 4.30 pm. Please call 0330 137 4422 or email museums@nmandd.org for further information.
Please visit our website at www.visitmournemountains.co.uk
CAPTIONS FOR IMAGES:
Image 1
Display case in Gallery 3 at Newry and Mourne Museum which showcases artefacts from local businesses between c.1900 and c.1945.
Newry and Mourne Museum
Image 2
Poster from RJ Sloane’s department store in Kilkeel dating from the early 1900s.The poster includes a poem about boots and shoes sold at the store.
Newry and Mourne Museum Collection
Image 3
A pair of ladies’ lace-up boots from R J Sloane’s shop in Kilkeel. Boots, such as these, were the height of fashion in the 1900s.
Newry and Mourne Museum Collection
Image 4
Brass inspector scales dating from c.1900 used in Newry Post Office.
Newry and Mourne Museum Collection
Image 5
Photographs from 1908 showing Clanrye Mill and its employees which are on display in the business case in Gallery 3.
Newry and Mourne Museum Collection
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