History and Heritage

Ulster Folk and Transport Museums, Cultra (between Holywood and Bangor)

The Ulster Folk Museum is a remarkable living museum and environmental resource situated at Cultra, three miles east of Belfast. The museum is home to a rich collection of heritage buildings and objects, which it uses to actively preserve and demonstrate traditions, stories and skills passed down through many generations of people in Ulster.

Find out more about Ulster Folk Museum.

The Ulster Transport Museum tells the story of transport and social change in this part of the world.  It includes Titanica, a permanent exhibition which includes fascinating artefacts from ocean floor.

Find out more about Ulster Transport Museum.

North Down Museum, Bangor

North Down Museum packs a lot into a small space, telling the history of the area from the Bronze Age to the present day through fascinating exhibitions, interactive exhibitions, tours and talks. Key artifacts on display include the Bronze Age Ballycroghan Swords, the Bangor Bell from the hugely important Bangor Abbey settlement, and the Raven Maps, the only complete folio of Plantation era maps in Ireland.  The museum is situated at the rear of the City Hall, Bangor Castle.  It sits within the old laundry and stables of the castle, built for the Hon. Robert Edward Ward in 1852.

This museum is part of the “Bangor Triangle” tour which also includes Bangor Castle Walled Garden and Bangor Abbey.

Find out more about  North Down Museum.

Bangor Abbey

Saint Comgall founded the Abbey in 558AD, and it grew to become one of the most important seats of learning in Ireland, with almost 3,000 monks at the time of Comgall’s death in 601AD.

Two of its most famous students, Columbanus and Gall, travelled throughout Europe setting up monasteries in Luxeuil, Bobbio and Bregenz. Artefacts from the monastery’s earliest period can be viewed in North Down Museum. The most celebrated literary work to come from the monastery is the seventh century Bangor Antiphonary, a collection of hymns, prayers and poems now kept in the Ambrosian Library in Milan.

Bangor’s vulnerability to attack from the sea resulted in the Abbey falling into disrepair, following many Viking raids. It was partially restored by Saint Malachy in the 12th Century when he was Abbot in Bangor. His work can be seen at what is known locally as Malachy’s Wall, the oldest surviving remnant the Abbey, adjacent to the Old Gate Lodge.

Find out more about Bangor Abbey.

Somme Museum, Conlig near (between Bangor and Newtownards)

The Museum examines Ireland's role in the 1st World War with special reference to the cross-community involvement in the 3 local volunteer Divisions: the 10th and 16th (Irish) Divisions and the 36th (Ulster) Division. Guided tours bring the visitor back in time to 1910 where they learn about the Home Rule Crisis, recruiting and training of men and life in the trenches. Reconstructed trenches of the Battle of the Somme in 1916.

Find out more about Somme Museum.

Ballycopeland Windmill, Millisle

Ballycopeland Windmill is the only remaining working windmill in East Down. It was built in the late 18th or early 19th century and was worked until the First World War when it fell into disrepair. It was gradually restored between 1950 and 1978 to full working order.

The interpretation of Ballycopeland windmill celebrates the complex as a unique historical asset and brings to life the fascinating stories of those who lived and worked in this last functional windmill in Northern Ireland.

Find out more about Ballycopeland Windmill.

Nendrum Monastic Site, near Comber

Nendrum is thought to have been set up by St Machaoi in the 5th Century and also has links to St Patrick in later sources. The monastery consists of 3 round dry-stone walled enclosures, one within the other. There is evidence of industrial works in the outer enclosure, a central enclosure with a church ruin and sundial, the remains of a round tower and a graveyard. The middle enclosure has the remains of huts and workshops. It is thought to be the best example of a pre-Norman monastic site in Northern Ireland.

Find out more about Nendrum Monastic Site.