A History in 100 Objects of Derry - Derry City Council

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ForewordThe task of collecting, preserving andmaking publicly accessible collections ofintrinsic value is important for the city’smemory bank. It was with these thoughtsin mind that Derry City Council’s Heritageand Museum Service created this newexhibition exploring the history of our citythrough objects suggested by the public.The museum and archive collection consists ofover 10,000 objects which richly illustrate theunique heritage of the city. The gathering of sucha collection could not have been achieved withoutthe assistance of those who donated objects, localsupporters, organisations that provided grant aidand dedicated staff, past and present.Writer and editor Fintan O’Toole neatly sumsup the importance of objects as material things,that can be touched, that are visible, physical andtangible. Objects have meaning and value, butthey can also touch on emotions and aspirations;they can move us in odd and unpredictable ways.“Objects can put us in touch with the past in adirect and immediate way. But they also help usto a more complex understanding of the past.There is a certain paradox that surrounds them.They seem precise and fixed, literally tangible.When so much about the past – especially theIrish past – is contested, physical things seem toprovide secure anchors in history. They ought tomake things simpler. And yet, when you actuallyexamine any object, this apparent simplicityquickly falls away. Interesting objects tend toprovoke more questions than they can answer.”We hope this exhibition will stimulate an interestin preserving memories and understanding theimportance of documenting our history.2
TheGasyardLecky RoadBishop StreetBishop StreetMagaziButchers St Ferryquay StAbercorn RdShipquay SIntroductionArtillery StCarlisle RdOrchard SttreetWater StUnearthing the history of the city, oneobject at a time…Many of the objects selected for the exhibition arewhat many will see as traditional museum objects,objects that have stood the test of time, chancediscoveries, rare and celebrated objects, such asThe cityLocationsTower MuseumGuildhallFoyle Valley Railway MuseumWorkhouse MuseumAustins Department StoreNorth West Regional CollegeCraigavon Bridger FoyleDuke StreetFountain HillSpencer RoadAlfred SYork StColumBonds HillClooney TerraceLr Violet StGlendermott RdPrimrose StBenvarden AveKnockdara ParkA6 to BelfastDungiven RdUpr Violet Stthe Thornhill bead and the Promise Chalice. Manyof these items selected themselves, iconic andprecious.Other more contemporary objects tell the storyof our more recent past and the people who haveshaped it.Derry is an historic walled city with a river that has seen many arrivals and departures. It is a city withsuch a rich heritage it’s impossible to tell it’s story with just 100 objects but here goes………..Key for map locationsMuseum of Free DerrySt Augustine’sSt Columb’s CathedralBeech Hill County House HotelDerry Visitor & Convention Bureau3
Page 4 and 5: 1. Model ship made of boneA model o
Page 6 and 7: 6. Promise ChaliceThis silver gilt
Page 8 and 9: 12. The Carrec Stone (Welsh Stone)
Page 10 and 11: 19. Austins Department Stores fabri
Page 12 and 13: 25. First World War ‘Love Token
Page 14 and 15: 32. Gweedore Bar BookJames and Marg
Page 16 and 17: 37. Pamphlet from the Apprentice Bo
Page 18 and 19: 42. A wooden ship’s wheelA wooden
Page 21 and 22: 52. Pieces of GoldPieces of Gold is
Page 23: 57. Dominican chaliceSilver chalice
Page 26 and 27: 66. Original submission document fo
Page 28 and 29: 73. A view of the city by Major Joh
Page 30 and 31: 81. Framed scroll, public apology f
Page 32 and 33: 89. ‘A view of Derry through a ba
Page 34 and 35: ”“Derry is a city that needs to
Page 36: A Historyof Derryin 100 ObjectsDerr

A History in 100 Objects of Derry - Derry City Council

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