April, 1905, 



The Irish Naturalist, 



73 



A NEW IRISH MUSEUM : 



THE PATTERSON MUSEUM, PEOPEE'S PAEACE. 

 BEEFAST. 



BY ROBERT \VEI.CH AND OTHERS. 

 [Plates 2-3.] 



On 6th December, 1904, their Excellencies the Eord Eieutenant 

 and the Countess of Dudley visited Belfast, in order that the 

 latter might open a new Belfast institution — the People's 

 Palace. There is a special Cripples' Home attached, a depart- 

 ment for the care of children during their parents' working 

 hours ; and Great and Minor halls will provide, by means of 

 illustrated lectures, concerts, &c., wholesome entertainment 

 for the young folk of the district in the winter evenings, 

 especially on Saturday nights. The Palace buildings form 

 two quadrangles, the Great hall dividing the enclosed area, 

 They are situated in a densely populated working-class district, 

 and will adjoin one of the proposed Carnegie Branch Eibraries 

 of the city. In such a place one would hardly expect to find 

 a Natural History Museum, but there is one, specially designed 

 and fitted for the purpose — surely a sign of increasing interest 

 in the study of nature. This Museum has been named **The 

 Patterson Museum "after the late Robert Patterson, F.R.S., 

 who, over fifty years ago, did so much to popularise natural 

 science in Belfast. It includes a fine lofty room, to which the 

 public are admitted free ; this is 75 feet long by 25 feet wide, 

 with an open-timbered roof, as shown in Plate 2 ; and, in 

 addition, a curator's store and workroom at one end ; both 

 rooms are thoroughly heated b^ hot water. The Museum 

 portion is particularly well lighted, having ample windows 

 along the north side, as well as continuous roof-lights. The 

 wall, central, and window cases are made of well seasoned 

 pine, stained a mahogany colour. A simple system of 

 tightening the doors and lids with long screws renders them 



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