14/10/2014
QUB Project To Uncover Birth of Belfast's Docklands
Researchers from Queen's University Belfast are to begin a new three-year research project to shed light on the birth of the city's docklands.
Dr Liz Thomas from the School of Geography, Archaeology and Palaeoecology (GAP) at Queen's is launching the project this autumn and will focus on living in the 19th century dockland town, Sailortown, in Belfast.
The town's residents are considered an instrumental part of the development of Belfast as one of the world's first industrial capitals.
Redevelopment of the site began in the 1960s, while the community who lived in Sailortown, mostly descended from a long lineage of those working in the docklands, were relocated to different homes spread across Belfast and apart from each other.
Dr Thomas has appealed for anyone with any connection to Sailortown to come forward with their stories of the town or stories that may have been passed down through the generations.
"I have always been interested in every aspect of life related to the sea and docks, probably because my grandfather worked on the docks in Dublin and I really am interested in anyone who has any connection to Sailortown to tell me their stories no matter how mundane it may seem," she said.
"I would love to hear stories about the women in Sailortown and I would be delighted for people with any connection to Sailortown to get in touch with me if they would like to be part of the study and excavation.
"I am truly looking forward to working with this community and feel very privileged to have this opportunity to work with the people of Sailortown."
(IT/JP)
Dr Liz Thomas from the School of Geography, Archaeology and Palaeoecology (GAP) at Queen's is launching the project this autumn and will focus on living in the 19th century dockland town, Sailortown, in Belfast.
The town's residents are considered an instrumental part of the development of Belfast as one of the world's first industrial capitals.
Redevelopment of the site began in the 1960s, while the community who lived in Sailortown, mostly descended from a long lineage of those working in the docklands, were relocated to different homes spread across Belfast and apart from each other.
Dr Thomas has appealed for anyone with any connection to Sailortown to come forward with their stories of the town or stories that may have been passed down through the generations.
"I have always been interested in every aspect of life related to the sea and docks, probably because my grandfather worked on the docks in Dublin and I really am interested in anyone who has any connection to Sailortown to tell me their stories no matter how mundane it may seem," she said.
"I would love to hear stories about the women in Sailortown and I would be delighted for people with any connection to Sailortown to get in touch with me if they would like to be part of the study and excavation.
"I am truly looking forward to working with this community and feel very privileged to have this opportunity to work with the people of Sailortown."
(IT/JP)
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