Ulster Heritage Park & Museum

This Heritage Park is really worth a visit if you are into the history of Britain and how the people lived in the past. It takes you from the Neolithic period when they lived in tentlike structures covered in skins to the Tudor style of building.

MESOLITHIC PERIOD - This is an expample of the type of dwelling people in Ireland lived in 9,000 years ago during the Mesolithic Period. This type of dwelling has been found in only one place in Ireland. Mount Sandel in Londonderry.

NEOLITHIC PERIOD - The first farmers lived in houses like these between 4,000 and 6,000 years ago. Some have wooden walls and others have woven walls. This type of dwelling has been found all over Ireland.

COURT TOMB - A Stone Age tomb dating to about 6,000 years ago and built by the first farmers. Found mainly in the north of Ireland.

WEDGE TOMB - A late Stone Age to early Bronze Age tomb dating back about 4,000 to 5,000 years ago. Found mainly in the western half of Ireland.

MEDIEVAL PERIOD - This is a Rath which is a more protected and enclosed type of settlement. Only the richer farmers would live in this type of dwelling. Some have souterrains, which is an underground passage that doubles as a storage area or, in troubled times, a hiding place or escape route that leads outside the encircled camp. This second photo clearly shows the entrance to the souterrains. These types of remains are found all over Ireland.

Again in the Medieval Period this is a Crannog. Ignoring the tower in the background of this shot (another exibit) this was very similar to the Rath in size and shape with the circular wall all around the camp. However this has been built on an artificial island which was even easier to defend. Again they would be lived in by richer farmers or the aristocracy. This type of living was in use until about 400 years ago. In the background is an example of an early Monastery.

Within the Monastery. These were mostly built with timber but as time passed, more and more were built with stone. This second photo shows a well in the forground and I was surprised at the thought that went into it's position and structure. It brought fresh water in and took waste out, all without leaving the safety of the compound. In the background of this same shot is a storehouse which kept food cool and fresh.

With the arrival of the English in the 17th century there were more Tudor style buildings being established. This shot shows a fortified Manor House with the Tudor style dwellings popping up around it.