HALL'S HOTEL 187
This is Hall's Hotel in High Street dated around the 1940's.

HALL'S HOTEL 043
Taken in the 1920's this shows you the full name of the hotel. Three types of mode of transport can be seen outside. To the right you can just see part of Adair's Temperance Hotel which did not serve alcohol, unlike Hall's Hotel.

HALL'S HOTEL 154
This is the Lounge area. Date is Unknown.

HARVEST TIME 1844
Bringing in the hay, sadly no one is known.

VICTOR HUTTON 2075
This is Victor Hutton in his army uniform.

HANNAN BROTHERS 2100
Getting their photograph taken in February 1966 on the trike are all smiles Philip Hannan with his brothers Norman and Gary.
Though by the look on Norman's face he's not too happy!

HIGGINSON WEDDING 2210
This beautiful Wedding studio photograph is of the Higginson's. Standing on the left is best man Ned Nickson and beside him is the groom George Higginson.
Seated on the left is bridesmaid Mary McCaulay and on the right is the bride Margaret Elder.

HERRON HOME 2276
Standing in the doorway of their home is Sarah and Robert Herron. While diamond the spaniel dog looks anxiously up at his master.

KENNETH HAMILTON 2330
Standing on the doorstep out side his home at 100 Summerhill, Shanougestown in the early 1960's is Kenneth Hamilton.

OLIVE & DELLA HEATH 2686
Having travelled all the way to Louis Morrison Photographer Studio's at 83 Royal Avenue Belfast with their mother to have this photograph taken
are Olive and Della Heath.

HALL'S HOTEL 2727
This is Hall's Hotel in High Street Antrim and the Hotel has persuaded the English & Scotch tourists that were there for the week to have their photograph taken for publicity back in 1910. Now these tourists to me were the gentry of the time going by the large plumed hats the ladies are wearing.
In the front row third from the left the gentleman has brought his rather large dog with him and fifth is a lady all set for a drive in a car, for she is wearing the long white driving coat and also has her hat tied down.

HIGH STREET 2745
Taken in the 1950's this photograph shows not much has changed as in the way of parking.
What puzzles me is the zebra crossing, there are only black markings in the centre of the road.
Did that mean if you were on either side of the crossing with no black markings, you were fair game for the motorist?

HIGH STREET 2748
This is High Street Antrim and the photograph was taken from Hall's Hotel. Across the road you can see two thatched roof buildings, well to give an idea of where you are the second thatched building is where the entrance is to the shopping mall. Now that's out of the way let's talk about the photograph.
As usual it's wet and in the foreground are two jaunting cars, behind them we have a few pigs not normally seen on the street but they are for sale. As you can see there are hundreds of people here stretching as far back as the I can see, Some are here to buy from the many stalls set up to sell their wares. The rest are here hoping to get a job for it's Tuesday the 12th of May 1903 and this is the Hiring Fair. The hiring fairs were a humiliating experience for many young workers. Labourers were forced to line up while farmers scrutinised them for their working potential. The fairs were normally held twice a year, once in spring and once in autumn, and usually coincided with the buying and selling of horses. Bizarrely, inspecting workers teeth was a common practice, suggesting most farmers viewed their potential employees in much the same way as they saw their horses. Because so many people gathered at fairs, it quickly turned into the major place for matching workers and employers. Later, when wage rates and conditions were no longer officially set, the hiring fair remained a useful institution, especially as much employment in rural areas was by annual agreement. Prospective workers would gather in the street or market place, often sporting some sort of badge or tool to denote their speciality, shepherds held a crook or a tuft of wool, cowmen brought wisps of straw, dairymaids carried a milking stool or pail and housemaids held brooms or mops, this is why some hiring fairs were known as mop fairs. Employers would look them over and, if they were thought fit, hire them for the coming year or for 6 months, handing over a shilling to seal servants would
gather in order to bargain with prospective employers and, hopefully, secure a position.The hiring included board and lodging for single employees for the term with wages being paid at the end of the service. Men, women and children as young as 7 would stand in the market place hoping to
find a farmer who would hire them. The wage would be about £6 for 6 months.Irish hiring fairs had become well established by the eighteenth century. Hiring fairs where places young people looking for work and would gather in the centre of the town. Wealthier farmers found their farm hands for the next few months at these hiring fairs. Workers who did succeed in finding a position were generally hired for 6 months – or a ‘term’ as it was called. This saved employers having to pay weekly wages to employees during times when there was little farm work or labouring to be done. Contracts between employer and employee were then sealed by the mutual slapping of palms – also a common practice when buying and selling livestock. As security, employees were often asked to leave a personal item with their new employer for collection on their first day; whilst employers were expected to provide their future employee with a small down payment. The amount paid to these hired workers varied according to their location, the market prices farmers were receiving for their produce at the time, and the worker’s age, gender and abilities. Horsemen generally earned the top wage of £8-£12 per term, followed by cowmen earning between £7-£10 and labourers who received about £5-£7 per term. Out of all these different types of worker, female employees undoubtedly had the greatest range of responsibilities including, for example, cooking, washing, cleaning, dealing with small livestock as well as working alongside men in the fields. Yet, women earned up to 50% less than men - about £3 per term and stood no real chance of promotion.Meanwhile children, who were generally put to tasks in and around the farmyard, for example, feeding animals, or collecting eggs, earned about £3 or £4 for 6 months of hard work. the arrangement.

HALL'S HOTEL 056
This was Mrs. Joan McCreery who at the time was the proprietor of the hotel on her wedding day in 1952. The photograph was taken at the back of the hotel where they had a small garden and in the background you can see the greenhouse where they grew all their own vegetables, tomatoes and grapes.

HALL'S HOTEL 189
This is Hall's Hotel in 1953 and a Wedding Party has just arrived.

HIGH STREET 688
To the left of the photograph taken in 1912 is Peter Conway's general store. He sold mostly clothing but if he thought there was a ready market for an item Peter would have it in his shop. Some of the advertisements outside his shop show that he sold Lyons Tea, Pastry, Minerals and Players cigarettes. Then we have the Massereene Arms Hotel followed next by Hall's Hotel, in the distance are the Castle walls and the Barbican Gate.

HIGH STREET 686
This view of High Street in 1900, was taken from near the courthouse down towards All Saints' Church lets you see how wide Antrim's main thorough-fare actually was back then. The market was one of the backbones of the local economy and coming down the street is a 'jaunting car' also there are several horses and carts, but no cars to be seen. To the right of the street is Hall's Hotel and the Massereene Arms, as well as the Savings Bank.

HIGH STREET 685
High Street in the early 1900's the road must have been recently swept. To the left you can see Hall's Hotel and further down construction work is going on with a man on the rooftop. Then you have the Court House and in the distance the Barbican Gate.

HARVEST TIME 2445
It's harvest time in the 50's and here we are at Suffern's farm, Station Road, Dunadry.
All set to work from the left are Sam McComb, Sam Suffern, Unknown and Antohy Brady junior.

HUGH DUNN 2784 and 2785
This is Hugh Dunn back in the late 60's when he was a 7 stone weakling!

HIGH STREET 2758
Having looked in the shop window in High Street and see nothing they liked Muriel and Margaret Neal turned round to have their photograph taken.

JOE HUNTER 2791
Sitting on the park bench enjoying the mild Spring weather is Joe Hunter.

HIGH STREET 1443
This is the devestation caused that day in High Street when two car bombs went off. Like other shop owners here we have Brian Craig starting to try and board up his windows

HUNTER FAMILY 2793
Standing in the doorway of her home and very proudly showing off their latest addition to the Hunter family is Mae with Jim the baby.
In front of Mae from the left are daughters Julia-Anne, Yvonne and finally Jean.

HIGH STREET 1446
Here we are in High Street and you can see terrible damage to Hall's Hotel and the other shops caused by the car bombs

HIGH STREET 1444
Here we are in High Street and you can see terrible damage toHall's Hotel and the other shops caused by the car bombs.

HIGH STREET 1442
This is the day when the heart of Antrim's High Street was torn out by car bombs. Here you can see the remains of the car and the devestation it caused.

HEART WEDDING 1310
This is John Heart with his bride Rosie Heavron back at his father's house in Murphy'stown road of the Ballymena road after their wedding in 1940.

HIGH STREET 677
This is High Street in 1915, the round sign on the right is Hall's Hotel.
To the extreme right is a very large shop the name is unknown at the moment but it was also an agent for the White Star Line which is advertised on the back of the cart outside the shop. I wonder did anyone book the Titanic from here? The street now had gas lighting supplied from Railway Street.

HIGH STREET 1450
This shows you the destruction of the shops in High Street from the car bomb, not a slate left on the roofs and every window blown out. As you can see the Post Office took a hammering.

HIGH STREET 1448
This shows you the destruction of the shops in High Street from the car bomb, not a slate left on the roofs and every window blown out. As you can see the Post Office took a hammering.

HIGH STREET 1445
This is the devestation caused that day in High Street.

HIGH STREET 1341
This is the day when the heart of Antrim's High Street was torn out by car bombs. Here you can see the remains of the car and the devestation it caused.

HALL'S HOTEL 2364
Here we are at High Street in Antrim and you can see Hall's Hotel entrance to the snack bar. Standing at the entrance on the left we have three Ulster Grand Prix riders who were all members of the works Porcupine A.J.S. race team. On the left is Robin Sherry and facing him is Jack Brett. Next to Jack and hidden by Robin is Rod Coleman.

HETTY LENNON 931
Getting ready to go off to a wedding is Hetty Lennon who lived in Oriel Road, who was the local Registrar that worked in F.T.Smith's the chemist in High Street.
The year is unknown.

HE'S GOT A NECK! 1085
Getting fed by these two lovely Antrim lassies Elsie Cullen and Jean French is George the Giraffe. It was 1956 and the Suez crisis was happening and Chipperfields Circus could not get back to England. The Ulster Wool Gatherers at Muckamore had large sheds and they allowed the circus to stay there. By the way the two Macaws looking on are unknown.

HIGH STREET 546
This is Rachel McCullough in 1970 with Shirley and Melanie in the pram.
Rachel is standing in High Street next to Railway Street. In the background is the Ulster Bar and the cafe sign is of Billy's Fish & Chip shop.
The hospital sign was for the Massereene Hospital which is now Tesco's.

HERBERT McCABE 965
Standing on top of a pigeon basket in 1910 we have Herbie McCabe aged two.
On the side of the basket is the following writing: M.R.C. to be returned T--y Road Station.

HAYSTACKS 1255
Getting their photograph taken after the fields have been harvested and haystacks erected a thing you wouldn't see today. At the moment the people and the year are unknown.

HARRY AND EDNA 912
Here in 1936 we have Edna and Harry - their last name is not known, but in Edna's arms we have 'Frisky' the cat and Harry is holding on to its tail, I hope he isn't going to pull it! Above on the windowsill Harry was left a lead soldier.

HARD AT WORK 832
Taken in the Summer of 1957 while the Sixmilewater river was low we have this band of men cleaning out the river at the rear of Hall's Hotel.
From the left we have Desmond Gillespie (Bar staff), John Tunney (Bar staff), Bob Smyth (Farm Staff), Jackie Irvine (Carpenter/Jobber) and Jimmy Bickerstaff (Farm Staff), the Hotel garden is on the right.

HARKNESS WEDDING 2430
This is the wedding day of John Harkness and Pearl Coleman at Coleman's Ballytweedy 27th April 1960.

HOLLOW FOOTBALL TEAM 1892
This is Hollow Fooball Team of 1920 getting their photograph taken.
At the back from the left are Bob Bowney, John McAuley, Tom McAuley, John Logan, Terry McKeown, Joe Robinson and Pat Doole.
In the front we have John Doyle, John Robinson, George Downey, Willie Doole and John Mackie.

HIGH STREET 676
High Street in 1906 shows the vast difference in social classes. On the left the girl in rags and bare feet while across the road, the mother wheeling the pram with the little boy fully clothed with shoes on and a hat. Even the little girl in the middle of the road in the distance has shoes and a smock over her dress to keep it clean. I wonder is the girl on the left with the bucket going for or coming home with the milk. While across the road the man stands proudly outside his shop displaying long tailed shovels, rakes ect.

HIGH STREET 678
Here in High Street you can see two tourist buses one of which is just pulling up in front of Hall's Hotel full of tourists after a day out, the year is unknown.

HIGH STREET 675
High Street in the 1960, in the background is the Court House and the Barbican Gate.
To the left is the Castle Cafe and the car outside, it's registration is ZZ 4093, then you have Hall's Hotel and in the distance is a garage.

HIGH STREET 690
Not to many shoppers around in this photograph and no cars but they did have gas street lighting. The little girl standing in the street has no shoes and on the other side of street outside the Massereene Arms Hotel is a Hansom Cab. The year is unknown.

HIGH STREET 687
On the right is Hall's Hotel and the Massereene Arms Hotel, just up from them are two open topped tourist buses, most likely waiting for the crowd standing outside. They are sitting right outside the Savings Bank and in the distance as always is All Saints' Parish Church. The year is unknown.

HIGH STREET 692
This photograph of High Street on the right there is no Antrim Arms Hotel it looks like Draper shop. After the next shop are two thatched houses, one is a shop and the other is a barbers. Then the next thatched house is a pub with a four men outside it with one leaning against the lampost. Then just before the Courthouse is the breadman delivering the bread from his horse and cart.
The year is unknown.

HIGH STREET 689
High Street in the year 1910, across the road is T.Boston and I.Bones Bros Shop. Outside are three boys one is blurred and the one facing the camera has no shoes. When Alexander Irvine starting selling newspapers of an evening he also had no shoes ! Further up the street is the Antrim Arms Hotel.

HIGH STREET 691
This picture of High Street in 1942, but can you spot the clue that war was still raging in mainland Europe? If you look closely at the Massereene Arms Hotel in the centre of the picture you can see a flag inviting punters to the 'American Lounge Bar', which was very popular with the Gis stationed in the town! Other shops caught on camera include Clarke's Shop, The Castle and, of curse, Halls Hotel. Standing outside the Massereene is a policeman and a lady is passing by with her shopping basket and dog. Perhaps she was on her way to the Castle for an ice-cream and some cigarettes.

HIGH STREET 679
Walking down High Street in 1915 in front of the man on the left is what looks like a thatched pub. Next could be an Ironmongeries for above the shop window is hanging a large pan. Then we have the man unloading supplies for the shop from his cart, beyond him a lady is standing with two children talking to two men. In front of the Court House is a crowd of men with horses and carts so perhaps it's Thursday, Market day. Halfway across the road and opposite Hall's Hotel is a young lady pushing her bicycle, personally I would be riding it with what's lying on the road.

HIGH STREET 150
The Massereene's in 1665 were given permission to hold six fairs a year but by the 1800's only three were being held. The weekly market for the buying and selling of local produce was started in 1860. This photograph shows the Annual Livestock Fair. The first shop to your right with the awning was M.& A.H. Frew who were milliners, costumers and general drapers and is now the Antrim Business Shop which includes the Antrim Tourist Information Centre. Date is unknown.

HEAD TOWN RANGERS FOOTBALL TEAM 523
It may be slightly fuzzy, but there are still plenty of familiar faces in this football squad. This was down Riverside when the prefabs where there and in the background is All Saints' Church. The picture was taken in 1952, before some long forgotten local derby. In the back row you can see Jimmy Kirkpatrick, Clet McVeigh, Bobby McCormick, Patterson Craig, Dennis Young, Unknown and Andy Francey. The first chap in the front row has not been identified yet but he is accompanied by Billy Gaynor, Bertie Cummings, Norman Young, Norman Craig and Victor Ashe.

HIGH STREET 002
High street Presbyterian Church was originally called Second Antrim Presbyterian Church after some church members left First Antrim Presbyterian Church because of a disagreement. It was built in 1837 at a cost of about £940. When the congregation got bigger they built a bigger church on the Steeple road. The old church was renamed Church House and now has offices in it.Orr school was built in 1900 and was named after the Rev. John Orr who was the first minister of High Street Church. The school could be divided in two by sliding partitions and for wintertime they had a great heating system. Date is unknown.

HIGH STREET 058
Here you see the band just coming into High Street from Church Street. Look at the road, that is not a carpet it is a concrete strip. The Drum Major is Robert McKelvey and proudly marching next to him is his son Houston McKelvey who is now (2005) the Dean of St. Anne's Cathedral, Belfast.
Behind them you can see the Grocery shop, then Railway Street and next the Ulster Bar from which you get the name for the area known locally as the " Ulster Bar Corner ". Date is 1952.