The Ghosts of Lisburn’s Linen Mills focus of new exhibition

The linen sites of the Lagan Valley seemed like the perfect plan, but it was only after Gerry had put forward his idea that he discovered how little of that by-gone era remains today.

Undeterred by the apparent lack of material on which to base his project, Gerry set out with passion and determination to bring to life something of the mills.

He appropriately entitled his collection “It’s all gone now... Linen sites in the Lagan Valley” and thus began a journey which found him exploring derelict sites, talking to former employees and turning up old maps and documents.

Gerry said: “The Irish Linen Centre and Lisburn Museum were very helpful with this side of things”.

The exhibition, which is Gerry’s first, will showcase a series of 16 black and white photographs and a set of four oil on canvas paintings.

The retired art and technology teacher from Rathmore Grammar, said: “I have always dabbled a little bit in art, but it was only when I retired that I really found the time to paint and now I’m a full-time artist. When a friend told me there was money available from the Lisburn Arts Advisory Committee for individual artists, I decided to apply. I love history and so I wanted to do something that would introduce a historical angle on Lisburn for the project.”

The photographs look at some of the deserted mill sites and try to bring a sense of the thousands of people who have worked there since 1784 when John Barbour founded the first mills here.

Gerry said: “Those people are like ghosts now. I’ve captured something of the devastation and rubble of the sites which communicates this idea, as does the shadowy figure seen lighting a pipe in one of the Hilden Mill photos. This man is actually Don Houston, the oldest employee at Hilden Mill when it closed”.

Talking about his paintings Gerry said: “It’s hard to get something that encapsulates the linen industry, but I felt that the river does, as it once powered the whole operation.”

So river currents, colourful threads and old maps are just some of the themes Gerry uses in his art exhibition which will take place at Lisburn Library from June 4 for the month.