Children unearth lost building’s history in Northern Ireland
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Home-schooled children in Ballycastle, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, joined archaeologists to excavate the remains of a building that disappeared from maps after 1786.
The group swapped traditional lessons for hands-on experience, assisting experts from Queen’s University Belfast and the Community Archaeology Programme Northern Ireland. Researchers initially found the structure on an 18th-century map but lost track of it in later surveys, prompting a search for its original purpose.
The project aims to connect the community with its past, and experts suspect the building may be linked to Ballycastle’s industrial history, possibly as part of a bleach yard owned by businessman Hugh Boyd. So far, the team has uncovered evidence of a brick floor, which could provide further clues. Dr. Colm Donnelly of Queen’s University Belfast is leading the excavation, emphasising the importance of involving local people, especially the younger generation, in preserving their heritage.
Parents involved in the dig praised the experience, noting that it offered a valuable alternative to classroom learning. One parent, Catherine McDaid, said the hands-on approach allowed her children to learn in a new way, while another, Linda Gibson, believed it brought history to life and sparked her daughter’s interest in the subject. Despite challenging weather conditions, the children and adult volunteers continued to work at the site, demonstrating a commitment to understanding the town’s identity and past.
