Publications | Down Survey | 2002 Issue Contents

Salvaging the Past

These two photographs show men of McCauslands salvage firm of Portaferry in about the year 1900. They have been preserved by Colm Rooney of Strangford, and generously leant to the Museum for publication in the Down Survey. Graphic enhancement has helped.to salvage important details from the extremely faded lower photograph. A photograph of McCa~uslands at work on a sunken schooner at Strangford Quay in about 1885 is preserved in the collection of the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum (NMGM UFTM MS 382) and is reproduced in 'Strangford Lough: An archaeological survey of the maritime cultural landscape', edited by Thomas McErlean, Rosemary McConkey and Wes Forsythe (Belfast 2002), page 385.

Employees of McCauslands salvage firm, Portaferry, in about 1900. The man shown second from the left in the back row is Dick McMullan, Colm Rooney's great grandfather. Mr McCausland, the owner, is shown next to the diving helmet (Courtesy of Colm Rooney)

Employees of McCauslands salvage firm, Portaferry, in about 1900. From left to right the employees are listed as: Evans, Hinds, Smith, Dumigan, Templeton, Harrison, McCausland (owner), Blaney, McCluskey, McGrath, Rogan and Smith. The photograph was taken by Thomas S McCorrie, Photographer, Portaferry (Courtesy of Colm Rooney)