Belfast Natural History and Philosophical Society
Belfast Natural History and Philosophical Society
About the Society
The Belfast Natural History & Philosophical Society (commonly known as The Belfast Society) was founded in 1821 to promote knowledge in the arts and sciences and today provides a lecture programme based at the The Old Museum Building. [LINK]
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The Old Museum Building
You can read more about the Old Museum Building by clicking on the button below.
The Society provides a forum for debate on important cultural issues, reflecting the intellectual life of Belfast and Ireland.
The Society also supports research and publications about Ireland and Ulster’s cultural and material environment.
Members are entitled to come to lectures and events arranged by the Society annually (including outings and book launches) and are encouraged to participate in the running of the Society.
The Society has connections with the Ulster Museum, where its former collections are housed.
Historical Milestones
• The Belfast Society was founded in 1821.
• The building was opened in 1831.
• The Society gave its collections to Belfast Museum, later the Ulster Museum, in 1910.
• The Old Museum Arts Centre opened in the 1990s.
• The project to restore the building began in 2018.
The Society has produced an illustrated account of the key events in its history. This can be seen by clicking the button on the right.
James Lawson Drummond
The Society has published a pamphlet on its first President, James Lawson Drummond, which can be read by clicking on the button below.
BNHPS Membership
Members are entitled to come to lectures and events arranged by the Society annually, including outings and book launches. They are encouraged to participate in the running of the Society.
The cost of membership is £30 annually payable in September.
The BNHPS Council
Officers
President: Professor Alun Evans
Vice President and Programme Secretary: Winifred Glover
Treasurer: Professor Brian Walker
Secretary: Rosana Trainor
Members
Dr Gerry Cleary
Anne Davies
Angélique Day
Colin Gowdy
Karen McKnight
Trevor Parkhill
Marcus Patton
Dr William Roulston
Carol Tweedale
Dr Briony Widdis
The Belfast Natural History Museum & Philosophical Society
Old Museum Building
7 College Square North,
Belfast BT1 6AR
Registered with the NI Charity Commission No. 100817