A sanctuary built by David Strain, where gay men could entertain friends and lovers, has been recreated by the artist Lorna Gough, using research by Dr Tom Hulme from Queen’s and Professor Leanne McCormick from Ulster University.

David, from County Down, was a dutiful son from a strict Christian background. After completing school, he joined the family linen business. However, in his evenings and weekends he had his shed: a safe place he built at Oughley, on the outskirts of Belfast. His diaries, letters, photo albums, and newspaper cuttings were deposited and preserved in The Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI).

From the outside, David’s shed looks like any other, however the interior reveals a place of Oscar Wildean decadence. A peat-scented pot belly stove provides a warm welcome. Photographs of David’s friends, family, and his beloved Jack Murray demonstrate his rich social life; while a green carnation buttonhole nods to his obsession with Oscar Wilde. Hidden in the secret drawer of a writing box are replicas of Belfast Telegraph personal ads used by David and other men who were seeking a male companion. Audio tapes bringing some of his diary entries to life play inside the shed while visitors explore their surroundings. 

The installation was developed as part of the Queer Northern Ireland: Sexuality before Liberation Project led by Dr Hulme and Professor McCormick. Funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), the project looks at all aspects of LGBTQ+ or 'queer' history from the late 19th century to the 1970s.

Dr Tom Hulme, from the School of History, Anthropology, Philosophy and Politics at Queen’s said: "I was delighted to see the Oughley Shed installed at the Ulster Museum and then at PRONI. For the diarist David Strain, this country hut was an idyll away from the hustle and bustle of Belfast; a place where he could be himself, surrounding by the books and friends he loved so much. Working with the artist Lorna Gough to realise this project really shows how art and history can work together to shed new light on the LGBTQ+ past of Northern Ireland."

Professor Leanne McCormick, Professor of Modern History at Ulster University commented: "The Oughley Shed is an exciting collaboration which tells of a previously unknown aspect of our history. It brings to life in a vivid and personal way the story of David Strain and allows visitors to understand more about an LGBTQ+ past. It has been a great experience to work on and to see how Lorna Gough was able to visualise and create the shed from the pages of a diary.”

Karen Logan, Senior Curator of History at National Museums NI added: "This is an incredibly meaningful addition to Ulster Museum and our commitment to being an inclusive space for all. The installation houses a vast array of social history artefacts, collectively telling a uniquely human story of the 1930s and we hope that visitors come away from it feeling connected to the past and with new perspectives for the future.”

The exhibition was on display at the Ulster Museum before moving to PRONI, where it will be on display for the next three months.