From his formative years growing up  in the village of Killyleagh, Hans Sloane (1660 – 1753) rose to international acclaim in the 17th and 18th century as a botanist, President of the Royal Society, Royal Physician and Patron of the Chelsea Physic Garden in London. 

Sloane was the world’s greatest collector and catalogued and carefully encased every artefact, to a total of 71,000 items. His astonishing collection became the foundation of the British Museum in London. Visit this Discovery Centre to learn more about Sloane and other local contributors to history and science before enjoying the Botanic Garden, Gift Shop and Art Exhibitions.