Belfast Charitable Society facts for kids
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The Belfast Charitable Society is Belfast's oldest charity. It was started in 1752. This group still helps people today from Clifton House. This building first opened in 1774. It was originally a poor house and a hospital for the sick.
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A Helping Hand for Belfast
In 1752, some important business people in Belfast saw a big problem. Many poor people were coming to the town. They needed a place to live and get help. The town was growing fast because of its port and textile factories. This brought many workers and their families. But there was not enough help for them.
So, these people decided to create the Belfast Charitable Society. They wanted to build a "poor-house and hospital." This would help those truly in need. It would also give jobs to people who were begging.
Building Clifton House
The society raised money in clever ways. They used a lottery and asked people to donate. In 1774, Clifton House officially opened. The land for the building was given by Arthur Chichester. He was a powerful local leader.
Clifton House was built on the northern edge of Belfast. It had two main parts. One part was a poor house that could hold 36 people. The other part was a hospital with 24 beds.
Standing Up Against Slavery
Later, in 1786, some members of the society had different ideas. Two founders, Waddell Cunningham and Thomas Greg, tried to start a company. This company would have been involved in the slave trade. Dr. William Haliday, a doctor at the Poor House, also owned a sugar farm that used enslaved people.
However, many people in Belfast were against slavery. Thomas McCabe, a main supporter of the society, led the fight against it. In 1791, a famous writer named Olaudah Equiano visited Belfast. He had escaped slavery himself. His visit helped the people who wanted to end slavery. Their efforts were successful.
A Time of Change and Rebellion
In the same year, 1791, Thomas McCabe joined with other society members. These included Dr William Drennan, John Campbell White, William Tennant, Robert Simms, and Samuel Neilson. They formed a group called the Society of United Irishmen.
This group wanted to unite Protestants, Catholics, and Dissenters. They wanted a fairer government in Ireland. Because of these political ideas, the government became suspicious. During the 1798 rebellion, soldiers took over Clifton House. They used it as a military base. The society could not use the building again until 1800.
Helping with Health and Education
Back in 1782, Dr. William Drennan, a visiting doctor at the poor house, tried a new method. He used variolation to prevent smallpox. This was an early way to protect people from the disease.
In 1800, the Poor House became full again. The society allowed Dr. Haliday to try a newer, safer method. This was vaccination, developed by Edward Jenner. It used cowpox to protect against smallpox. They only did this with the parents' permission for the children at the Poor House.
A School for Children
In 1827, a social reformer named Elizabeth Fry visited Belfast. After her visit, Mary Ann McCracken started the Ladies Committee of the Belfast Charitable Society. Mary Ann was the sister of a famous rebel leader.
Thanks to this committee, a school and nursery were set up for the children at the poor house. Mary Ann wanted the best teachers for the children. She also made sure children had time to play freely. The committee also helped children learn skills for jobs through apprenticeships.
Modern Times
As Belfast grew, other charities were formed to help people. By 1882, the last child had left the Poor House. For many years in the 20th century, Clifton House was a home for older people.
In 2002, the Belfast Charitable Society celebrated its 250th birthday. They decided to build a new nursing home nearby. This allowed them to update Clifton House. Today, the historic buildings have homes for older people and apartments. The society also runs a heritage and conference center there. It helps people learn about the past and holds events.
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