Clifton House, Belfast facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Clifton House |
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Clifton House, October 2007
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| General information | |
| Status | Open, Old Peoples Home |
| Town or city | Belfast |
| Country | Northern Ireland |
| Coordinates | 54°36′22.96″N 5°55′59.86″W / 54.6063778°N 5.9332944°W |
| Construction started | 7 August 1771 |
| Opened | 17 September 1774 |
| Owner | Belfast Charitable Society |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Mr Cooley |
| Designations | GradeA |
Clifton House is a very old and important building in Belfast, Northern Ireland. It was built in the 1700s and is now a special "Grade A listed building," meaning it's protected because of its history. It was first built as a "poor house," a place to help people who were struggling. Today, Clifton House is a heritage centre where you can learn about its past. It also has a home for older people and apartments for those who need a bit of support.
How Clifton House Started
The Belfast Charitable Society was created in August 1752. Their main goal was to build a poorhouse and a small hospital (called an infirmary) to help people in need. The Society got its money from donations from important people in Belfast and even from a special nationwide game called a lottery.
After more than 20 years, a generous person named Arthur Chichester, 1st Marquess of Donegall gave them some land north of the town. A plan was then drawn up by an architect named Mr Cooley. The design included a place for 36 people who needed help and a hospital with 24 beds. There were also large meeting rooms in the middle of the building. The first stone was laid on August 7, 1771, and the building officially opened its doors on September 17, 1774.
Clifton House Through the Years
Clifton House quickly became full, always helping as many people as it could. In March 1800, the Society allowed a doctor named William Haliday to try out the first vaccinations in Ireland. With their parents' permission, children living in the poorhouse were given these vaccinations to protect them from diseases like smallpox. The money raised from this work even helped to add a special ward for people with mental health needs.
Doctor William Drennan was a big supporter of the Belfast Charitable Society. He gave helpful medical advice, especially about how important it was for everyone to get vaccinated against smallpox. He was friends with Henry Joy McCracken and Mary Ann McCracken, who also had strong connections to the Society. Another important person, Edward Bunting, who collected Irish folk music, asked the Society to help him organize a music festival. The money raised from this festival was given to the Charitable Society to help their work.
A small group from the Society's committee traveled to England to learn about valuable trades. They studied the cotton industry in Lancashire and came back with a plan. They decided to train everyone living in Clifton House in skills like weaving, spinning, knitting, and making nets. This training was so successful that it helped start the cotton industry in Belfast!
Clifton House Today
In 2002, the Belfast Charitable Society celebrated its 250th birthday! After this big milestone, they decided to build a new nursing home nearby. This allowed them to let another organization, Helm Housing Association, use Clifton House for 75 years. This agreement helped get the money needed to fix up and improve the old building.
Today, Clifton House is used in two ways:
- Helm Housing Association runs apartments for people who need a bit of support.
- The Belfast Charitable Society still runs a home for older people there.
You can also visit the Clifton House Interpretative Centre. They offer tours of the building and the nearby Clifton Street Cemetery, Belfast. Many people connected to Clifton House are buried in this cemetery, including Mary Ann McCracken and William Drennan. You can book these tours through their website.
