Clifton House, Belfast

Clifton House

Clifton House, October 2007
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 / 54.6063778; -5.9332944Coordinates: 54°36′22.96″N 5°55′59.86″W / 54.6063778°N 5.9332944°W / 54.6063778; -5.9332944
Construction started 7 August 1771
Opening 17 September 1774
Owner Belfast Charitable Society
Design and construction
Architect Mr Cooley
Designations GradeA
Website
cliftonbelfast.org.uk

Clifton House is an 18th-century Grade A listed building located in Belfast, Northern Ireland.[1] Originally built as a poor house by the Belfast Charitable Institution, today it is an old people's home.[1]

Background

The Belfast Charitable Society was founded in August 1752, with the aim of setting up a poorhouse and a charitable hospital infirmary. The Society was financed by subscriptions collected from leading inhabitants of the then town of Belfast, and a nationwide lottery. After over 20 years, land was donated by Arthur Chichester, the first Marquess of Donegall to the north of the town, and a plan was drawn up by Mr Cooley for a combined 36 person poorhouse and 24 bed infirmary, estimated at £3,000 to construct. In the centre of the final approved design were large assembly rooms. The foundation stone was laid on 7 August 1771, with the building opening on 17 September 1774.[2]

History

Quickly becoming full and continually operating at full capacity, the Society agreed in March 1800 to permit Dr Haliday to try the first trials of inoculation and vaccination in Ireland. Subject to the condition of approval of their parents, poorhouse children were given vaccinations to protect them against diseases. The funds generated allowed the building to be extended, adding a lunatic ward.[2]

House of Industry

In 1809 the Society agreed the creation of an associated "House of Industry" on the site, with the aim of training the poor to allow them to work in skilled industries "for the suppression of mendicity and the promotion of industry among the poor."[2] A small sub-group of the Societies committee had been sent to England to establish high-value trades which the poor should be trained in, and having studied the Lancashire cotton trade, came back to Belfast with the plan of training all inmates in the skills of the same industry. Hence training was set up on weaving, spinning, knitting, and net-making.[2] The result was the foundation of Belfat's cotton industry.

Present

After Belfast Charitable Society celebrated its 250th anniversary in 2002, it decided to build a new nursing home at Carlisle Circus. This allowed them to lease Clifton House to Helm Housing Association for 70 years, allowing funding of required renovation work.[1] Clifton House is now shared by Helm who operate sheltered accommodation, and the Society who run an old persons home.[3]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Belfast Charitable Institution (Clifton House), Clifton Street, Belfast: Historic Building Details. Northern Ireland Buildings Database. Northern Ireland Environment Agency. Retrieved 2010-06-30.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Clifton House, Belfast". workhouses.org.uk. Retrieved 26 June 2013.
  3. ↑ "History". Belfast Charitable Society. Retrieved 26 June 2013.

External links

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