When the Belfast Charitable Society opened the new Poor House in 1774 it had room to accommodate seventy people. On the same footprint 40 years later there were four hundred and fifty residents due to demand. As you can imagine this put huge strain on the finances of the charity which relied exclusively on public subscriptions […]
When World War II broke out, the guardians of Clifton House thought the basement area would serve as the perfect air-raid shelter. There were approximately 130 elderly, frail and infirm residents in the house at the time. It didn’t seem feasible to move them any further should the air-raid siren sound. However, air strikes in […]
Today marks 144 years since the passing of the noted doctor and philanthropist, Edward Benn. Edward (1798-1874) was originally from Tanderagee, and worked in the brewing trade in Downpatrick, County Down.
Later he and his brother, George, moved to the Glenravel estate in the Glens of Antrim where they distilled potatoes. They also made their fortune through […]
Today marks the 247th anniversary of the laying of the Poor House foundation stone in 1771, nineteen years after the Belfast Charitable Society was founded in 1752. On 1st August 1771 Stewart Banks, Sovereign (Mayor) of Belfast, laid the foundation stone of the new Poor House. He lived next door to the Donegal Arms Hotel […]
