Clifton House Belfast

10/06/2026

08/06/2026

Did you know that Clifton House is part of the North Belfast Heritage Cluster?

This weekend, why not explore the unique heritage of inner north Belfast and discover the hidden stories that shaped the area on the GreatPlace North Belfast walking tour? Along the way, you'll hear tales of a palace, a biscuit factory, and how a cricket ball may have changed the course of history.

You can book your tickets on the Visit Belfast website, or by clicking the link here: https://cliftonhousebelfast.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows/873681748

08/06/2026

The Belfast Charitable Society were conscious that any new admissions to the Poor House may bring cholera into the already crowded institution. The Board decided to open a convalescent home where people could live until it was proven they were cured. It was also used for those who eloped or absconded from the Poor House, and sought to be readmitted, as they could potentially have come into contact with cholera outside of the Poor House.

In cases of more immediate need they employed the physicians in the Poor House to medically examine new admissions, who would be admitted subject to inspection and approval by the doctors.

The Poor House wasn’t like a prison, but the measures they put in place were strict in order to protect the most vulnerable. Leave of absences from the Poor House were still granted, but with caveats. One resident, Elizabeth Stewart was allowed to leave to visit her niece but was “not to be readmitted ‘till all fear of danger from the Cholera has subsided”.

As cholera cases decreased in May 1832 the Poor House eased the tight restrictions that had been put in place a few months earlier. However, this early relaxation did not last long and by mid-June 1832 the Poor House shut again ‘on account of the prevalence of Cholera in the Town’.

By October 1832 things had eased again, and in preparation for the admission of new adults to the Poor House, the building was cleaned with chloride and whitewashed. Once again restrictions were lifted incrementally, and it was not until May 1833 that the Poor House itself lifted all restrictions on residents.

05/06/2026

Christmas Eve 1831 was not a festive one for the Belfast Charitable Society. The members of the Society had watched with apprehension as cholera ripped through Europe. That evening a resolution was passed that on the first appearance of cholera in Belfast that the Poor House would be shut to prevent cholera entering.

By mid-February 1832 there was an awareness that cholera could soon strike in Belfast. The charitable institutions and hospitals were swift to act and put in place what measures they could in advance of the arrival of cholera to mitigate its impact.

In February 1832 the Board of Health requested that the Poor House infirmary take in ‘firm’ patients from wards in the Fever Hospital so they could open special isolation wards for cholera victims in advance of the first cases to ensure that victims who had the disease were isolated from other patients. The Poor House Infirmary would take the pressure off the main hospitals by continuing to provide care for non-cholera patients.

There was an additional benefit for the Charitable Society as it meant that any potential cholera victims from the Poor House itself could be immediately sent to these specialised wards, thereby limiting the risk of the residents of the Poor House.

It wasn’t until February 1832 that the first case of cholera was recorded in Belfast. A 34-year-old man called Brendan Murtagh died of the disease in Quay Lane. As cholera took hold in the town the Poor House Committee held a meeting on 21st April where it was ordered that none of the residents be allowed to leave the House nor any person to be admitted to visit them ‘till further orders’.

This social isolation for the residents of the Poor House helped to protect them against cholera and inevitably saved many lives but it was not the only method employed by the charity to help protect the residents.

03/06/2026

What if the streets of Belfast could tell the story of a woman who witnessed revolution, famine, and the fight for human rights?

This weekend, step into the footsteps of Mary Ann McCracken. From her childhood visits to the Poor House to her tireless campaigning for the vulnerable, her story is woven through the city in ways you might never expect.

Led by a trained guide, this walking tour brings her world to life through places linked to her work and her endeavours.

Tickets still available for this weekend. Book online at CliftonBelfast.com

Visit Belfast

03/06/2026

During the early 1800s, many doctors believed in the miasma theory – the idea that diseases were spread by "bad air" rising from rotting matter. Although now discredited, it was the leading medical theory of its day.

Following the famine and fever that accompanied the "Year of No Summer" in 1816, the Charitable Society introduced measures to protect the Poor House from disease. One notice placed in every room warned residents that their rations of certain “luxury” items would be reduced if they failed to keep windows open and the building properly ventilated.

It wasn't until the 1880s that germ theory of disease replaced miasma theory, proving that specific diseases were caused by specific microorganisms rather than polluted air.

02/06/2026

Volunteers are vital for the delivery of our many tours and talks throughout the year.
We can't thank our volunteer team enough for giving up their precious time and energy for us. Their passion, enthusiasm and knowledge shines through in all that they do, and there is no doubt they are the reason our tours get 5* reviews from our visitors every single time.

If you would like to join our lovely volunteer team at Clifton House, please visit CliftonBelfast.com/volunteer for more information and to contact us.

01/06/2026

Thank you Irish News.

Read more in today's issue about the Belfast Charitable Society and its work in creating infrastructure for a safer, cleaner Belfast.

Thanks again to the Irish News for the fantastic feature in today's paper, which charts the developments in Belfast.

"The poor of Belfast were always at the forefront of the Society’s endeavours. It believed they had the same right to live in a clean environment, to work and be educated, to access medical care and fresh water; an ethos it still follows today. The impact of the changes it made to everyday life in Belfast in the late 18th and early 19th centuries cannot be overestimated. From piped water to clean, well-lit streets, the town became a better place to live for all its inhabitants, regardless of their social standing. The various projects created jobs and introduced the first real sense of civic pride in the burgeoning town."

Pick up your copy today or read online with your Irish News subscription here: www.irishnews.com/entertainment/how-belfast-charitable-society-brought-piped-water-and-street-lighting-to-belfast-YM7JU36CUNBNDF2PEL2DPO7FOU/

Clifton House Belfast Northern Ireland Water

01/06/2026

We’ve got a fantastic line-up of events this month at Clifton House!

Join us on 25 June at 7pm when GreatPlace North Belfast ’s James Cromey explores the fascinating history of hospitals, philanthropy, and medical care in North Belfast.

We also have plenty of guided and self-guided tours throughout the month, including this weekend’s Hero of Belfast: Mary Ann McCracken walking tour.

For more information and tickets, visit: https://cliftonbelfast.com/events/

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31/05/2026

**Self-guided opening times**

This week Clifton House will open for self-guided tours on:

- Monday 1 June, 9.30am - 3pm
- Thursday 4 June, 9.30am - 3pm
- Friday 5 June, 9.30am - 12noon
- Sunday 7 June, 10.30am - 12.30pm

This is a 30 minute experience where you will hear tales of the characters of the Belfast Poor House, and learn more about the formidable Mary Ann McCracken.
Tickets: £5pp

Mary Ann's Poor House Tales - Book online via https://cliftonbelfast.com/events/mary-anns-poor-house-tales-self-guided-tour/ or pop in and pay on the door.