Clifton House celebrates 250th anniversary

2021-08-04T13:57:00+00:00

Today (August 4, 2021) Belfast Charitable Society celebrated the 250th anniversary of the laying of the Poor House foundation stone – now Clifton House. Established by local merchants to help the poor of the city, the building works took another three years to complete, finally opening its doors to the destitute in 1774. The foundation stone was laid by Stewart Banks, Sovereign (Mayor) of Belfast, who lived close by, and watched with interest as the building emerged. News of the laying of the foundation stone spread across the city, with the Belfast Newsletter reporting:  Yesterday; a large Body of the principal Inhabitants [...]