It is that time of year again when we can see a stretch in the evenings, and the thought goes through your mind that it is time for a spring clean. Well, the staff at Clifton House were doing their own spring clean, organising some boxes in our attic space and came across an unexpected find!
They uncovered a limited number of Dr. R.W.M. Strain’s “Belfast and its Charitable Society: A Story of Urban Social Development”, published 57 years ago. Dr. R.W.M. Strain, affectionately known as Billy by staff and residents alike, was appointed visiting physician to the Belfast Charitable Institution in 1946, a year before it became re-branded as Clifton House. Dr. Strain was fascinated by the the unique history of the Charitable Society, and as a Committee member he was able to spend his free time researching in the archive. This research culminated in the publication of the definitive history of the Belfast Charitable Society. Academics and historians alike were impressed by the sheer volume of work that went into producing this volume and Queen’s University Belfast awarded Dr Strain a PhD for his efforts.
Clifton House Heritage Centre are proud to be able to offer a small number of these volumes for sale. These books are ‘new old stock’ and were purchased by the Belfast Charitable Society in 1961.
Would you like to own one of these hard-backed volumes? They are available now for only £25 in Clifton House.