The Medical History of Belfast Charitable Society (Cemetery Tour)

Let us take you on journey through the medical history of 18^th and 19^th Century Belfast through the lives of pioneering surgeons and philanthropists who now lie in rest in Clifton Street Cemetery.

From the opening of the Poor House in 1774, Belfast Charitable Society’s philanthropic aims helped foster an environment of pioneering medical work and cemented themselves as an essential part of Belfast’s history.

Through a guided tour of Clifton Street Cemetery, learn how the Society took part in innovative inoculation campaigns through the guidance United Irishman, William Drennan. Explore the findings of the recently unearthed mysterious medical chest belonging to James McCleery, surgeon to the Poorhouse during the Famine.  And hear more about the significant contributions made by Edward Benn and Martha McTier, while respectively standing at their final resting place.

Our guides will cover the darker side of our medical history too, from the demands of the Cholera epidemics and Famine Fever to the role Clifton Street Cemetery played in the bodysnatching of the 1800s.

Please click on the button below to book your tickets:

Planning your visit:

Meet at Clifton House, and our guide will lead you to the cemetery

Please arrive 10 minutes before the start of your tour

Guided tours last approx. 90mins, which includes the journey time to and from the Cemetery from Clifton House.

Free car parking onsite at Clifton House

Booking in advance essential due to limited spaces

Please advise in advance of any accessibility requirements as the ground of the Cemetery is uneven.