Historic Building Details

HB Ref No:
HB26/49/001 A

Address :
Clifton House 2 North Queen Street Belfast BT15 1EQ

Townland:
Town Parks

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Survey 2:
A

Date of Listing:
04/03/1976 00:00:00

Date of De-listing:

Current Use:
Residential Home

Former Use
Residential Home

Conservation Area:
No

Industrial Archaeology:
No

Vernacular:
No

Thatched:
No

Monument:
No

Derelict:
No

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OS Map No:
130-13NE

IG Ref:
J3358 7509

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Owner Category

Exterior Description And Setting

Detached symmetrical multi-bay two-storey over basement with attic pedimented brick and stone Neo-Palladian former Poor House, dated 1774, with central octagonal tower and spire and pair of pavilion wings terminating in a pair of single-bay gable-fronted pavilion blocks. Built to the designs of Robert Joy. Quadrangular on plan facing southeast with the pavilion blocks extended to the rear as a pair of two-storey over basement wings, built c.1825. The two wings were further extended to the west, c.1872, to the designs of William Hastings and connected by a further wing enclosing the west side of the internal courtyard, dated 1867, to the designs of William Barre. Extensively renovated c.2002 with the north, south and west wings largely rebuilt except for the outward facing elevations. Located on an elevated site to the south of the Westlink motorway, to the northeast of Clifton Street and to the west of North Queen Street with a gate lodge to the entrance on North Queen Street (HB26/49/001B), a large front lawn and a development of housing for the elderly occupying the north of the site. M-profile natural slate roof to the front wing with roll-moulded black clay ridge tiles, several machine-made redbrick chimneystacks having profiled stone coping and replacement terracotta pots. The front wing is set behind lead-lined redbrick parapet walls with sandstone cornice and cast-iron box hoppers dated 1774 and cast-iron downpipes breaking through parapets. Central octagonal plan sandstone tower with diminutive round-headed window openings to each face and corbelled balustrade over supporting an eight-sided tapered sandstone ashlar spire with brass ball finial and weather vane having brass date flag ‘1774’. The north and south wings also have pitched natural slate roofs with chimneys (as per principal front wing) and ogee-moulded cast-iron guttering on sandstone eaves cornice and cast-iron downpipes. The west wing has ogee-moulded metal guttering supported on sandstone eaves cornice, redbrick cogging eaves course and cast-iron downpipes and dated hoppers (‘1867’). Redbrick walling laid in Flemish bond with sandstone plinth course over ruled-and-lined cement rendered basement walling. The west wing and the later blocks to the southwest and northwest have machine-made redbrick walling laid in Flemish bond. Gauged brick square-headed window openings with sandstone sills and largely replacement 6/6 timber sash windows (unless otherwise stated). Symmetrical front elevation comprises a central pedimented two-storey over basement block (five windows wide) flanked by pair of single-storey over basement connecting wings (four windows wide) and advanced gable-fronted single-bay pavilion blocks. The central block is defined by a pediment covering the central three windows forming a shallow breakfront. The central block has a modillion sandstone cornice and architrave returning to the side elevations and continued as a raking cornice to the pediment. The redbrick tympanum has a glazed clock-face with iron Roman numerals and a sandstone surround. Between ground and first floors is a stepped sandstone platband while the windows to the breakfront only have sandstone architrave surrounds. Central square-headed door opening set within a pedimented sandstone Doric doorcase. Double-leaf hardwood doors with raised-and-fielded panels deeply set within a bull-nosed masonry surround. Door opening flanked by part engaged Doric columns supporting full Doric entablature and pediment with mutules and supporting a suspended iron lantern. Door opens onto stone-flagged platform and thirteen swept stone steps bridging the basement area and enclosed by low swept rendered walls with stone coping, recent steel handrail and terminating in squat circular piers. Each connecting pavilion wing is four windows wide with a sandstone cornice to the base of the parapet walls and four tall round-headed window openings formed in gauged brick with 8/12 timber sash windows, 8/8 to the basement. Each pavilion block has a full-span pediment with sandstone cornice and a diminutive oculus to the redbrick tympanum. The single bay is set within a round-headed recess having a lunette window to the first floor with original fixed-pane timber windows having Gothic tracery and framed by rendered surround rising from a sandstone platband which returns to the inner cheeks. The rear elevation to the central block is also five windows wide with a central pedimented projection housing the staircase. The pediment has sandstone cornice with an oculus to the tympanum framed in sandstone. The cornice extends across the entire rear elevation at the base of the brick parapet wall. The basement walls have been rebuilt in modern redbrick laid in stretcher bond with concrete plinth course. The projection has a single Venetian window to the half-landing formed in sandstone ashlar with Doric pilasters, plain entablature, archivolt moulding and keystone to the central window and fixed multi-pane timber windows. The rear elevations to the connecting wings have been rebuilt in modern redbrick with replacement round-headed window and door openings to the ground floor. The south side elevation to the south pavilion block is three windows wide with a parapet wall and extends to the west by a further fourteen windows including a central shallow breakfront three windows wide. The 1872 southwest block is eight windows wide, built in machine-made redbrick with gauged brick round-headed window openings to the first floor, square-headed window openings to the ground floor having flush chamfered sandstone sills and lintels forming a continuous flush platband and single-pane timber sash windows. The easternmost section has plainer detailing than the westernmost section with a large round-headed carriage arch formed in voussoired sandstone ashlar and large keystone with replacement double-leaf timber panelled doors and panelled overpanels. The westernmost section has rusticated sandstone quoins, stepped window reveals, a deep projecting sandstone corbelled eaves cornice and abutted to the centre by a redbrick chimneystack with decorative rectangular carved sandstone plaque stating; ‘This / and the corresponding wing / were erected by / Edward Benn Esq. / of / Glenravel House / and presented / to the / Belfast Charitable Society / 1872’. A further decorative redbrick chimneystack rises from the inner side elevation with moulded capstones and decorative scrolled sandstone brackets to the base. The west wing is ten windows wide and stepped back from the single-bay southwest and northwest blocks to either end, recently connected by a single-bay two-storey recessed entrance bay, c.2002. The flanking blocks each have a full-height three-sided canted bay window with parapet walls rising to the full-span pediment. The pediments have deep moulded sandstone cornice with concave corbels and ball finials to the parapets and to either end of the pediments. The cornice to the pediments wrap around the canted bay while the bay windows have sandstone Doric piers, splayed sills on continuous moulded sill courses, 2/2 timber sash windows to the central windows and single-pane timber sash windows to either side. The west elevation to the west wing has a hipped natural slate roof with shouldered redbrick chimneystacks and moulded capstones. Machine-made redbrick walls laid in Flemish bond with rusticated quoins, rendered frieze having applied lettering stating; ‘This central building was erected by John Charters Esq. A.D. MDCCCLXVIII’, continuous moulded sill courses and projecting plinth course. Gauged brick segmental-headed window openings to first floor with moulded kneed architrave surrounds, keystones and horizontally-glazed 2/2 timber sash windows resting on a continuous sill cornice. Gauged brick round-headed window openings to the ground floor with moulded kneed architrave surrounds and horizontally-glazed 2/2 timber sash windows resting on continuous moulded sill course. The northwestern block is detailed as per the southwestern block. The north elevation to the north wing is detailed as per the south elevation to the south wing. The internal elevations to the north, west and south wings have been completely rebuilt c.2002, emulating the original detailing of the outward facing elevations. Setting Located on an elevated site to the south of the Westlink motorway, to the northeast of Clifton Street and to the west of North Queen Street with a gate lodge to the entrance on North Queen Street (HB26/49/001B), a large front lawn and a development of housing for the elderly occupying the north of the site. The inner courtyard has a circular lawn and central fountain with the rear elevation to the central front block enclosed by modern steel railings. Roof: Natural slate RWG: Cast-iron Walling: Redbrick Windows: Replacement timber sash

Architects

Ferguson, Godfrey Hastings, William Barre, William J

Historical Information

The Belfast Charitable Institution was constructed between 1771-74, on a large area of land granted by Lord Donegall, to designs prepared by the amateur architect Robert Joy. Established by key figures of Belfast in 1752, the Belfast Charitable Society sought to improve the welfare of the most destitute individuals by providing a constant poverty relief system. Prior to this, a lack of legislation and the absence of Parish relief throughout Ireland, meant reliance was placed on occasional donations known as ‘Poores Money’. The Society’s aim was to first construct a poor house and infirmary, in which to house vagrants, employ beggars and receive the infirm poor, followed by a school and church (Bardon).A suitable piece of land was acquisitioned from Lord Donegall, in what was then “… a healthy and beautiful situation opposite the head of Donegall Street…” (1768 Belfast News Letter). Building funds were acquired through a combination of public subscription and a series of lotteries. The Belfast Charitable Institution is first captioned ‘Poor House’ on James Williamson’s map of Belfast (1791), sited in large grounds to the northern edge of the town and bounded by undeveloped land. Noted as one of the town’s principal buildings on this map c.1791, the main façade is one of the few depicted in detail, which highlights the significance of the building and of the institution. This map (1791) illustrates that the building originally consisted of a single rectilinear block. The Dublin based architect Thomas Cooley was consulted on the design, in addition to Scottish architect Robert Mylne, who prepared a series of drawings but Strain (1961) suggests the actual plans were completed by local paper merchant, Robert Joy (DIA; Larmour). Construction began with the laying of the foundation stone on 1st August 1771 by Stewart Banks, the Sovereign of Belfast (Bardon). Master masons Joseph McNary and William Anderson completed the contract at a cost which exceeded £7,000 and Hugh Dunlap was master craftsman of the building (Patton). The stone spire was constructed at a cost of £170 15s by James Brown and a Mr. Watson was the coppersmith who crafted the spire’s weather vane, which reads’1774’ (Brett; Strain). Opened in December 1774, the poor house and infirmary originally contained; seven beds for the infirm, four double beds for beggars, twenty two double beds for the poor and four beds for vagrants (Bardon). In 1775 the bell and clock of the old Parish Church in Belfast, were installed in the Poor House. This bell now hangs from a wooden frame inscribed ‘1731’, inside the building (Strain).By the first OS map (1829-35) it is evident that extension work to the building had been carried out; 1821 for the south-wing and 1825, for the north-wing (Larmour). First listed at £290 in the Townland Valuation (1830s), this sum included the yards, gardens, basement and offices associated with the Poor House. A map of the Poor House (1826) shows the Society leased out part of their land and the associated tenements. However, the valuer noted that if more of the grounds were utilised for building purposes, a larger value would be achieved (Townland Valauation 1830s). A series of significant additions were constructed during the late 19th century, which are reflected in the Belfast Revaluations (1900). The ‘Poor House’, offices, yard and grounds were noted at £950 and the total cost of construction for the building was listed as £18,836. These additions comprised; the rear wing, dedicated to John Charters and built in 1868 to the designs of W.J Barre, the Benn wings to the south-west and north-east which were funded by Edward Benn and designed by William Hastings in 1873 and finally the dining hall, kitchens and sculleries by Godfrey Ferguson in 1887 (Brett). The plan within the Belfast Revaluation (1900) also shows the series of corridors, which were built to connect the various wings and improve circulation (Bardon). Although not originally designed to care for children, the first were admitted in 1776 and children continued to be cared for until 1886. The inhabitants were given work spinning and weaving, beggars were issued badges which enabled them to legally beg, while the delinquent and insane were restrained and confined to the clock tower, prior to the provision of a hospital elsewhere in 1829. During 1798-1802 the Poor House was rented out to forces of the English Crown. Despite the establishment of the Irish Poor Law in 1838, which saw the construction of workhouses and the relief of the poor become a legal requirement of the Union, the Poor House continued to function through a number of donations. During the mid 19th century, demand for its services increased due to outbreaks of severe famine and disease, coupled with a rapid growth of the surrounding area as a result of industrialisation. The Street Directories of the time show, the ‘Old Poor House’ as it was listed in 1863 had become known as the ‘Belfast Charitable Institution’ by the late 19th century. To commemorate its beginnings, the ornamental wrought iron gates were installed in 1892, decorated with “Belfast Charitable Society 1771” (Bardon). During the 20th century the building underwent modernisation works and functioned primarily as a place of care for the aged. Residents were evacuated during World War Two, during which the large cellar was used as an air raid shelter and the front lawn as an anchor point for barrage balloons. The building, now ‘Clifton House’, deteriorated in the next decades and underwent substantial restoration in the late 1960s.The end of the 20th century saw a major roadway created directly to the rear which separated the building from the burying ground (HB26/49/001 C). No longer able to meet modern nursing standards, new accommodation for residents was built to the north. Clifton House underwent restoration and refurbishment in 2000-02 and provided Sheltered Housing accommodation. The work carried out at this time also involved the demolition of buildings in the inner courtyard, which dated from the mid 20th century (UA). The building now operates primarily as an events venue. While the design may have been unconventional at the time of conception, Clifton House is “…a very charming piece of Irish Georgian building.” and remains Belfast’s oldest example of a complete building (Larmour 1987). References: Primary Sources 1. PRONI OS/6/1/61/1- First Edition OS Map (1829-35) 2. PRONI OS/6/1/61/3- Second Edition OS Map (1858) 3. PRONI OS/6/1/61/4- Third Edition OS Map (1901-2) 4. PRONI OS/6/1/61/6- Fourth Edition OS Map (1931) 5. PRONI T1541/4 James Williamson- Map of Belfast (1791) 6. PRONI VAL/7/B/4/7- Hand Drawn Plan of The Poor House (1900) 7. PRONI VAL/1/B/720/A - Townland Valuations (1830s) 8. PRONI VAL/2/B/7/2/G – Griffith’s Valuation (1859-60) 9. PRONI VAL/7/B/4/7 – Belfast Revaluations (1900-02) 10. PRONI VAL/12/B/43/B/19 - Annual Revisions (1906-15) 11. PRONI VAL/3/B/3/8 - First General Revaluation (1935) 12. The Ulster Street Directories (1806-1995) Secondary Sources 1. Benn, George “A History of the Town of Belfast- 1877” Blackstaff Press, Belfast 2008 2. Strain, R.W.M “Belfast and Its Charitable Society” Oxford University Press, London, 1961 3. Bardon, Jonathan “An Interesting & Honourable History: The Belfast Charitable Society, The First 250 Years, 1752-2002” Belfast Charitable Society, Belfast (2002) 4. Larmour, P “Belfast, An Illustrated Architectural Guide” 1987 5. Brett, C.E.B “ The Buildings of Belfast 1700-1914” 1985 ed 6. Patton, Marcus “Central Belfast- An Historical Gazetteer” UAHS, Belfast (1993) 7. www.dia.ie - Dictionary of Irish Architects online 8. Map of the Poor House Farm- Thomas Pattinson (1826) in. (Strain, R.W.M “Belfast and Its Charitable Society” Oxford University Press, London, 1961) 9. Belfast News Letter, 6th July 1768 in. (Benn, George “A History of the Town of Belfast- 1877” Blackstaff Press, Belfast 2008) 10. UA “Ulster Architect” February 2003

Criteria for Listing

Architectural Interest

A. Style B. Proportion C. Ornamentation H-. Alterations detracting from building H+. Alterations enhancing the building I. Quality and survival of Interior J. Setting K. Group value

Historic Interest

V. Authorship Z. Rarity W. Northern Ireland/International Interest

Evaluation

Detached symmetrical multi-bay two-storey over basement with attic pedimented brick and stone Neo-Palladian former Poor House, dated 1774, to the designs of Robert Joy with central octagonal tower and spire and pair of pavilion wings terminating in a pair of single-bay gable-fronted pavilion blocks. Further wings to designs by W J Barre, by W Hastings and by G Ferguson. Often cited as the most intact eighteenth-century building in Belfast, the recent renovations have compromised the integrity of the building as a whole, particularly the north, south and west wings, with the loss of historic fabric and detailing and some alteration to the original floor plans. Nevertheless, much original character has survived and it is a fine example of the work of several notable local architects. Further, as the home of the Belfast Charitable Society, the building has much significance in the history of the City due to the role of the Society in the establishment of much of the city’s civic amenities including water, policing, town planning and hospitals. The Gate Lodge (HB26/49/001B) and Burying Place (HB26/49/001C) complete a group of rarity and importance.

General Comments

Renumbered as part of a group. Formerly HB26/49/001

Date of Survey

27 September 2012