Written in Stone - the History of Belfast City Cemetery by Tom Hartley, Vere Foster (1819 - 1900) - champion of the poor in Ireland, especially in relation to education, Margaret Byers (died February 1912) - pioneer of women's education in Belfast and principal of Victoria College, Margaret M Pirrie (died June 1935) wife of Viscount Pirrie and financial supporter of the Royal Victoria Hospital, Sir William Whitla (1851-1933) - a leading physician and former pro-Vice Chancellor of Queen's University, Belfast, Sam Thompson (1916-1965) - playwright and author of Over The Bridge, Rinty Monaghan (died 1984) - first Irish boxer to be honoured by the Boxing Hall of Fame, Florence Lewis (died August 1908) - mother of author CS Lewis, Daniel Joseph Jaffe (died 1871) - prominent linen merchant who built the first synagogue in Belfast, Sir Edward Harland (1830-1895) - MP for north Belfast between 1886 and 1895 and co-founder of the shipbuilding company, Viscount Pirrie (1847-1924) - apprenticed to Harland and Wolff shipbuilders and associated with the building of the Titanic. There are also mass graves where aborted or stillborn babies from the Royal were buried for years. Ulster Unionist councillor Jim Rodgers said the funding would "allow us to ensure the unique heritage of this part of the city is protected for future generations". In 1916 sections were set aside for the city's Jewish community and the burial of deceased sailors and soldiers. cemeteries found within miles of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. [5], Coordinates: .mw-parser-output .geo-default,.mw-parser-output .geo-dms,.mw-parser-output .geo-dec{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .geo-nondefault,.mw-parser-output .geo-multi-punct{display:none}.mw-parser-output .longitude,.mw-parser-output .latitude{white-space:nowrap}543523N 55845W / 54.58972N 5.97917W / 54.58972; -5.97917, Last edited on 17 February 2023, at 01:05, Learn how and when to remove this template message, "Belfast cemetery vandalised so often people don't want buried in it", Irish Gravestone Inscriptions, Tracing your Irish Ancestors: Introduction, http://www.cwgc.org/find-a-cemetery/cemetery/73327/BELFAST%20CITY%20CEMETERY, "Face of Jesus Christ appears on tree stump at Belfast cemetery", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Belfast_City_Cemetery&oldid=1139811273, This page was last edited on 17 February 2023, at 01:05. We recommend you use the latest version of Chrome, Safari, Edge and Firefox. To read about this work, go to City Cemetery Heritage Project. "We often think of cemeteries as places for the dead, but our parks and cemeteries provide vital connections to our history, our community and our natural heritage and are also very much for the living. In 2016, 13 Jewish burial spots were vandalised and in recent years graves at the cemetery have been the target of repeated anti-social behaviour and attacks, leading to the installation of CCTV by the council. (LogOut/ Your new password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and one or more numbers or special characters. Belfast City Cemetery (Irish: Reilig Chathair Bhal Feirste) is a large cemetery in west Belfast, Northern Ireland. On the far side of the peaceline more recent housing from the 1990s is visible almost abutting the wall. Donaldson was a former IRA member and Sinn Fin politician. It must've been a very complicated affair for mixed couplings who retained their own respective faiths. You can always change this later in your Account settings. This self-guided trail map highlights some of the extraordinary stories of women laid to rest in Belfast City Cemetery. The land was purchased from Thomas Sinclair. Milltown Cemetery was founded on 1st August 1869 due to the ever growing population rate of Belfast. It takes approximately 3 hours to complete. It lies within the townland of Ballymurphy, between Falls Road and Springfield Road, near Milltown Cemetery. With funding from the National Lottery's Heritage Fund, we are investing 2.8million to protect, enhance and promote the cemetery's rich heritage. The World's largest gravesite collection. The foreground site on the Loyalist side has been the site of Eleventh Night bonfires made up of wooden palettes and rubber car tyres. Please send tips (and photos) to extramuralactivity@gmail.com or tag us on Twitter @ExtramuralActiv. The space between the headstones is the site in Belfast City Cemetery where an underground wall was built to divide Protestants and Catholics even in death. Before the cemetery opened, a nine-foot deep underground wall was meant to divide consecrated and non-consecrated ground and separate the Catholic and Protestant sections of the new graveyard. Can Nigeria's election result be overturned? There has been an area set aside for Belfast's Jewish residents since 1874. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. Excellent tour. Learn how your comment data is processed. He is also able to explain the background of Northern Ireland's first peace wall, which lies underneath the cemetery. Belfast, , County Antrim, Northern Ireland, Drag images here or select from your computer, Added by:Thomas F. Scully on 28 Apr 2019, Oops, we were unable to send the email. A nine-foot deep underground wall was built to keep consecrated and non-consecrated ground separate, essentially dividing the Catholic and Protestant sections. There is a problem with your email/password. Well done to all involved. Situated in West Belfast, around 226,000 people are buried here, including many of Belfasts wealthiest families. As part of the attempts to attract more visitors, shrubs and trees will be planted and a new visitor and education hub will be developed for exhibitions and events. Belfast City Cemetery 511 Falls Road, Belfast, County Antrim, BT12 6DE About Complete with bell and cast iron fountains, this Victorian cemetery was opened in 1869 as Belfast's first cross-denominational burial ground. The ISIS (magazine) documentary The dispute was eventually resolved when the Corporation bought from Bishop Dorrian, for 4,000, the right tobury Protestants in the ground allocated for Catholic burials. Devenny/Ervine Documentary I worked there for a summer. Belfast City Cemetery is one of the oldest public graveyards in Belfast, and the city's first municipal burial ground. If you have any queries or needaccess assistance you can email cemeteries@belfastcity.gov.ukor call028 9027 0690. Afine example of Victorian cast iron workmanship, installed by George Smith and Co of Sun Foundry, Glasgow, in 1880. At the insistence of Catholic clergy who argued that the ground would not be consecrated if shared,the graveyard was createdwith an underground wall (shown above) nine feet in height. Please complete the captcha to let us know you are a real person. "I have worked with Accord since 2020 and they have been very efficient, professional and cost effective. 6493. From famine victims to industrial magnates, footballers, orangemen, Jews and of course Catholics seperated in death as in life from their Protestant neighbours by an underground wall. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. 535-C W Lamber RdBrea, CA 92821. I thought you might like to see a cemetery for Belfast City Cemetery I found on Findagrave.com. Visitors can park on either side of the road in front of the Superintendent's House. More than 230,000 people have been buried there since it was opened in 1869. Belfast City Cemetery opened on 1 August 1869 and by the beginning of the 20th century, the cemetery was firmly established as one of the largest burial grounds in Belfast. We will work directly with local people as the project develops and introduce a range of measures to ensure the cemetery feels more welcoming and safer for both local residents and visitors. With funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund,we are leading an exciting project to enhance the existing built and natural heritage of City Cemetery and increase peoples ability to access and understand it, while protecting and preserving it for future generations. However, more space was needed and, in June 1912, Belfast Corporation purchased 54 acres of the adjoining Glenalina estate from Henry Patterson, extending the cemetery . We will publicise all opportunities on our website and well work with partner organisations to spread the word to local people. At the insistence of Catholic clergy who argued that the ground would not be consecrated if shared, the graveyard was created with an underground wall (shown above) nine feet in height. The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has awarded developing funding of 165,800 through its Parks for People programme to enable Belfast City . Change). UTV, OTHERS The longest peaceline runs three miles long and divides the Shankill Road from the Lower Falls Road, yet other walls are much shorter, encircling and splitting communities in a more problematic set of divisions. Special characters are not allowed. (LogOut/ Wasteland with Peaceline Wall running in parallel, COPYRIGHT 2014 ARTS COUNCIL OF NORTHERN IRELAND. The glory days of Belfast at its industrial zenith are preserved within its walls. Situated in West Belfast, around 226,000 people are buried here, including many of Belfast's wealthiest families. Found more than one record for entered Email, You need to confirm this account before you can sign in. Before the cemetery opened, a nine-foot deep underground wall was meant to divide consecrated and non-consecrated ground and separate the Catholic and Protestant sections of the new graveyard. Video, Russian minister laughed at for Ukraine war claims, graves at the cemetery have been the target of repeated anti-social behaviour, US-made cheese can be called 'gruyere' - court, AOC under investigation for Met Gala dress, The children left behind in Cuba's exodus, Alex Murdaugh's legal troubles are far from over, Saving Private Ryan actor Tom Sizemore dies at 61, Sonic boom heard as RAF Typhoon jets escort plane, Walkie Talkie architect Rafael Violy dies aged 78. Check Glider and bus timetables on Translink (link opens in new window) website. cemeteries found in will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account. Belfast City Cemetery opened on 1 August 1869 and by the beginning of the 20th century, the cemetery was firmly established as one of the largest burial grounds in Belfast. But now, thanks to this money we have the opportunity to create a site that is fit for purpose in the 21st century, and accessible for all, whilst ensuring it is properly preserved. Before its opening on 1 August, 1869, most other local cemeteries were owned by religious denominations. Vandalism in the cemetery is widespread.[1]. Hidden heritage of Belfast City Cemetery set to be uncovered. Women in the Archives is led by The Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI) and The Linen Hall Library. The visitor centre is open five days a week, Tuesday to Saturday, from 9.30am to 1.30pm. read more. He was such an honest good lad. However, more space was needed and, in June 1912, Belfast Corporation purchased 54 acres of the adjoining Glenalina estate from Henry Patterson, extending the cemetery westwards towards the Black Mountain. Jonathan McCormick (at CAIN) (1996-2006) In 1914, a section of the cemetery was reserved for the burial of sailors and soldiers. His burial in the City Cemetery rather than in the republican plot of Milltown Cemetery was significant, as it was seen as a final snub by the republican movement. Peter Moloney Collection Improve this listing All photos (3) The area Your account has been locked for 30 minutes due to too many failed sign in attempts. Theres now a lovely memorial to the babies buried in there as far as I know. Bill Rolstons web page It currently houses the cemetery office. There are no new grave plots available in the cemetery, but burials still take place in existing graves. City Cemetery, designed by William Gay from Bradford, was planned as Belfast's first and largest cross-denominational burial ground when the ground was purchased in 1866 by the Belfast Corporation (which became Belfast City Council). It compiles research undertaken by 24 participants from Women in the Archives, a community engagement programme, led by the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI) and the . Belfast Media Group Before the cemetery opened, a nine-foot deep underground wall was meant to divide consecrated and non-consecratedground and separate the Catholic and Protestant sections of the new graveyard. The first burial in the Glenalina section took place on November 13, 1915 and was officially renamed Belfast City Cemetery. [1] History [ edit] The peacelines of Belfast, while not architectural, are nonetheless dominant structural elements of the built environment and they remain as physical markers and reminders that the normalization in housing and civic space has some way to go. This changed in 1979 as Milltown also drew near to capacity. We are developing an ongoing activity plan and volunteering plan that will enable local people to be part of the ongoing development of this project in many different areas. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. The bishop then purchased, for a cost of 4,200, 15 acres of land on the other side of Falls Road for a new Catholic cemetery Milltown. cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Friday 30 June 2pm-4pm City Cemetery One of the oldest public cemeteries in Belfast, and the city's first municipal burial ground when it opened in 1869, the City Cemetery is also the. (LogOut/ The central steps and Victorian fountains will be restored, while new signage will be installed to explain the history of the burial ground. Try again. Probably the most visually striking and historically significant monument in the cemetery, the steps were built in 1867. Please enter at least 2 characters. BBC Radio 4 programme (2013-10) Please enter your email address and we will send you an email with a reset password code. It was purchased in 1866 by Belfast Corporation (now the council) and was officially opened on 1 August 1869 as the. REVIEWS. It contains information about the architectural diversity of the various plots and tombs, personal details of those buried in the graveyard and suggestions for walking routes through the cemetery. A number of sections in the cemetery were used for the burial of the poor. A system error has occurred. Written in Stone tells the stories of the men and women who lie at rest in Belfast's first municipal burial ground, which officially opened on 1 August 1869. Thanks for your help! If you have any information about a mural/graffiti/street art, please leave a comment on the post. He was killed shortly after being named as a British spy. These locations were some of the worst battlegrounds of the Troubles and continue to act as a focus for violence in Belfast. The investment aims to transform how people view and use the cemetery. Belfast City Hall, Belfast, BT1 5GS 028 9032 0202. I wouldn't want to be bit by one of themmuns". The final elements of the project will see the restoration of several historic B1-listed monuments, as well as the installation of new interpretive signage in Irish during 2023. (Source: Belfast City Council), Glenalina Extension from section N on the left. This self-guided trail map highlights some of the extraordinary stories of women laid to rest in Belfast City Cemetery. Approximately 225,153 people have been buried in the graveyard, including politicians, businessmen, inventors and industrialists. Before we get down to the ghosts and ghouls, let's start with some interesting facts. Seven prostitutes are buried in this double grave, which is marked with a small cast-iron shield which bears the name of the Penitentiary. TIL There is a underground wall at Belfast City Cemetery to keep Protestant & Catholics apart Related Topics Ireland Northern Ireland European Union Europe United Kingdom Place comments sorted by Best Top New Controversial Q&A Add a Comment Xabity Additional comment actions Of course there is, it's the rest in peace-wall Reply On 8 April 2006, Denis Donaldson was buried in the cemetery. Please enter your email and password to sign in. There is car parking available at the cemetery. Excellent Tour. The Penitentiary, located in York Lane off Donegall Street and later at Brunswick Street, and the Ulster Magdalene Asylum were associations set up to rehabilitate women working in prostitution. Before its opening on 1 August, 1869, most other local cemeteries were owned by religious denominations. RC Burial ground consecration for a time required a denominationally homogenous setting, rc specific rituals . Kept apart in death. There are complex borders between communities. Belfast City Cemetery is one of the oldest public graveyards in Belfast, and the citys first municipal burial ground. ARTFORMS > ARCHITECTURE > Wasteland and Peaceline Wall, Corrugated iron and wire high fence; cleared housing leaving derelict site. Irish News (Belfast) MURALS (LogOut/ It also features beautiful views, an abundance of wildlife and an underground wall sunk. Following an engagement process with families, a permanent memorial at Plot Z1, also known as the Baby Haven, was unveiled at City Cemetery on Thursday 12 September 2019. [2] In this area is a memorial to Daniel Joseph Jaffe. "By developing the site, we will be opening it up for people to explore and discover more about Belfast's history, which has been something of a hidden gem at City Cemetery. Wonderful human stories. Dating back to the 1860s, Belfast City Cemetery is one of the oldest public cemeteries in the city. Belfast City Cemetery is one of the oldest public cemeteries in Belfast. Paul Mullan, the head of the Heritage Lottery Fund in Northern Ireland, described the cemetery as a place of "immense heritage value". Headstones. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. The words he used were how dare they put a limit to Gods love. It lies within the townland of Ballymurphy, between Falls Road and Springfield Road, near Milltown Cemetery. It was accessed via a separate entrance on Whiterock Road. Representatives of the families involved in the design unveiled the memorial with stonemason Charlotte Howarth and the Lord Mayor of Belfast Councillor John Finucane. ". At conservative gathering, Trump is still the favourite. Resend Activation Email, Please check the I'm not a robot checkbox, If you want to be a Photo Volunteer you must enter a ZIP Code or select your location on the map. On 7 August 2012, an image purportedly depicting the face of Jesus (cf. Narrow your results to famous, Non-Cemetery Burials, memorials with or without grave photos and more. One of the most well known graves in the cemetery is the plot of the Ulster Female Penitentiary. BBC Arts introduction to murals, with Bill Rolston Belfast's City Cemetery opened in 1869 and was originally intended for the interment of both Catholics and Protestants. It is maintained by Belfast City Council. Read about our approach to external linking. Belfast City Cemetery |511 Falls Rd, Belfast BT12 6DE.