Clifton Street Graveyard opened in 1797 and was managed by the Belfast Charitable Society. It was built on land donated to the Society by the Marquis of Donegall.
In 1799, the Society set aside a portion of land for those who could not pay for burials. The area became known as the ‘poor grave’. It contains a mass grave for the victims of the 1832 cholera epidemic.
The original Clifton Street Graveyard was full by 1819 and a second area, known as the lower ground, was opened.
The graveyard contains the graves of many notable Belfast families, including the Dunvilles, the Sinclairs and the McCrackens
Amongst those buried in Clifton Street Graveyard are:
Dr William Drennan (1754-1820) – United Irishman, doctor and patriots, said to be the first person to describe Ireland as ‘the Emerald Isle’.
Valentine Jones (1712-1806) – Caribbean merchant and founding member of the Belfast Charitable Society.
Robert Joy (1722-85) and Henry Joy (1720-1789) – owners of the Belfast News Letter and Cromac Paper Mill.
Mary Ann McCracken (1770-1866) – niece of Robert and Henry Joy and sister of the Henry Joy McCracken. McCracken was an anti-slavery campaigner who worked with the Belfast Charitable Society, owners of the Poor House.
Henry Joy McCracken (1767-98) – founding member of the United Irishmen. McCracken was hanged on 17 July 1798 for his part in the United Irish Rebellion. He was buried in the grounds of St Georges’, located on High Street, but his remains were later moved to Clifton Street alongside his sister Mary Ann.
William Ritchie (1756-1834) – Scottish shipbuilder who established his shipyard at what is now Corporation Square.
Do you want to learn more about the history of Belfast? Let me take you on my people and places tour!
