Entrance Fee: [ Most attractions are FREE ]
 
Clifton House, formerly the Poor House, built in 1774, is Belfast's most historic building. Now fully restored in its original Georgian elegance, its Interpretative Centre is (by arrangement) open to the public. Its boardroom and facilities are available for meetings and functions.

Founded in 1752 by the town's leading citizens, the Belfast Charitable Society sold lottery tickets to fund Belfast's first 'Poorhouse and Infirmary'. The Society was granted widespread legal powers to administer the town's welfare system. It operated a cemetary as well as the town's water supply. Children were taught the skills of mechanised cotton spinning and weaving - the start of the city's industrialisation.

In the age of enlightenment, the radical Presbyterian founders were clearly identified with the revolutionary zeal of the day.

The building now combines the care of the elderly with an interpretative Centre displaying the Society's historic past.