About

During the 19th and 20th Centuries, north Belfast was at the forefront of keeping Belfast's citizens healthy. Grand institutions (often funded by local philanthropists) sprang up across the area to cater to the growing population. These hospitals tackled the growing health crisis from over-population and industrialisation. They were also tasked with weathering the city's worst health crises, such as the various cholera epidemics.

Now, many of these life-saving institutions have vanished, leaving little trace of their vital and life-saving work. This talk looks at the stories behind some of north Belfast's most prominent institutions, the people who funded them, and the doctors who worked to keep the citizens of Belfast in good health!
Our Speaker:
James Cromey is the Archive & Project Coordinator for the North Belfast Heritage Cluster and their Great Place North Belfast project. He has a background in Archaeology, Geography and History, with a particular focus on Medical History in Britain & Ireland. He has completed extended works on Victorian Mental Health Asylums in Britain, and Bodysnatching in Belfast.

In his role as Archive & Project Coordinator, his work with the Cluster focuses on academic accessibility and empowering communities to rediscover and reclaim their forgotten pasts.