Solitude (house)

[Red Man]

Hi New Gent

Thanks for your info and research! Interesting what you say about the area. I got the date for Glengormley House from the Ordnance Survey Memoirs of 1838-39 which say that the house was built in 1834 by Alan Gardner Brown. His family were originally from Peter's Hill in Belfast. His brother was Rev John Brown, who was employed in the House of Correction in Belfast c 1820. The brothers owned several properties in West Belfast around that time. It seems that John went over to Aberdeen and various other members of the Brown family went to live in Dublin. I dont know what happened to Alan, but one way or another the house changed hands many times over the years.

The ordnance survey memoirs also say that Alan Gardner Brown owned a threshing wheel not far from the house which was driven by a waterfall- and today there is still a fast-flowing waterfall which emerges between two houses not far from where the old house used to stand.

Hi,

I'm new to this forum. I am try to track down the exact location and/or map references to the house known as Solitude in or around what is now the Waterworks area of North Belfast. I tripped over this thread due to your reference to Alan Gardner Brown and who I believe was his father, John Brown. John Brown was the first High Sheriff of Belfast and I believe he owned and my have lived in the house known as Solitude.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

[liscoole]

Hi Red Man and welcome to the forum.

The name Solitude jumped out at me instantly. My husband is an avid local football fan and follows Cliftonville FC, which was founded on 20 Sept 1879. Their pitch is called "Solitude" and is situated on the Cliftonville Road. The waterworks is very close by and apparently can be seen by spectators in the main stand of the football pitch. Additionally, there is an old house attached to the grounds which holds their boardroom, club shop and offices, locally named the Whitehouse. I am not sure if this is the house you refer to but you can read more about it here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solitude_(football_ground)#Whitehouse

Hope this helps

[Red Man]

Hi Red Man and welcome to the forum.

The name Solitude jumped out at me instantly. My husband is an avid local football fan and follows Cliftonville FC, which was founded on 20 Sept 1879. Their pitch is called "Solitude" and is situated on the Cliftonville Road. The waterworks is very close by and apparently can be seen by spectators in the main stand of the football pitch. Additionally, there is an old house attached to the grounds which holds their boardroom, club shop and offices, locally named the Whitehouse. I am not sure if this is the house you refer to but you can read more about it here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solitude_(football_ground)#Whitehouse

Hope this helps

Thanks, but I have lots of info on the football club.  The 'Whitehouse' you refer to is the former club pavillion and was built in 1890 and not the house i was looking for. I don't believe the house I am looking for is still standing.

Should I start a separate thread on the subject and if so what section should I put it in.

[aghadowey]

No need to start a new topic- I've split these few posts and moved them to Antrim board.

"John Brown was the first High Sheriff of Belfast and I believe he owned and my have lived in the house known as Solitude"- any idea of dates?

[Red Man]

No need to start a new topic- I've split these few posts and moved them to Antrim board.

"John Brown was the first High Sheriff of Belfast and I believe he owned and my have lived in the house known as Solitude"- any idea of dates?

Thanks. Post 1785?



Cliftonville Recreation Company Limited bought the land on which Solitude now stands on 9th December 1889 from Messrs Lowry, Spiller, Milliken and Dobbin.

[akanex2]

Sadly John Brown could not have been the first High Sheriff of Belfast as the post did not exist during his lifetime.  It was created by the Local Government Act of 1898 and the first holder of the office was Sir James Henderson.  John Brown was however the "Sovereign" of Belfast several times which was the equivalent of Mayor under the Borough Charter of 1613.  The title was changed to "Mayor" under the Municipal Corporation Act of 1840 and "Lord Mayor" in 1892 when a new city charter was granted.

John was High Sheriff of Co Antrim in 1783 in succession to Alexander McManus of Mountdavis (1782) and followed by John Cromie of Cromore in 1784.

From Griffith Valuation (1860) I found what is now Cliftonville FC grounds were part of what was then the grounds of Old Park, a large house then owned by William TB Lyons.  There are several "big houses" close at hand at that time including Easton Lodge, Clifton Lodge, Cliftonville, Brookvale, Dunowen, Antrimville, Richmond, Rosemount, Willowbank, Marsden Villa and Hopefield - but none named Solitude.

Could Solitude have been demolished to make way for the waterworks?  Belfast Water Commissioners were appointed by Act of Parliament in 1840 to acquire lands on the Antrim Road to collect water for the use of the town. Perhaps that's when the old house disappeared.

[TheWhuttle]

Hi Red Man,

Seems to have been a sustantial place ...


Ref: Advertisements & Notices .
The Belfast News-Letter, Friday, July 24, 1829; Issue 9613
----
TO BE LET OR SOLD,
THE HOUSE AND LANDS OF SOLITUDE.
The House is large and fit for a genteel Family;
The Offices are ample and convenient.  The Farm
contains 24 1/2 English Acres. It is held under the Marquis
of Donegall, at a small yearly rent, for lives renewable for
ever.  It is situated one mile from Belfast. Possession
can be given immediately.  Two streams of Water inter-
sect the Grounds.
A quantity of small FRUIT in prime order for pre-
serving, &c. for Sale.
Apply to ANDREW PINKERTON, on the Premises.
Solitude, July 23, 1829.
----



Also, earlier ....

Ref: Advertisements & Notices .
The Belfast News-Letter, Friday, March 27, 1829; Issue 9579
----
[Ditto as above down to "Grounds".]

Also, to be Sold in one Let, or Let out for Building, with
Garden Ground, THIRTY ACRES, English Measure,
nearly opposite Messrs. J. Alexander & Co.'s Mills. The
front to the Falls Road, extends to 1800 feet, which will be
Let in parts for building, with suitable rear ground, or
it will be Sold or Let by the Acre.
Apply at the NEWSLETTER-OFFICE; or to
ANDREW PINKERTON
March 20, 1829
On both properties there is excellent Brick Clay.
----

[In view of this last comment, it might be safe to imply that these properties lay nearby to each other ...]


A sale had been sought even earlier in 1828 by Mr. PINKERTON.
['Twas a very tough time commercially then ...]


----

There is no mention of "Solitude" as a placename (near Belfast) in the 18thC BNL index.

The full online digitisation of the 19thC BNL only starts from 1828 currently.

The Registry of Deeds in Dublin might be worth a search around the 1801 timeframe.
It was quite common for the high fliers of society to let out their properties to be managed on their behalf while they were away abroad, albeit under strict legal contracts.
[e.g. Francis WHITTLE looking after Castle Upton for the UPTONs (Lords Templetown).]

Capt. Jock

[Red Man]

Thanks TheWhuttle, that is very helpful. The Pinkerton name had cropped up previously but that helps tie it down a bit more.

[liscoole]

If you check the PRONI catalogue, it lists an entry for the will of Andrew Pinkerton.

The reference is: D2179/8/2

This may shed some more light on "Solitude". Also this link

http://www.archive.org/stream/historicalnotice00youn/historicalnotice00youn_djvu.txt

may give you some more info on Andrew Pinkerton.

Also notable is that 1824 Pigots Directory lists Henry Ogle as living at Solitude, Belfast.