PAG E|TWENTY | The History Man
EAST BELFAST EDITION | #6 | JULY 2015 Belmont Ladies College
3 IMAGES ABOVE, LEFT TO RIGHT: Strathearn 1930 / Rehearsals for the pantomime ‘Mother Goose’ take place at Strathearn School in 1932 – while Principal, Miss Miskelly looks on.
3 IMAGES ABOVE & CLOCKWISE Belmont House in the 1890’s / Campbell College 1895 / Campbell College OTC in 1914
SCHOOLS OUT FOR SUMMER By AIDAN C AMP B EL L
CLOCKWISE Belmont Ladies College in 1900 / Tennis court at Belmont Ladies College / Pupils and staff at Belmont Ladies College including three Robb sisters from Ballybeen, Dundonald
“This was the title of a pop song by Alice Cooper in the 1970s. Pop music was probably not part of the curriculum that the governors of a few of our grand schools in the Belmont area had in mind for their pupils many years ago.”
T
homas McClure was a large land owner in the Belmont
In 1890 he sold Belmont to the trustees of linen merchant Henry
what is now Hawthorden Way. The school seems to have had
area. In 1864 he sold a parcel of 5 acres of land to William
James Campbell. The Trustees of Henry Campbell received
a relatively short life span and unlike Campbell College and
Mullan with a covenant to build one dwelling house. The
instructions that his fortune should be used to build either a
Strathearn it has not survived. This grand Victorian villa would
grand house subsequently built was named ‘Strathearn’ (the
hospital or school to bear his name and a school was agreed
by 1920 be renamed as ‘Mertoun’ and become the home of linen
grand house to the left of the Assembley Hall – both recently
on: ‘a College for the purpose of giving there a superior liberal
merchant J.M. Haig. Apparently there was a family connection
demolished). In 1929 the estate was sold to Victoria College and
Protestant education’. Campbell College opened to 215 pupils
with Earl Haig, commander-in-chief of the B.E.F. during the First
the deed enabled the dwelling house to be used as a school.
on 3rd September 1894. This photograph was taken in
World War and the Haig whisky distillers. Honor Gallaugher (nee
A contemporary report explained, ‘The school is in an elevated
August 1895 and the caption declares: ‘Campbell College side
Haig), a daughter of J.M. Haig, would later own and manage
position with a delightfully sunny aspect and its setting is most
view taken from the cricket field’. Some scaffolding is visible on
the ‘Highway’ newsagency (formerly owned by Miss Lynn) shop
picturesque’. This 1930 photograph was taken shortly after
one of the pinnacles which suggests that building work was
opposite Brooklyn (now PSNI HQ) on Knock Road.
the new Strathearn School opened. In 1955 Strathearn was
continuing. The school was not officially completed until 1896.
The pupils of Belmont Ladies College are pictured on the
established as a fully-fledged 11-18 year old senior girls’ school.
The old Belmont House was used as a Clerk of Works
tennis court in 1900. There were several small schools for the
At the time of opening in 1929, with an enrolment of 63 pupils,
office whilst the school was under construction.
children of well-to-do folk around the Knock and Belmont area
Strathearn School was described as the ‘Belmont branch of
The Campbell College Officers’ Training Corp was founded in
which operated from grand houses in the early 1900s. These
Victoria College’. It was a Junior School which accommodated
1909 and was the first to be created at an Irish school. The aim
included Lalghar on Knock Road, operated by the Misses Wylie,
both boys and girls. Miss Edith Miskelly B.A., was the first
of the OTC was to provide officers for the British Expeditionary
Kensington Hall at Kensington Road was run by Miss
Principal and was ‘Assisted by a staff of fourteen Graduates and
Force. It was considered appropriate to undertake such training
McGonigle while Miss Maguire ran Belmont Ladies College.
Specialists’. In 1932 the Kindergarten school play at Strathearn
in Public Schools. There was no conscription in Ireland during
In this fine photograph of the pupils and teachers at Belmont
was ‘Mother Goose’. It was noted ‘Inclement weather meant
either of world wars. 126 out of 594 volunteers made the
Ladies College there are three Robb sisters, Frances, Janie
the new lecture hall of Belmont Presbyterian Church was used’.
ultimate sacrifice in the First World War and 102 out of just over
and Helen in the group. They travelled to school each day
Sounds very modern! Ownership of the Belmont estate dates
1,000 volunteers were killed in action during the Second World
from their home ‘Ballybeen House’ at Dundonald by pony and
back to the 1700s. The name of Belmont may well derive from
War. Not far away from Campbell College was Belmont Ladies
trap. Ballybeen House was a grand farmhouse that was
Portia’s house in ‘The Merchant of Venice’. ‘Belmont House’ was
College on Hawthornden Road and this is how it looked in
demolished a few years ago but their family name survives
bought with much of the surrounding land by Thomas McClure.
about 1900. It was located near the site of Campbell Chase on
at Robb’s Road.
Aidan Campbell has published 11 local history books covering areas of East Belfast and the books are on sale at Hillmount Garden Centre and Marie Curie Hospice – also at: www.eastbelfasthistory.com