Rushlight Magazine Est.1972 
Welcome to Beechmount Falls Road BEECHMOUNT HOUSE.
little is recorded of the very early history of Beechmount House (above),it is known that it at one time was owned by a Rev. Patrick Vance who was the great grandfather of the Sculptor, Albert Bruce-Joy, whose mother was actually born at the house. His father was Dr. William Bruce-Joy who stemmed from two locally well known families, Bruce, founder of the Belfast Academy and Joy the family who founded the
“Belfast Newsletter” a female member of this family was also the mother of the Patriot Martyr Henry Joy McCracken. ‘
Beechmount House” stood atop a hill surrounded by 31 acres of land, and had many Beech trees around it, hence “Beechmount”, later many local streets got their names from this. In the early 1800’s it had two gate lodges one on the main Falls Road and the other at a service entrance on the ‘Giant’s Foot Lane”, also known as Beechmount Lane, this Lodge House was removed over a hundred years ago, the other was there until quite recently, opposite where the old Broadway picture house was. The next owner of the property was a Lewis Redford, a Belfast Merchant. It was in the late 1800
’s that a jeweller, Samuel Riddel bought the house and he and his family lived there in grand style, I remember speaking to old people many years ago who told me of regularly seeing Riddel and his daughters riding down the Falls Road in an open carriage. .“like proper royalty”, the big stone wall that runs along the property facing the Falls Road was built in 1910. It is said that the Riddles originated from Comber, Co Down and were related to the famous Belfast Jewellers and clockmakers Niels. You will see the name Riddel spelt many different ways but I believe
“Riddel” is the proper because they built’ and owned ‘Riddel’s Arcade’ a shopping mall off Donegall Place and they would hardly have their name spelt incorrectly on a street named after them. Generally Falls Road Catholic’s believe that Samuel Riddel had it wrote into the deeds of his Beechmount House..’... that this property may never fall into Papish hands’, or words to that effect, personally I would image that that wording had been present in the deeds even before Riddel became the owner of the property, but I won’t spoil a good story for it is a fact, that the same Mr Riddel gave a sum of money to a hospital at Queen’s with a written in provision that no Catholic was to benefit from it, poor Mr Riddel must be turning.. no, rolling, in his grave for in 1932 the Catholic Bishop, Dr. Mageen bought the property and the “Sister’s Of Mercy” moved in after a religious service in September 15th 1932 Riddel’s two daughters lived in the house up to that point. In 1934 a Chapel was blessed and opened at
” Beechmount House” and patients were moved from the overcrowded Mater Hospital to the House which was by now called “Our Lady’s Hospital.” eventually having four large and twelve small wards catering for about 140 elderly patients. And now recently an Irish Speaking school has opened up on the grounds poor oul Riddel must be doing Head Stands in his grave.
To add insult to injury to the poor wee bigot... the biggest Catholic gathering in the history of Belfast took place on the
“Fields” of ‘Beechmount House” on Sunday, 19th June 1954, 100,000 Catholics people assembled to join in the “Rosary Crusade in all people came from 27 different parishes and during the service,Father Peyton, announced that 162,544 people had signed the pledge to recite the Rosary daily. One Hundred buses came in from outside the city, 3,906 invalids were seated at front of the altar that looked down towards the main Falls Road. the crowd were railed in segments according to their Parish, wee Joe Graham was there with his daddy in the St Paul’s Contingent, the crowds were so big that many had to rally in nearby McRoiy Park where a loudspeaker system was linked up, some say people were even rallied inside the Broadway Picture house where again some audio system was arranged.. a memorable and historic day, but it must have been a nightmare or yer man Sammy Riddel lying in his grave..,
TO BE LOCATED IN RUSHLIGHT MAGAZINE
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