Edward Benn – A Tale of Three Belfast Hospitals
Early Years
Edward Benn was born in Tandragee in County Armagh in the year 1798. His father was John Benn (1767-1853) and his mother Elizabeth, was the daughter of James Craig.
The Benn’s had a large family of 4 boys– James, William (?), Edward and George and 5 girls – Anne, Mary, Elizabeth, Emma and Harriet. In the early 19th century, the family moved to Belfast where John Benn had a brewery business. A John Benn is listed as having a brewery and house on North Street in 1819. The family also resided on Hercules Street (now Royal Avenue) before moving to the more prestigious address 4 College Square North in 1838.
Edward’s grandfather, also called John, had come to Ireland in 1760 from Cumberland in England. He was an engineer and was employed to work on the Newry Canal.
The Benn Brothers
As a boy Edward was educated at Belfast Academy and the Belfast Academical Institution along with his younger sibling George (see link below to post George Benn – Historian and Philanthropist). The brothers were very close and subsequently set up a distillery business in Downpatrick in County Down.
In the 1830’s Edward and George moved to the Glenravel Estate, near Ballymena in County Antrim. Here they set about improving the land and had new roads and numerous houses constructed.
In 1842 Edward built Glenravel House. However, not all the brothers’ ventures were successful. Notably their failed attempt to set up a distillery business using potatoes. This was thwarted by English excise regulations and the subsequent potato famine.
Good Fortune
For a time, the Benn’s business interests moved to Liverpool. However, the discovery of rich seams of iron-ore in the Glenravel hills prompted their return to Ireland.
Professor John F Hodges from Downpatrick, was called to Glenravel to examine specimens of ore found on the estate. Professor Hodges, founder of the Chemico-Agricultural Society of Ulster, had studied with Baron von Liebig at Gissen University in Germany and was married to Edward’s sister Elizabeth.
The ore was smelted by local smith John McAlister of Legegrane. It was sent for analysis to the Rowan factory in Belfast (see post The Life of John Rowan) and found to be of high quality.
In 1866 Edward entered into a business partnership with Mr James Fisher of Barrow-in Furness, Lancashire. The iron ore mining industry was established supplying much needed employment. It was also the source of Edward Benn’s wealth which he used for many philanthropic endeavours.
“Nearly forty years ago he (Edward Benn) purchased the estate of Glenravel. It was then a poor, unimproved, and unknown district. He built numerous houses upon it, reclaimed land, made roads, planted on a considerable scale, and at great labor and expenditure did everything in his power to raise the agricultural character of this country. He was the first to introduce to public notice, in a commercial way, the rich iron ore of County Antrim and our community are indebted to him for the development of an industry which is now acquiring a vast importance”
Ballymena Observer 8th August 1874
Attempted Murder
The above notice was published shortly after the death of Edward Benn. However, it appears that, at least early in their ownership of the County Antrim estate, all was not always amiable between the Benn family and their tenants. What may be ‘improvements’ for a landlord is not always beneficial for those folk who have been living on the land for generations. Indeed, on 26th August 1858 a disgruntled farmer took a shot at Glenravel House.
“Mr Benn announced his intention to re-model the townlands, assigning special enclosures of the mountain to each tenant; and it was understood that some of the occupants would necessarily be dispossessed… By a section of the tenantry Mr Benn’s arrangements were regarded as unsatisfactory, and manifestations of hostility ensured resulting in a diabolical attempt upon his life”
Belfast Newsletter 9th August 1858
It was believed the intended target was Edward Benn, although it was George who was closing the shutters at the time the shot was fired from the garden shrubbery. A reward of £50 was offered but the “murderous ruffian” was never apprehended.
History and Archaeology
Edward was said to have had a quiet personality and suffered from poor health in later life. He was described in the local press as
“one of those retiring gentlemen who dislike very much to hear their own praise”
Belfast Newsletter 15th March 1873
Like his brother George, Edward was very much interested in history and archaeology. He was present at Edmund Getty’s excavation of Armoy round tower in 1843 (see post Armoy – An Eventful History).
In 1837 he joined the Belfast Naturalist and Philosophical Society founded in 1821. He wrote on antiquarian subjects for the Journal of the Kilkenny Archaeological Society and the Irish Penny Journal. He also penned a pamphlet entitled Objects in Glass in 1855.
Edward’s munificence allowed the establishment of a School of Mathematics at Belfast Academical Institution.
“Mr Benn was a distinguished Archaeologist, and a valued contributor to the press in that department of our national literature. His collection of Irish antiquities is said to be the largest in the possession of any individual in the North of Ireland”
Ballymena Observer 8th August 1874
Charitable Works
Both Edward and George had strong social consciences (though their tenants might not agree) and sought to alleviate the sufferings of Belfast’s disadvantaged.
Edward was much inspired by the voluntary work being carried out by Dr William McKeown, he was the elder son of Dr William McKeown of Ballyclare. This worthy doctor was preforming eye operations for the poor who could not afford to pay for treatment.
“…Dr William A McKeown, who, although a young man and still only in his twenty sixth year, was possessed of great vision and boundless energy”
R S Allison, The Very Faculties 1969
Edward had a small hospital built on Great Patrick Street for the good doctor to continue his work. This opened on 21st January 1871. However, such was the demand that a larger facility was required.
“From the foundation of this small hospital, Mr Benn devoted a large part of his time devising and carrying out schemes for its improvement and eventually decided to build, at his own expense, a larger and properly planned hospital for the special treatment of patients suffering from diseases of the eye, ear and throat”
Ulster Medical Journal Vol 6 1937
The Ulster Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital
On Friday 14th March 1873 the foundation stone of the Ulster Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital was laid by Mayor James Alexander Henderson.
A large crowd of “gentlemen and ladies” attended the ceremony, including representatives of the medical, legal and business sectors and local clergy. Under the foundation stone was placed a bottle containing the day’s Belfast newspapers, a plan of the building, the name of the donor and some current coinage.
The new hospital was officially opened on Thursday 21st May 1874. Edward had paid £3,200 for its construction and fitting out. The design was by the architect William Hastings and the builder contracted for the work was Mr James Henry of the Crumlin Road.
The impressive 3-storey building was constructed on the corner of Clifton Street and Glenravel Street (named after the Benn’s home) in the north of the city. In its first year alone 1,528 patients received treatment in “the Benn Hospital“, as it was known locally, .
“Another charitable institution which was built recently is the Ulster Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital, situated on Clifton Street. It is a substantial and handsome-looking edifice, and employing as it does, the services of a specialist, who devotes his entire attention to ophthalmic diseases, is calculated to prove a source of the greatest benefit. Since its establishment vast numbers of patients have been treated in it”
Witness (Belfast), 18th September 1874
Innovation in Treatment
Dr McKeown continued his pioneering work in the new hospital. He developed a new procedure for removing cataracts and in 1873 was the first to employ magnets for removing metal from the eye. This surgery was first used on a young lad who had suffered an eye injury while working in the shipyard of Harland and Wolff.
Further properties were built nearby to accommodate medical staff. The hospital was extended on various occasions over the years – 1896, 1924, 1938 and 1939. During the Belfast Blitz the hospital treated 12,777 injured.
The Benn Hospital was later demolished for the development of the Westlink motorway.
The Belfast Hospital for Diseases of the Skin
On 2nd September 1874 the foundation stone was laid for Edward Benn’s next philanthropic project – The Belfast Hospital for Diseases of the Skin.
The Belfast Charitable Society donated the land directly behind the Poor House for this venture. This replaced the smaller Dispensary for Skin Diseases in Academy Street. Dr Henry Purdon was in charge of the hospital and Professor F J Hodges was elected the first president.
“Henry Samuel Purdon (1843-1906) was the pioneer of dermatology in Northern Ireland. In 1865 he established the Belfast Dispensary for Diseases of the Skin… By 1873 Purdon’s hospital’s limitations became evident and a public benefactor, Edward H Benn, financed an up-to-date skin hospital at the cost of around £3,000. The new hospital, completed in 1875 in Glenravel Street, was considered a model of its kind in the United Kingdom”
Dr D J Eedy, The History of Dermatology in Belfast
The hospital, also on Glenravel Street, described as “handsome and commodious”, was constructed of red brick faced with white sand stone. It had 30 beds, operating rooms, pathology laboratory and its own pharmacy.
“In addition to the wards and various other rooms contained in the main building, a suite of baths is attached, consisting of Turkish bath, sulphur, douche, itch, alkaline etc.”
Belfast Weekly Telegraph, 22nd May 1875
The ‘Skin Hospital’ as it was colloquially known, was unfortunately, completely destroyed during the Blitz of April 1941.
The Samaritan Hospital
The third hospital founded by Edward Benn was the Samaritan Hospital at 22-24 Lisburn Road in Belfast. Dr William K McMordie had opened a free dispensary for women and children at 1 College Street in 1872. This subsequently moved to 74 Carlisle Street off Carlisle Circus.
However, at a public meeting held here on 28th July 1873 to discuss the need for extended facilities for women and children, David Cunningham (a friend of Edward), announced that Edward Benn had offered to fund such a construction.
On 18th August 1874 Edward’s brother-in law, Professor Hodges lay the foundation stone for the new hospital. Unfortunately, Edward himself had passed away just 2 weeks earlier. Due to poor health Edward had not been able to leave his County Antrim home for several years and did not see the fruition of his generous works.
“They had come together to witness the laying of the foundation-stone of an erection, the means for building which had been presented to them by the late Edward Benn, Esq., Glenravel House, a gentleman who had done much for the various charitable institutions in Belfast, and he must say that Mr Benn had left his mark – a mark that would never be erased from the history of Belfast. The committee were desirous that Mr Benn should lay the foundation-stone, but Providence deemed it otherwise ere that could be accomplished….”
Belfast Telegraph, 18th August 1874
The Samaritan Hospital for Women and Children was officially opened by William Ewart on Tuesday 29th June 1875. The architect was again William Hastings and the builders Messrs Dixon & Co. Benn supplied the £3,450 construction costs and the Committee paid £1,500 for furnishing and medical equipment.
In 1898 two isolation wards were added to the original hospital funded by Belfast entrepreneur Foster Green (see post Forster Green – The ‘Industrious and Humble’ Philanthropist). The Samaritan Hospital building still remains (the only Benn hospital to do so), but it no longer operates as a hospital.
The Belfast Charitable Society
As well as expending time and money on hospitals for the town, Edward was a generous benefactor to the Belfast Charitable Society.
In 1870, through his anonymous donation, two wings were added to the Poor House. These were later named after him.
After Edward’s death, George Benn gave a painting of Edward to the Society.
“This portrait hangs in the boardroom of Clifton house and is a reminder of a great philanthropist who helped pioneer medical treatment in the area and went to great lengths to ease the sufferings of others, all-the-while battling his own ailing health”
www.cliftonhouse
Remembering Edward Benn
Edward Benn is buried in Clifton Street Cemetery. Though barely remembered now, Edward Benn was one of Belfast’s greatest philanthropists and deserves our admiration and gratitude for his contributions to the city.
Mr Benn’s large contributions to charitable institutions in Belfast are well known. For many years his own life was nothing but suffering, and he considered the direction which his charities took the most effective for relieving the sufferings of others… he always looked fondly upon it (Belfast) as his native home, and was one of the many Belfast men whom, for talent and usefulness, the town has reason to remember with respect
Belfast Newsletter 5th August 1874
The Belfast Evening Telegraph report, 7 August 1874, on funeral of Edward Benn demonstrated the debt owed to this great man.
At a few minutes after the appointed hour the cortege started for its destination. The hearse was drawn by four horses, and the chief mourners were – George Benn, Esq., Glenravel House (brother of the deceased), John F. Hodges, Esq., M.D., and F. Hodges, Esq. Then followed several mourning coaches, and a number of private carriages.
After that came a large body of gentlemen, representing the various public bodies of the town, and marching in procession.
The following committees of institutions took up their places in the ranks : The committee of the Eye and Ear Hospital, which the deceased had built at his own expense; the committee of the Hospital for the Treatment of the Diseases of Women and Children, Lisburn Road, which he built at his sole expense; the committee of the Hospital for the Treatment of Skin Diseases, which he is now building at his sole expense; the committee of the Old Poor-house, to which he added two wings at his sole expense; the committee of the General Hospital. to which he contributed £1,000; the committee of the Belfast Academical Institution, to which he has left his antiquities – said to be the finest collection in the North of Ireland – together with gift of £1,000 for the purpose of providing a building for their reception; and the committee of the Samaritan Hospital, in which he took a very deep interest.
The town and Corporation of Belfast was represented by the Mayor (James A. Henderson, Esq.) and several members of the Council. Sir James Hamilton (chairman) and a number of Commissioners appeared, to do honour to the deceased on the part of the Harbour Board.
The procession was followed by a large assemblage of the most respectable citizens of Belfast, who seemed anxious to pay respect to the remains of a gentleman whose loss will long be felt.
Belfast Evening Telegraph, 7 August 1874
The report went on to add that the coffin was of oak, French polished, with brass mountings, and on the breast-plate was the following inscription:-
EDWARD BENN,
Died 3rd August, 1874,
Aged 76 years.
The funeral reported ended:
He always Indulged in domestic and social philanthropy; and, after a life of difficulties, in which he tried to benefit every person, his remains were today come to their last receptacle in the assurance of that blessed and glorious hope taught by our Saviour himself that if the dust return to the dust from which it came, the spirit, they hoped, had ascended to the God who gave it.
Prayer was then offered up, after which the last remains of Edward Benn, Esq., were covered from mortal gaze.
Belfast Evening Telegraph, 7 August 1874
Related Posts
Edward’s brother George also had an equally impressive life story worthy of reading.
George Benn – Historian and Philanthropist
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