The Throne Hospital: a short history.

The Throne Hospital was established due to the generosity of the Martin family of Shrigley, Killyleagh, whose wealth was derived from the Shrigley flax spinning mills. Mr Samuel Martin conceived the idea of establishing a Children's Hospital in a rural district close to the City of Belfast. Sadly he died in 1872, but his philanthropic wishes were honoured and carried out by his father John Martin who survived him. Twenty-eight acres of land entitled "The Throne Lands" were purchased and a Children's Hospital with 32 beds erected at a cost of £4,000 to the designs of the architect MrT Hevey. The site was considered an ideal one situated on the lower escarpment of Cavehill, and commanding an uninterrupted view of Belfast Lough, the County Down coast and the Crumlin Hills. The hospital first opened its doors to patients on October 1, 1874 and was subsequently transferred by Mr John Martin in 1875 to be incorporated within the Belfast Royal Hospital with a stipulation that a convalescent home should be built on the Lands within 2 years of the transfer.