A New Chapter for C. S. Lewis’s Grandfather’s House in Belfast 🦁
17 hours ago
2 min read
Hidden away in East Belfast stands a remarkable Victorian house with a direct connection to one of the world's most celebrated authors, C. S. Lewis, creator of The Chronicles of Narnia.
Built in 1886–87, the Old Rectory at St Mark’s, Dundela, was once home to Lewis’s maternal grandfather, Reverend Thomas Hamilton, the church’s first Rector. The impressive nine-bedroom Victorian villa remained a family home and rectory for generations.
Lewis himself had strong connections to St Mark’s, where he was baptised, and later returned to commemorate his parents through a beautiful stained-glass window.
A Historic House Left Empty
The Grade B listed building continued serving as a rectory until the mid-1970s, before becoming offices for various Christian organisations and charities.
It has stood unoccupied since 2018, with its condition deteriorating over the years.
Despite its historical and literary significance, the building has remained largely hidden from public view.
A £2.5 Million Restoration Project
But now, there is an exciting plan to bring this historic building back to life.
St Mark’s has launched an ambitious £2.5 million restoration project to preserve the Old Rectory and transform it into a centre celebrating Lewis’s literary and Christian legacy.
Plans include:
A C. S. Lewis exhibition celebrating his life and work.
A library and dedicated study and writing spaces.
Visitor facilities.
A residential writers’ retreat.
The restoration also aims to retain the building’s original Victorian character, including its fireplaces, decorative cornicing and window shutters.
From the Wardrobe to a New Chapter
The project is fundraising, with hopes of reopening the building in late 2028, coinciding with the 130th anniversary of Lewis’s birth.
For me, this is exactly the kind of future I love to see for our historic buildings.
Rather than allowing another important piece of Belfast’s architectural heritage to disappear, there is now a vision to give it a new purpose while preserving its past.
A house with an extraordinary literary connection, and hopefully a wonderful new chapter ahead.
From the Wardrobe to a New Chapter — follow the journey of this remarkable restoration.
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