Open Heritage Belfast: Community Heritage at Risk in Belfast

Join Ulster Architectural Heritage supported by Belfast City Council for Open Heritage Belfast 2023 at St Joseph’s Sailortown to hear the stories of two Heritage at Risk Buildings. Conway Mill was restored in 2010 following a £5million pound restoration. It is often thought that once the buildings are saved that the project ends, but this is not the case. Conway Mill continues to be in use as a workspace, cafe and has museum/art space. There are further plans to make sure that the building is sustainable and adapts to changing work practises. St Joseph’s Church in Sailortown is a key Heritage at Risk building in North Belfast. It is currently in use by the local community where concerts have been held and a children’s group also meets up in this glorious space. Plans for its full reuse are in process and we will hear from Terry McKeown about this progress.

The event is free and includes lunch and in the afternoon we will have a walking tour of the area with a visit to Sinclair Seamen’s Presbyterian Church before finishing at 3pm. Below is the proposed agenda of the day:

10am Tea/coffee arrival

10.15 Introduction and talk on Heritage at Risk – Ulster Architectural Heritage

10.45 – Terry McKeown, Sailortown Regeneration

11.30 – Conway Mill – The Story continues

12:00– Restore and Reuse in Belfast

12.30  – Opportunity for questions and exploring Sailortown

1pm Lunch at Sailortown,

1.45 Walking Tour to take in Parochial House Sailortown, Clarendon Docks, Sinclair Seamen’s Church and changing skylines of Belfast. To finish and return to Sailortown at 3pm.