Death, Tragedy & Betrayal: The Darker Side of Clifton Street Cemetery

Clifton House is running a guided tour called Death, Tragedy & Betrayal: The Darker Side of Clifton Street Cemetery over the next couple of weeks, and it's exactly what the title suggests. It's a Halloween-season walk through the cemetery that doesn't shy away from the grim stuff. Clifton Street Cemetery opened in 1797 as the 'New Burying Ground', and it's still full of stories, though this one focuses on the darker end of the scale.

The main thing they get into is the body snatchers who plagued the place in its opening decades. It was a lucrative trade back then, and the tour looks at the desperate measures taken to stop them. Beyond that, it covers the burial of murder victims, hangings, and other tragic deaths that left their mark on the ground. It's not a gentle stroll through the headstones; it's more of a dive into the city's more unsettling history.

Logistically, the whole thing takes about 90 minutes, which includes the walk from Clifton House to the cemetery itself. You meet at the house, and there's free car parking there, so you don't have to worry about finding a spot near the cemetery. Because of the subject matter, they've put out a parental discretion warning, so it's probably one to keep in mind if you're thinking of bringing younger ones along.

There are four dates to choose from: Friday 23 October at 1:30pm, Saturday 24 October at 10:00am, Friday 30 October at 1:30pm, and Saturday 31 October at 10:00am. If you can't make it, just keep in mind that cancellations need to be made within 24 hours of the tour's start time. You'll meet at Clifton House, 2 North Queen Street, BT15 1ES, Belfast.