Wilmont House , built in 1859, is set in the grounds of Sir Thomas and Lady Dixon park.

In May, the Golden Thread Gallery said over £80,000 from the National Lottery Heritage Fund would be used to undertake a feasibility study in partnership with Belfast City Council.

Its aim is to turn the building into a community and arts space.

The findings will be brought before councillors to decide how to progress before anything is confirmed.

The building and demesne were handed to Belfast City Council by Lady Dixon in 1963 on the stipulation that the grounds became a public park and Wilmont House a care home for the elderly.

Since the nursing home closed in 1992, Wilmont House has fallen into a state of disrepair.

The council commissioned a report in 2023 to explore options to restore the p

See Full Page