Heritage

Twinbrook was named after the two streams or ‘brooks’ that flowed nearby after Fanny McFarland sold the land for the estate to the Housing Executive. When the estate opened in 1971, temporary buildings were used for religious worship, while makeshift goalposts on a green space provided an outlet for sporting activity.
In the early 1970s, many part-built houses were occupied by families seeking refuge from other areas of Belfast as the street violence intensified. The new community grew as did demand for services and facilities but it would be a while before temporary facilities became newly built churches, leisure centres, shopping centres and cultural hubs.
Listen to these stories and more on our audio heritage trail.
This project was made possible with support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Thanks to National Lottery players.