CS Lewis - Celebrated Belfast-Born Writer
Clive Staples Lewis, affectionately known as Jack, was born in a house in Belfast called Little Lea and was homeschooled by his mother Flora Hamilton along with his brother Warnie. His mother was a Maths Scholar and was among the first female students to graduate from Queens just near the Harrison. There is a library dedicated to CS Lewis in Queens with a wardrobe and an ornate rug depicting Aslan the Lion.
Cs Lewis's Maternal Grandfather Hamilton was the Rector of Dundela Church in east Belfast, and the children would often use the huge lion knocker on the huge church door to get his attention. Aslan, the lion, would go on to be a central figure in the Chronicles of Narnia and represent Christianity. You can see the knocker if you visit the church.
Unfortunately, his mother Flora died when the children were relatively young and CS Lewis began boarding at nearby Campbell College. The school grounds are very beautiful and if you visit you can see the lamppost where Lucy first met Mr Tumnus and also his name inscribed on the war memorial there for service in the world war in France.
CS Lewis holidayed in the Mourne mountains and North Coast as a boy. The view looking down into Carlingford lough from the mountains in Rostrevor is his inspiration for Narnia and Dunluce Castle was his Cair Paravel.
When CS Lewis was living in England he married an American woman called Joy. They honeymooned in Holywood and Belfast and stayed in the Crawfordsburn Inn and are rumoured to have stayed on the Malone Road in the row of houses the Harrison is in, but it is unclear which house.
To hear more about CS Lewis you can attend the 10th CS Lewis festival on the 18th to 20th of November 2022 in East Belfast. There are talks, readings, storytelling, a market and walking tours for all ages to enjoy and celebrate the life of a truly inspirational man.
