When the gravesite of Friar's Bush became overcrowded in late 1700, an extra acre was given to the Catholics of Belfast by the Marquis of Donegall thereby extending the site to two acres. The entire area was enclosed within a stone wall and a gatelodge built at the front.

In 1832 the population increase in Belfast and the poor sanitary conditions existing at the time gave rise to a major contagion (Cholera ). This claimed so many victims that the bodies were transported to Friar's Bush where they were burned and the remains interred en masse within the lime-filled mound which grew to be known as the 'Cholera Pit' or 'Plaguey Hill'. In 1847 the pit was reopened to cater for the victims of the next major contagion (Typhoid). In all, it is estimated that the number of bodies dumped between the periods of epidemic ranges between 2000/3000.