Belfast: It's History and It's Developement

On the eastern side of Northern Ireland's coast, at the eastern end of Belfast lough and at the mouth of the River Lagan, lies the City of Belfast. Belfast means mouth of the sandy ford. Belfast's site has been lived on since the bronze age. A 5,000 year old henge called the Giants Ring is located near the City at Shaw's Bridge, and the remains of Iron age forts can be found on the hills surrounding the City.

Belfast remained of little importance until the middle ages when a Norman Knight named 'John De Courcy' arrived in Belfast in 1177 and decided to build a castle, 'Belfast Castle' 400 feet above sea level on the steep slopes of the cavehill. Around 1609 King James I began settling English and Scottish migrants in Ulster and around 1611 Sir Arthur Chichester was given Belfast Castle in which he rebuilt, and a small town soon began to grow nearby. Chichester partly controlled Belfast along side 12 merchants. One merchant was chosen to be in charge and he was called the Sovereign. Ordinary people where not allowed to govern the town.

By the early 17th century Belfast had a population of around 1,000 people and it was a busy place. Salted meat, butter, wool, hide and grain were all exported out of Belfast to England, Scotland and France. France and Spain exported wine and fruits into Belfast. Tobacco was also imported from America and sugar was imported from the West Indies and refined in Belfast.

By the late 17th century Belfast doubled in size to 2,000. French Protestants, fleeing persecution for religion came and introduced weaving to Belfast. Rope making, brewing and sail making also started around this time. A fresh water supply made from wooden pipes was built to accommodate everyone in 1680, and at night households hung lanterns outside. A bridge was made over the river Lagan around this time to make access easier. In 1708 Belfast Castle burnt down.

Belfast swelled in population and by 1800, 20,000 people lived there. A new suburb grew up across the Lagan. Belfast briefly over took Dublin as the largest city in Ireland.

Around 1737 Belfast's first Newspaper the'Newsletter' was founded and printed, and 15 years later the first bank in the city 'The Northern' opened it's doors. The first theatre in a wine vault was created, and then a theatre 'The New Theatre' was built in Anne street. The White Linen Hall was built in 1788, but prior to this linen was woven in homes, 'not factories'. The White Linen was welcomed by most as around 17 million yards of linen were being exported by 1773. A harbor was formed along with a harbor board in 1785 and then ship building began in 1791. By 1823 Belfast was lit by gas light at night.

In 1842 Belfast was made borough and then in 1888 a City. The streets where paved with cobble stones around this time. Belfast had it's own Hospital the 'City' and a lunatic asylum. A second bridge the 'Queens Bridge' was built further along the River Lagan. An University also called 'Queens' was formed in 1845. By 1857 a harbor commissioners and a custom house was built. A memorial clock named 'The Albert' after the king was built in 1869.

After being burnt down Belfast Castle was rebuilt in 1870 by the Marquis of Donegal. A public Library was built in Cathedral square in 1890 and in 1895 Belfast had an opera house. A market named 'St Georges was opened one year later. A Cathedral named 'St Anne's' was built and designed by Thomas Drew on the old Parish in 1899. Belfast soon had Museums, botanical gardens and a palm house by 1900.

The streets where dirty and appalling around this time, the houses over crowded and the River Lagan was used as a sewer. Not surprisingly Typlus and Cholera hit the city. Conditions did improve with help from a network of sewers.

Ship building excelled in Belfast after Harland and Wolf was founded in 1862. The port also boomed and the River Lagan was widened because of it's severe winding and curves. Rope making excelled and Linen was by far the top Industry. Large engineering works also grew up in the City, along with the whiskey distillery industry.

Around 1901 the population of Belfast was around 350,000 and a City Hall was built. By 1920 Belfast was named capital of Northern Ireland. Electric Trams where introduced to replace the horse and carriage and an airport was built in 1933.

During the 1920 to 1930 the city suffered high unemployment. By world war one though ship building and engineering excelled, but this made Belfast a target and the Germans bombed Belfast three times in one month killing nearly 1,000 people and damaging 3,200 homes. Great damage was also caused to Belfast's Industry.

Crowed homes and poor quality of houses was rife during the 1960's and 1970's. Belfast had the worst housing conditions in Europe. Thankfully by the end of the century conditions improved.

Today Belfast's population is over 305,000 and the City is regenerated. It's once thriving industries have dwindled away due to the troubles but thankfully they have ended and hopefully Belfast can thrive again. It's biggest industries today are Shipbuilding, computer software and whiskey making. 49% are Protestants and 47% of the people are Catholic. Queens University is one of the biggest in the UK.