page_title: Linen Quarter, Belfast
hierarchical_section_title: Linen Quarter, Belfast
caption_attribution_description: Love this one for the gorgeous ghostly tram moving along Bedford Street in Belfast, and if that child conveying device at the right isn't a perambulator, I don't know what is... The building on the left with the impressive canopy is actually the Ulster Hall, and the notice outside may make it slightly easier to date this one: "Monday. Popular Concert Postponed". Fantastic building identification by Gerry Ward: "What is amazing about this photograph (amazing by Belfast standards) is that all buildings shown are still extant! On the left is Bryson House (1865) by WJ Barre, a former linen warehouse, next is the Ulster Hall (1862) also by WJ Barre. The cast iron verandah was added by WH Lynn in 1882, but was removed following severe bomb damage in 1992. Further along is the Workman Warehouse (c1865). This building was badly damaged in a 1975 bomb blast, but was repaired and is now rendered. Then there is a warehouse (1870) which is triangular and has elevations on Clarence Street, Linenhall Street West and Bedford Street. On the right of the photo, where the children are standing, as Niall rightly identifies, is Ewart's Warehouse (1869) by James Hamilton." Date: Circa 1890?? NLI Ref.: L_ROY_02388
context_page_description: Linen Quarter is a vibrant area of Belfast city centre. The name is derived from the great many linen warehouses that are still present in the area. The Linen Quarter is host to some of the major cultural venues of Belfast, including the Ulster Hall and Grand Opera House, alongside a large number of hotels, bars, restaurants and cafes. The district also includes the main transport hub of Belfast.
  The Linen trade that used to dominate this part of the city has now been replaced by international consultancy firms and many technology start ups. Belfast City Council and a number of central government departments are also headquartered in the Linen Quarter, giving the area a distinct character. The vibrancy of the Linen Quarter is supported by the Linen Quarter Business Improvement District, which is a democratically elected body that also promotes the area and helps co-ordinate improvements across the district.
  Geography of the Linen Quarter
  The Linen Quarter is the area of Belfast city centre south of the City Hall.
context_section_description: Linen Quarter is a vibrant area of Belfast city centre. The name is derived from the great many linen warehouses that are still present in the area. The Linen Quarter is host to some of the major cultural venues of Belfast, including the Ulster Hall and Grand Opera House, alongside a large number of hotels, bars, restaurants and cafes. The district also includes the main transport hub of Belfast.
  The Linen trade that used to dominate this part of the city has now been replaced by  international consultancy firms and many technology start ups. Belfast City Council and a number of central government departments are also headquartered in the Linen Quarter, giving the area a distinct character. The vibrancy of the Linen Quarter is supported by the Linen Quarter Business Improvement District, which is a democratically elected body that also promotes the area and helps co-ordinate improvements across the district.
  Geography of the Linen Quarter
  The Linen Quarter is the area of Belfast city centre south of the City Hall. Traditionally the district was understood to occupy an approximate square shaped area bounded by Howard Street/Donegall Square South/May Street, Great Victoria Street, Ormeau Avenue and Joy Street. Since the formation of Linen Quarter BID in 2018, however, the district is often considered to have a wider footprint that includes the Europa Transport Hub and parts of Dublin Road.
  History of the Linen Quarter
  The area now occupied by the Linen Quarter today was marshy land that was part of the estuary where the river Blackstaff flowed into the Lagan. The only habitable grounds directly south of the 17th century city were the sandbanks on the western high water mark of this estuary, where the principal thoroughfare leading south towards Lisburn, and ultimately, Dublin was established. This old route can still be recognised as today’s Sandy Row. The only noticeable development in this area was the paper mill that was established along the river Blackstaff by the Joy family. It occupied the ground around the eastern end of today’s Ormeau Avenue and is remembered through the name of Joy Street to this day.
  This situation persisted well into the 18th century, when the former castle gardens of Belfast Castle (burned down in 1708) were developed into a new city quarter with Donegall Place and the White Linen Hall (completed in 1788) at its heart. Consequently, Linen hall street was opened behind the White Linen Hall and soon other streets followed, including Dublin Road in 1809 and Great Victoria Street in 1823.
  The established of the Gasworks by the Lagan river and the opening of the railway station at Great Victoria Street in the 1820s helped fuel the remarkable growth of this part of Belfast. This included the establishment of new bars (e.g. the Railway Tavern - now known as the Crown Bar) and places of entertainment. After a new mechanised linen industry emerged (originally set up by the Mulholland family in their Linen mills in York Street in the 1820s), the area gradually became the centre of the linen trade, with offices and warehouses for major Linen companies built south of the White Linen Hall congregating around Bedford Street. The economic importance of the linen trade for the city is acknowledged in the nickname of  "Linenopolis" that was assigned to Belfast during the industrial era.
  Many of the linen warehouses dating back to this period still survive in the Linen Quarter to this day, such as Ewart’s buildings (named after William Ewart and Sons, one of the world’s leading linen manufacturers), Bryson House, Yorkshire House (built by the Jaffe Brothers, another one of Europe’s leading linen firms), Armagh House, and Tyrone House, which once housed the Franklin Steam Laundry. Most of these have now been converted into new office premises or apartments.
  With some downturns and recoveries along the way the linen industry survived until the Second World War. But after that, rising costs, new synthetic materials and foreign competition saw it collapse.  With the outbreak of civil unrest during the period from 1
caption: Bedford Street with Ulster Hall in 1902
exif: {}