#ULearn13: The blog that sank the Titanic: Cultivating digital citizenship in nz schools
BEFORE TITANIC. BEYOND TITANIC....numerous tourist attractions that reflect on t he city’s...
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1584 Sir John Perrot, the Lord Deputy of Ireland, considered Belfast the best place in Ulster for shipbuilding 1613 Belfast's charter permitted the building of a ‘wharffe or Key in any convenient place uppon the Bay or Creek of Belfast’ 1636 The Eagle Wing was built in Belfast Lough to carry Presbyterians to New England 1785 An act of parliament established a new body to improve Belfast's port and harbour, the Ballast Board 1791 William Ritchie from Ayrshire founded a shipyard where Corporation Square is now 1816 The first steamship arrived in Belfast; regular services to Britain would be established within a few years 1847 The Belfast Harbour Board was formed to regulate and improve the port and harbour 1861 Harland & Wolff, the greatest shipbuilding company in the world, formed by Edward Harland and Gustav Wolff 1867 Abercorn Basin and Hamilton Graving Dock opened 1903 Construction began of the Thompson Graving Dock, the largest dry dock in the world 1911 The Titanic was launched in Belfast; it sank on its maiden voyage from Southampton to New York in 1912 1939–45 Belfast shipyards constructed more than 140 warships; Harland & Wolff's local workforce rose to more than 30,000 1969–74 The iconic Belfast landmarks, the cranes Samson and Goliath, were erected 2012 The opening of Titanic Belfast, a major new tourist attraction, took place; it received 800,000 visitors in its first year A VOYAGE OF DISCOVERY A SEAFARING CITY A GLOBAL CITY BEFORE TITANIC. BEYOND TITANIC. TIMELINE James Lawson’s map of Belfast Lough, 1789, drawn for ‘The Corporation for preserving and improving the Port and Harbour of Belfast’ (the Ballast Board). Belfast’s maritime history stretches back centuries. This heritage trail will take you to some of Belfast’s most historic sites, from the earliest surviving portions of its dock infrastructure to the modern Titanic Belfast visitor attraction. The success of the port of Belfast is testament to the ingenuity and enterprise of numerous individuals. You will discover more about some of them along the way, learning about their achievements and finding out how their legacy is being preserved and promoted today. DISCOVER 16 HISTORIC LOCATIONS WORKERS, MERCHANTS, VISIONARIES. The beginnings of modern Belfast can be traced to the early 1600s when an urban settlement began to emerge around a ford over the River Farset. Most of the inhabitants at this time were settlers from England and Scotland. By the end of the 1600s Belfast was the premier port in Ulster and one of the largest in Ireland. Belfast’s growth continued in the 1700s, though steadily rather than spectacularly. In the course of the nineteenth century Belfast expanded at a phenomenal rate – in 1800 its population stood at around 20,000: in 1911 it was 385,000 making it the largest city in Ireland. The reason for its growth was down to industrial expansion, and in particular the application of mechanisation to what had hitherto been largely cottage industries. Belfast became the most important linen-producing city in the world. At the beginning of the twentieth century, more than 35,000 of Belfast’s inhabitants, most of them women, were involved in the textile industry. By the early 1900s, Belfast had become an industrial and commercial powerhouse, home to some of the largest factories and firms in the world. Harland & Wolff was the largest shipyard in the world, while Ewart & Co. was the largest textile firm in the world. The York Street Flax Spinning Company had the largest textile mill in the world; and nearby Gallaher’s was the largest cigarette factory in the world. The Belfast Ropeworks was the largest facility of its type in the world; and Belfast-based engineering firms like Sirocco and Mackie’s were global brands. The term ‘Belfast made’ was synonymous with ‘the best’. THE GROWTH OF AN INDUSTRIAL POWERHOUSE The 1613 charter creating the corporation of Belfast included a clause granting the right to ‘establish within the ffranchises of the said Burrough one wharffe or Key’ where merchants could load and unload goods. In the 1600s an energetic and ambitious merchant community, mainly Scottish in origin, emerged. These merchants enjoyed strong trading links with Britain, Europe and the Americas. The earliest quay in Belfast was on the south bank of the River Farset in what is now High Street. Belfast’s merchants took the lead in building new quays and extending the docks. The major difficulty for Belfast was that the approach to its quays was via a shallow and winding channel which limited the size of the vessels that were able to dock. Thanks largely to the pioneering work of the Ballast Board (established in 1785) and its successor, the Harbour Board (established in 1847), Belfast’s harbour facilities improved dramatically in the 1800s. These bodies were dominated by Belfast’s merchants who had a vested interest in developing the port. The great merchant families of Victorian Belfast included the Sinclairs. Sinclair Seamen’s Presbyterian Church was named for John Sinclair and enjoyed the generous support of other members of the family. The names of other leading merchants can be seen on the memorials erected on the opening of the Alexandra Dock and Thompson Dock ( Titanic’s Dock). Belfast-made goods were transported around the world in Belfast-built ships. The department store of Robinson & Cleaver, whose grand building can be seen in Donegall Square, was the largest mail order business in the world. Belfast recognised itself as a global trading city and this can be seen in many architectural references in the buildings of the city. A CITY OF MERCHANTS In the 1580s Sir John Perrot, the Lord Deputy of Ireland, considered Belfast to be ‘the best and most convenient place in Ulster for the establishment of shipbuilding’. The earliest known ship to have been built in Belfast Lough was the Eagle Wing, which was constructed to transport Presbyterians from Ulster to New England in 1636 where they hoped to enjoy religious freedom (due to storms the ship was driven back to Ireland). The beginning of the modern era in Belfast’s shipbuilding industry can be traced to 1791 when William Ritchie moved here from Saltcoats on the Ayrshire coast of Scotland. Today the site of his shipyard is occupied by the Harbour Office and his original dock is buried beneath Corporation Square. The most famous firm of shipbuilders in Belfast’s history is Harland & Wolff, formed in 1861 by an Englishman, Edward Harland, and a German, Gustav Wolff. This company would soon lead the world in terms of modern ship designs. Its most famous ship was the RMS Titanic (launched in 1911). At its height the firm was employing over 30,000 men in Belfast – a far cry from the 10 men who worked in Ritchie’s shipyard in 1791. There was also the ‘Wee Yard’ of Workman, Clark – ‘wee’ only in the sense that it had a larger neighbour for it was still one of the largest shipyards in the world. The War Memorial to the company’s employees who died in WWI can be seen at the Pump House. Among the forgotten shipbuilders of Victorian Belfast is the firm McIlwaine & Lewis. This company was founded in 1868 by John McIlwaine and Richard Lewis. Among the ships built by this firm was one given the name Titanic – launched over 20 years before the famous vessel of the same name. Richard Lewis was the grandfather of the world famous Christian writer C. S. Lewis who was born in Belfast in 1898. A CITY OF SHIPBUILDERS Belfast Harbour continues to be a hive of activity. In 2014 nearly half a million freight vehicles passed through the Harbour, while 23 million tonnes were handled. Ferry services connect Belfast to Cairnryan in Scotland and Liverpool, and each day there are more than a dozen arrivals and departures. Belfast is also an increasingly popular stop for cruise ships. In recent years the area around Belfast’s historic docks and along the River Lagan has been transformed. Titanic Quarter is now the most popular area of the city for visitors with numerous tourist attractions that reflect on the city’s maritime heritage. Titanic Belfast tells the story of the famous liner that sank on her maiden voyage in 1912. Nearby in the Hamilton Dock is the meticulously restored Nomadic, the tender which transferred passengers from Cherbourg to the Titanic. Titanic’s Dock and Pump House can also be visited. It was in Titanic’s Dock, the largest dry dock in the world, that the Titanic had her final fit-out. Close by is the Alexandra Dock in which the hundred-year- old HMS Caroline is moored. For those who wish to carry out research into their family history the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland is also located in Titanic Quarter. Across the River Lagan, the dockside has a number of impressive reminders of Belfast’s maritime heritage. The Harbour Office, which stands on the site of William Ritchie’s original shipyard, boasts stained-glass windows bearing the crests of all the major nations with which Belfast traded. The Heritage Room in this building is open to the public. Located in the former Corn Exchange is the new Discover Ulster-Scots Centre which tells the story of Ulster’s many connections with Scotland. BELFAST HARBOUR TODAY William Ritchie from Saltcoats in Ayrshire was Belfast’s pioneer shipbuilder. His Clarendon Dock can be visited today. Harland & Wolff were the world’s biggest shipbuilders, employing tens of thousands of workers in Belfast. A new sculpture of the seahorse from Belfast’s coat of arms stands at Dargan Road, at the entrance to Belfast Harbour. Belfast’s success was due in no small measure to its many connections with Scotland. Scottish merchants established Belfast as a commercial centre in the 1600s, and Scotsmen were to the fore in the city’s shipbuilding industry. As Belfast became increasingly industrialised in the nineteenth century so its commercial links with Glasgow and the Clyde became even stronger. Today there continue to exist strong connections between Belfast and Scotland. Front cover: Princess Alexandra cut the soil at the Alexandra Dock, where HMS Caroline is moored today. Belfast has almost entirely the look of a Scotch town and the character of the inhabitants has considerable resemblance to that of the people of Glasgow. The way of speaking is much more Scotch than Irish. French aristocrat Le Chevalier De La Tochnaye, 1797 The ancestors of the quiet steady men of business of to-day were the Scottish Presbyterians of the seventeenth century. Leitch Ritchie, Ireland picturesque and romantic (1838) There are here many rich merchants, and a very considerable trade from this part to Scotland, particularly to Glasgow; the town and most of the adjacent county being inhabited by the Scots. A New System of Geography, Or General Description of the World (1765) Above: Memorial plaque at Titanic’s Dock Left: John Sinclair bust at Sinclair Seamen’s Presbyterian Church Below: Ritchie’s Dock in 1805, with Cave Hill behind. When I came to Belfast, there was only about six jobbing ship-carpenters ... since I came here, I have brought from Scotland several ship-joiners, block-makers, and blacksmiths William Ritchie, 31 July 1811 Sinclair Seamen’s Presbyterian Church and Belfast Harbour Office at Corporation Square You can stand in the vastness of Titanic’s Dock, watch present-day cargo vessels, and see HMS Caroline in the adjacent Alexandra Dock. BELUM.U137 William Ritchie 1756-1834 (c.1800-8) Thomas Robinson 1765-1810 © National Museums Northern Ireland Collection Ulster Museum American Geographical Society Library Digital Map Collection Sinclair Seamen’s Presbyterian Church IE-Ritchie-812, Ritchie's Dock, Belfast 1805, D. Stewart, early 19th century, © National Museums Northern Ireland Collection Ulster Museum BMT Folding Trail AW 29/6/15 15:08 Page 1
Transcript of BEFORE TITANIC. BEYOND TITANIC....numerous tourist attractions that reflect on t he city’s...
1584 Sir John Perrot, the Lord Deputy of Ireland,considered Belfast the best place in Ulster forshipbuilding
1613 Belfast's charter permitted the building ofa ‘wharffe or Key in any convenient place upponthe Bay or Creek of Belfast’
1636 The Eagle Wing was built in Belfast Loughto carry Presbyterians to New England
1785 An act of parliament established a newbody to improve Belfast's port and harbour, theBallast Board
1791 William Ritchie from Ayrshire foundeda shipyard where Corporation Square is now
1816 The first steamship arrived in Belfast;regular services to Britain would be establishedwithin a few years
1847 The Belfast Harbour Board was formed toregulate and improve the port and harbour
1861 Harland & Wolff, the greatest shipbuildingcompany in the world, formed by Edward Harlandand Gustav Wolff
1867 Abercorn Basin and Hamilton GravingDock opened
1903 Construction began of the ThompsonGraving Dock, the largest dry dock in the world
1911 The Titanic was launched in Belfast;it sank on its maiden voyage from Southamptonto New York in 1912
1939–45 Belfast shipyards constructed morethan 140 warships; Harland & Wolff's localworkforce rose to more than 30,000
1969–74 The iconic Belfast landmarks,the cranes Samson and Goliath, were erected
2012 The opening of Titanic Belfast,a major new tourist attraction,took place; it received 800,000visitors in its first year
A VOYAGE OF DISCOVERYA SEAFARING CITYA GLOBAL CITY
BEFORE TITANIC. BEYOND TITANIC.
TIMELINEJames Lawson’s map of Belfast Lough, 1789, drawn for ‘The Corporation for preserving and improving the Port and Harbour of Belfast’ (the Ballast Board).
Belfast’s maritime history stretches back centuries. This heritage trail will take you to some of Belfast’s most historic sites, from theearliest surviving portions of its dock infrastructure to the modern Titanic Belfast visitor attraction. The success of the port of Belfastis testament to the ingenuity and enterprise of numerous individuals. You will discover more about some of them along the way, learningabout their achievements and finding out how their legacy is being preserved and promoted today.
DISCOVER 16HISTORIC LOCATIONS
WORKERS, MERCHANTS, VISIONARIES.The beginnings of modern Belfast can be tracedto the early 1600s when an urban settlementbegan to emerge around a ford over the RiverFarset. Most of the inhabitants at this time weresettlers from England and Scotland.
By the end of the 1600s Belfast was the premierport in Ulster and one of the largest in Ireland.Belfast’s growth continued in the 1700s, thoughsteadily rather than spectacularly.
In the course of the nineteenth century Belfastexpanded at a phenomenal rate – in 1800 itspopulation stood at around 20,000: in 1911 it was385,000 making it the largest city in Ireland. Thereason for its growth was down to industrialexpansion, and in particular the application ofmechanisation to what had hitherto been largelycottage industries. Belfast became the mostimportant linen-producing city in the world. At thebeginning of the twentieth century, more than35,000 of Belfast’s inhabitants, most of themwomen, were involved in the textile industry.
By the early 1900s, Belfast had become anindustrial and commercial powerhouse, home tosome of the largest factories and firms in the world.
Harland & Wolffwas the largest shipyard in theworld, while Ewart & Co.was the largest textilefirm in the world. The York Street Flax SpinningCompanyhad the largest textile mill in the world;and nearby Gallaher’swas the largest cigarettefactory in the world. The Belfast Ropeworks wasthe largest facility of its type in the world; andBelfast-based engineering firms likeSiroccoandMackie’swere global brands. The term ‘Belfastmade’ was synonymous with ‘the best’.
THE GROWTHOF ANINDUSTRIAL POWERHOUSE
The 1613 charter creating the corporation ofBelfast included a clause granting the right to‘establish within the ffranchises of the saidBurrough one wharffe or Key’ where merchantscould load and unload goods. In the 1600s anenergetic and ambitious merchant community,mainly Scottish in origin, emerged. Thesemerchants enjoyed strong trading links withBritain, Europe and the Americas.
The earliest quay in Belfast was on the south bankof the River Farset in what is now High Street.Belfast’s merchants took the lead in building newquays and extending the docks. The major difficultyfor Belfast was that the approach to its quays wasvia a shallow and winding channel which limited thesize of the vessels that were able to dock. Thankslargely to the pioneering work of the Ballast Board(established in 1785) and its successor, the HarbourBoard(established in 1847), Belfast’s harbourfacilities improved dramatically in the 1800s.
These bodies were dominated by Belfast’s merchantswho had a vested interest in developing the port. Thegreat merchant families of Victorian Belfast includedthe Sinclairs. Sinclair Seamen’s PresbyterianChurchwas named for John Sinclair and enjoyed thegenerous support of other members of the family. Thenames of other leading merchants can be seen onthe memorials erected on the opening of theAlexandra Dock and Thompson Dock (Titanic’s Dock).
Belfast-made goods were transported around theworld in Belfast-built ships. The department store ofRobinson & Cleaver,whose grand building can beseen in Donegall Square, was the largest mail orderbusiness in the world. Belfast recognised itself as aglobal trading city and this can be seen in manyarchitectural references in the buildings of the city.
ACITY OFMERCHANTS
In the 1580s Sir John Perrot, the Lord Deputyof Ireland, considered Belfast to be ‘the bestand most convenient place in Ulster for theestablishment of shipbuilding’.
The earliest known ship to have been built inBelfast Lough was the Eagle Wing,which wasconstructed to transport Presbyterians from Ulsterto New England in 1636 where they hoped to enjoyreligious freedom (due to storms the ship wasdriven back to Ireland).
The beginning of the modern era in Belfast’sshipbuilding industry can be traced to 1791 whenWilliam Ritchiemoved here from Saltcoats on theAyrshire coast of Scotland. Today the site of hisshipyard is occupied by the Harbour Officeand hisoriginal dock is buried beneath Corporation Square.
The most famous firm of shipbuilders in Belfast’shistory is Harland & Wolff,formed in 1861 by anEnglishman, Edward Harland, and a German,Gustav Wolff. Thiscompany would soonlead the world in termsof modern ship designs.
Its most famous ship was the RMS Titanic(launchedin 1911). At its height the firm was employing over30,000 men in Belfast – a far cry from the 10 menwho worked in Ritchie’s shipyard in 1791.
There was also the ‘Wee Yard’ of Workman, Clark–‘wee’ only in the sense that it had a largerneighbour for it was still one of the largestshipyards in the world. The War Memorialto thecompany’s employees who died in WWI can beseen at the Pump House.
Among the forgotten shipbuilders of VictorianBelfast is the firm McIlwaine & Lewis.Thiscompany was founded in 1868 by John McIlwaineand RichardLewis. Among the ships built by thisfirm was one given the name Titanic–launchedover 20 years before the famous vessel of thesame name. Richard Lewis was the grandfatherof the world famous Christian writer C. S. Lewiswho was born in Belfast in 1898.
ACITY OFSHIPBUILDERS
Belfast Harbour continues to be a hive ofactivity. In 2014 nearly half a million freightvehicles passed through the Harbour, while23 million tonnes were handled. Ferryservices connect Belfast to Cairnryan inScotland and Liverpool, and each day thereare more than a dozen arrivals anddepartures. Belfast is also an increasinglypopular stop for cruise ships.
Inrecent years the area around Belfast’shistoric docks and along the River Lagan hasbeen transformed. Titanic Quarter is now themost popular area of the city for visitors withnumerous tourist attractions that reflect onthe city’s maritime heritage. Titanic Belfasttells the story of the famous liner that sankon her maiden voyage in 1912. Nearby in theHamilton Dockisthe meticulously restoredNomadic,the tender which transferredpassengers from Cherbourg to the Titanic.
Titanic’s Dock and Pump Housecan alsobevisited. It was in Titanic’s Dock, thelargest dry dock in the world, that theTitanic had her final fit-out. Close by is theAlexandra Dock in which the hundred-year-old HMS Carolineis moored. For those whowish to carry out research into their familyhistory the Public Record Office of NorthernIreland is also located in Titanic Quarter.
Across the River Lagan, the dockside has anumber of impressive reminders of Belfast’smaritime heritage. The Harbour Office,whichstands on the site of William Ritchie’s originalshipyard, boasts stained-glass windowsbearing the crests of all the major nations withwhich Belfast traded. The Heritage Room inthis building is open to the public. Located inthe former Corn Exchangeisthe new DiscoverUlster-Scots Centre which tells the story ofUlster’s many connections with Scotland.
BELFAST HARBOURTODAY
William Ritchie from Saltcoatsin Ayrshire was Belfast’s pioneershipbuilder. His ClarendonDock can be visited today.
Harland & Wolff were theworld’s biggest shipbuilders,employing tens of thousandsof workers in Belfast.
A new sculpture of the seahorsefrom Belfast’s coat of arms standsat Dargan Road, at the entranceto Belfast Harbour.
Belfast’s success was due in no small measure to its many connections withScotland. Scottish merchants established Belfast as a commercial centre inthe 1600s, and Scotsmen were to the fore in the city’s shipbuilding industry.As Belfast became increasingly industrialised in the nineteenth century soits commercial links with Glasgow and the Clyde became even stronger.Today there continue to exist strong connections between Belfast and Scotland.
Front cover: Princess Alexandra cut the soil at the Alexandra Dock, where HMS Caroline is moored today.
Belfast has almost entirely the look ofa Scotch town and the character of theinhabitants has considerable resemblanceto that of the people of Glasgow. The way ofspeaking is much more Scotch than Irish.French aristocrat Le Chevalier De La Tochnaye, 1797
The ancestors of the quiet steady menof business of to-day were the ScottishPresbyterians of the seventeenth century.
Leitch Ritchie, Ireland picturesque andromantic(1838)
There are here many richmerchants, and a veryconsiderable trade from thispart to Scotland, particularlytoGlasgow; the town and mostofthe adjacent county beinginhabited by the Scots.
ANew System of Geography,OrGeneral Description ofthe World (1765)Above: Memorial plaque at Titanic’s Dock
Left: John Sinclair bust at Sinclair Seamen’sPresbyterian Church
Below: Ritchie’s Dock in 1805, with Cave Hill behind.When I came to Belfast, there was onlyabout six jobbing ship-carpenters ... since I camehere, I have brought from Scotland severalship-joiners, block-makers, and blacksmiths
William Ritchie, 31 July 1811
Sinclair Seamen’s Presbyterian Church andBelfast Harbour Office at Corporation Square
You can stand in the vastness of Titanic’s Dock, watch present-day cargo vessels,and see HMS Carolinein the adjacent Alexandra Dock.
BELUM.U137
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1765-1810©
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SinclairSeamen’sPresbyterianChurch
IE-Ritchie-812, Ritchie's Dock, Belfast 1805, D. Stewart, early 19th century, © National Museums Northern Ireland Collection Ulster Museum
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BELFAST CENTRALRAILWAY STATION
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Located in what was once the heart of the city's maritime commercialdistrict, the York Street Mural depicts Ulster-Scots people and firmswho connected Belfast to the world and highlights their connectionsto the north of the city, which was the historic birthplace of ourshipbuilding industry. The mural is on a Victorian railway building,once part of the sprawling York Street Terminus of the Belfast andNorthern Counties Railway and is still in use by Translink today.
York Street, BT15 1GY
YORK STREET
This congregation developed from the work of the Seamen’sFriend Society in the port of Belfast. Following the death in1856 of John Sinclair, a wealthy Belfast merchant andphilanthropist, his widow and brother Thomas donated £1,000towards the construction of a meeting house for the newcongregation. The building opened in 1857. The interior of thechurch is well known for its many nautical features includinga pulpit shaped like a ship’s prow.
Corporation Square, BT1 3AT
SINCLAIR SEAMEN’S CHURCH
The earliest surviving part of Belfast’s port infrastructure isthe No. 1 Graving Dock, beside the Harbour Office, which wasconstructed between 1796 and 1800 by William Ritchie, theAyrshire-born shipbuilder who had moved to Belfast in 1791,on behalf of the Ballast Board. The No. 2 Graving Dock as wellas the Dock Buildings were completed in 1826 to designs byanother Scotsman, David Logan from Angus.
Clarendon Road, BT1 3AG
CLARENDON DOCK
Standing on the site of William Ritchie’s shipyard of 1791is the Harbour Office, the headquarters of Harbour Board.Designed by the Board’s engineer, George Smith, it was builtbetween 1852 and 1854, with an extension added in 1891–5.Dominated by Belfast’s Ulster-Scots commercial elite, theHarbour Board was instrumental in the development of thecity’s port infrastructure. The Heritage Room in the HarbourOffice tells the story of the port of Belfast.
Corporation Square, BT1 3AT
BELFAST HARBOUR OFFICE
The Corn Exchange was built by a company of grainmerchants and opened in 1852. It was described in 1855as ‘a substantial structure in the best Scotch stone and isregarded as one of the most elegant specimens ofarchitecture in the town’. In 1859, a soiree was held hereto mark the centenary of the birth of Scottish poet RobertBurns. In 2014 the Corn Exchange was transformed into theDiscover Ulster-Scots Centre.
Victoria Street, BT1 3GA
CORN EXCHANGE
Evidence of Presbyterian worship at this site dates back to 1695and the present building, which dates from 1783, is Belfast’soldest surviving place of worship. The church is oval in plan andthe interior has intricate wooden carvings, notable stained-glasswindows and traditional box pews. Belfast’s leading shipbuilder,Edward Harland, was an active and generous member of thecongregation. Members of the Andrews family, including thedesigner of the Titanic, Thomas Andrews, also worshipped here.
Rosemary Street, BT1 1QB
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
The earliest quay in Belfast was on the south bank of theRiver Farset in what is now High Street. In the 18th and early19th centuries new quays were built by wealthy merchants.The quay built by David Tomb in 1804 became known asDonegall Quay. Later this name was given to a much longerstretch of the dockside. Donegall Quay was the place ofembarkation for passengers, livestock and goods travelling onferries to Britain.
Donegall Quay, BT1 3AT
DONEGALL QUAY
Completed in 1857, the Custom House is one of Belfast’sfinest public buildings. It was designed in an Italianate styleby Charles Lanyon and its construction reflected theprosperity of the town’s business community in the midVictorian era. The pediment on the east side is especiallyworth noting for its sculptured figures of Britannia, Neptuneand Mercury. The 19th-century novelist Anthony Trollope brieflyworked here as a Post Office Surveyor.
Custom House Square, BT1 3ET
CUSTOM HOUSE
NORTH BELFAST
In the 1840s port facilities on the County Down side of theLagan began to be actively developed. Queen’s Quay was builtby James Little & Son and completed in 1846. The quay wasrebuilt in 1875–7. Adjoining the quay was the terminus of theBelfast & County Down Railway. In the 1990s the area wascleared to make way for the Odyssey entertainment complex,the first feature of the newly named ‘Titanic Quarter’.
Queen's Quay, BT3 9QQ
QUEEN’S QUAY
The Abercorn Basin, extending to more than 10 acres of watersurface, was built in response to an increased need foradditional dock accommodation and improved harbourfacilities, especially from Belfast’s shipbuilders. Despite theopposition of those who wanted it built on the Antrim side, workbegan in 1864. The basin was officially opened on 2 October1867, by the 2nd Marquess of Abercorn, Lord Lieutenant ofIreland. Today it is the location of a marina.
Queen's Quay, BT3 9QQ
ABERCORN BASIN
Of the hundreds of ships constructed in Belfast over thecenturies, by far the best known is the RMS Titanic whichwas built by Harland & Wolff and launched in front of anestimated 100,000 people in 1911. Opened in April 2012to coincide with the centenary of the sinking of the Titanic,the hugely successful Titanic Belfast visitor attraction tellsthe story of this remarkable liner through a series ofgalleries and interactive displays.
Olympic Way, BT3 9EP
TITANIC BELFAST
The first graving dock on the County Down side of theLagan, the Hamilton Dock was opened in 1867 and namedfor Sir James Hamilton, Chairman of the Harbour Board.Moored in it is the Belfast-built SS Nomadic, the tenderwhich transferred the 1st and 2nd Class passengers fromCherbourg to the Titanic in April 1912. The Nomadic wasbrought back to Belfast in 2006, carefully restored, and isnow open to the public.
Queen's Road, BT3 9DT
SS NOMADIC & HAMILTON DOCK
Dating from the early 20th century, the Harland & WolffHeadquarters Building housed the administrative offices of thecompany and included the distinctive drawing offices wherenaval architects and draughtsmen designed vessels, includingthe Titanic. The building continued to be used by Harland &Wolff until 1989. It was subsequently acquired by TitanicQuarter Ltd and there are now plans restore the structure andto develop it into a visitor attraction and boutique hotel.
Queen's Road, BT3 9DT
HARLAND & WOLFF HEADQUARTERS
Overlooked by the iconic Harland & Wolff cranes, Samson andGoliath, The Yardmen is a bronze sculpture depicting threeshipyard workers returning home to East Belfast. Across theNewtownards Road stands Westbourne Presbyterian Church whichopened in 1880. It was known as the ‘Shipyard Church’ becausemany of its members worked for Harland & Wolff. Not far away arethe ‘Ship of Dreams’ Mural and the Dee Street Titanic Mural.
Newtownards Road, BT4 1AB
YARDMEN SCULPTURE &WESTBOURNE ‘SHIPYARD’ CHURCH
Now known as Titanic's Dock, the Thompson Dock wasbuilt between 1903 and 1911 and at the time of itsopening was the largest dry dock in the world. It wasnamed for Robert Thompson, a farmer’s son fromBallylesson, County Down, who was Chairman of theHarbour Board and one of Belfast’s leading industrialists.It was in this dock that the Titanic had her final fit-outbefore leaving Belfast. The adjoining Pump House hasbeen turned into a visitor centre.
Northern Ireland Science Park, Queen's Road, BT3 9DT
TITANIC’S DOCK & PUMP HOUSE
Built in Birkenhead and launched in 1914, HMS Caroline isthe last ship afloat to have taken part in the Battle ofJutland in 1916. In 1924 she was transferred to Belfast tobecome a training ship for the Ulster Division of the RoyalNaval Volunteer Reserve. During WWII the Caroline servedas the headquarters of the Royal Navy in Belfast. In 2011the ship was decommissioned. Funding has been securedto transform the vessel into a visitor attraction.
Northern Ireland Science Park, Queen's Road, BT3 9DT
HMS CAROLINE
EAST BELFAST
BELFAST’S HISTORICDOCKS AND SHIPYARDS1791–1911Many of Belfast's oldest shipyards and dockshave not survived, but Clarendon Dock,Hamilton Dock, Alexandra Dock andTitanic’s Dock have been carefullypreserved and can be visited today.
1) William Ritchie’s shipyard – 1791later Charles Connell & Sons
2) Ritchie & McLaine's shipyard – 1811
3) Thompson & Kirwan's shipyard – 1851
4) Robert Hickson's shipyard – 1853later Harland & Wolff
5) Workman, Clark & Co. North Yard – 1880
6) McIlwaine & Lewis's shipyard – 1884later the South Yard of Workman, Clark
7) Alexandra Dock – 1889
8) Thompson (Titanic’s) Dock – 1911
MARITIME PUBLIC ART1) Angel Sculpture - Mission to Seafarers2) The Big Fish3) Commander Calder Memorial Fountain4) Titanic Airfix Kit5) Charlie Chaplin
NORTH BELFAST FROM BELFAST HARBOUR OFFICETitanic Belfast Walk: 23 minutes / Drive: 5 minutesYork Street Walk: 13 minutes / Drive: 4 minutesWaterfront Hall Walk: 12 minutes / Drive: 2 minutes
EAST BELFAST FROM TITANIC BELFASTTitanic’s Dock Walk: 10 minutes / Drive: 1 minuteYardmen Statue Walk: 23 minutes / Drive: 6 minutesWaterfront Hall Walk: 21 minutes / Drive: 7 minutesBelfast Harbour Office Walk: 23 minutes / Drive: 5 minutes
A VOYAGE OF DISCOVERYA SEAFARING CITYA GLOBAL CITY
TODAY, THERE ARE OVER 1 MILLIONPASSENGER JOURNEYS BETWEENBELFAST AND SCOTLAND EACH YEAR
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