Visiting Belfast? Why not take a step into the past on your day out?

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Introduction

Belfast Entries is a website dedicated to the lesser-known history of our people & places of interest. As such we have covered a variety of historic subjects e.g. historic buildings, pubs, streets, interesting ‘walks’, and people of note. It is not a commercial enterprise, simply a website for those interested in exploring the sights and history of the city.

NOTE: We do not cover the more recent history eg ‘The Troubles’ though there are tours specialising in this.

This page is intended to help Belfast visitors identify stories and places of interest covered on our website, BelfastEntries.com . It is not an itinerary for a walk – although Belfast is a compact, easily walkable city visitors interests will vary and the list below highlights a range of places to visit for those with differing interests.

Enjoying the day at Belfast Castle — Enjoying a visit to Belfast Castle

Popular Places

Historic Belfast Pubs

Belfast has a number of historic pubs loved by locals and visitors alike. Some of the oldest are highlighted below. Over time we will add more pub histories. In the meantime, why not sample a few?

Winecellar Entry and its Historic Tavern

Walking from High Street to Rosemary Street Winecellar Entry – Early days Winecellar Entry was once a busy commercial centre, running from Rosemary Street to the River Farset quays on High Street. Ships sailed up the Farset and unloaded their cargoes…

Kelly’s Cellars – Step Back in Time in this Old Belfast Pub

Kelly's Cellars – 300 Years of Memories The Opening of Kelly's Cellars Kelly’s Cellars is said to have opened its doors on Thursday 14th March 1720, making it one of the oldest public houses in Belfast. It is also one of the best known. It was e…

Crown Liquor Saloon – ‘One of the great bars of the world’

The Crown Bar History of the Crown Liquor Saloon The Ulster Railway Tavern The Crown public house was originally called the Ulster Railway Tavern. It is said to have opened in 1826 under the proprietorship of Felix O’Hanlon from South Armagh, possibl…

Visiting Belfast’s Oldest Pubs

Scotty at the Dirty Onion Introduction to the Oldest Belfast Pubs This post looks into some of Belfast's 'oldest' pubs. There is much debate on which is actually the oldest pub with several rivals claiming that honour on different terms eg is it the …

How a Belfast Company helped defeat a killer disease

Edwards Desicatted Soup advert Introduction In the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries poor nutrition and the lack of a balanced diet were responsible for illnesses that are now, thankfully, uncommon throughout most of the world. One of these diseas…

Belfast Walks

Belfast has a city is small enough to be explored on foot. Some may be interested in the walks described below.

Belfast Harbour Walk

A beautiful sunny day in Belfast so we took a walk around Belfast Harbour and Titanic Belfast. The walk took 90 mins with plenty of rest stops for Scotty and a coffee & water break! Route Taken Belfast Harbour Walk Route Map ©-OpenStreetMap-contr…

Belfast – A walk around the Queen’s Quarter

Queen's University Belfast Belfast Queen's Quarter Walk As with our other 'Walks with Scotty' posts, the Belfast Queen's Quarter walk sets out to show an area of Belfast (around Queen's University Belfast) that can be enjoyed in a morning walk for th…

Botanic Gardens Belfast – An Eventful History

Botanic Gardens is a popular garden park located on the Stranmillis Road in South Belfast in close proximity to Queens University Belfast, The Ulster Museum, and the historic Friar's Bush Graveyard. A beautiful place to spend time on a sunny day, Bot…

Friar’s Bush Graveyard – A Fascinating History

Inside Friar's Bush Graveyard, Belfast Introduction Friar’s Bush is Belfast’s oldest Christian burial site. Traditionally it is said the graveyard was established by St Patrick. While this cannot be proved, there is evidence of the existence of a med…

Belfast Walk – Sailortown, Lagan side and Clarendon Dock

Introduction Our 'Walks with Scotty' posts set out to show an area of Belfast (around Sailortown and the Quays here) that can be enjoyed in a morning walk for the benefit of those planning a visit or those living abroad/away from home. The posts larg…

The ‘Belfast Entries’

The ‘Belfast Entries‘ are a series of alleys/ side streets around High Street and Ann Street that date back to the earliest days of Belfast. They provide a fascinating glimpse into Belfast history themselves (as well as a few pubs along the way).

Pottinger’s Entry – One of Belfast’s oldest streets

The Entries Pottinger's Entry is one of the narrow alleys known as "the Belfast entries" which form the very nucleus of the city of Belfast. They are among the oldest passageways in the town. Most of the cobbled lanes ran from High Street to Waring S…

Winecellar Entry and its Historic Tavern

Wilson’s Court – The Story of a Belfast Entry and its Northern Star

Wilson's Court Street Sign Introduction Wilson’s Court is an example of Belfast’s fascinating but often forgotten history. An inconspicuous narrow alley running from High Street to Anne Street, not only was it once home to businesses and families, it…

Sugarhouse Entry – Belfast’s Forgotten Lane

Sugarhouse Entry The Belfast Sugar Industry Sugar Refineries in Belfast By the late 1600’s Belfast had two sugar refineries. One was in Rosemary Lane (now street) and the other in an entry off High St…

Joy’s Entry

Although we have yet to cover Joy’s Entry in our posts (it has a formidable history) I’d say that it is an unmissable option when touring the entries. If you like the history of these old streets then don’t miss it.

Historic Belfast Churches

Belfast has a number of historic churches with fascinating histories. Read below to find out more and plan your visits…

St Malachy’s Church – “Strangers will look with admiration”

Background to Saint Malachy's Church in Belfast The Altar and Felix Piccione paintings By the end of the eighteenth century the majority of the Penal laws had been repealed. With restrictions on Catholics living in towns eased, many people moved to B…

Sinclair Seamen’s Presbyterian Church – A Remarkable Belfast Church

Sinclair Seamen’s Church The Church Opening Sinclair Seamen’s Presbyterian Church was opened on 7th October 1857. The preacher was the Rev Dr Thomas Guthrie from Edinburgh. The Belfast Newsletter reported at the time that tickets for the opening…

Saint Mary’s Church, Belfast – An inspirational story

Front View of Saint Mary's Church, Belfast Background Saint Mary's Church Saint Mary’s was the the first Catholic Church built in Belfast, in 1784, at the end of the Penal era . Understanding the huge significance of this event requires an appreciati…

From Capello de Vado 1306AD to St George’s Church, Belfast

History of St George's Church, Belfast St George's Church, March 2021 Capello de Vado – Chapel of the Ford The name Belfast comes from the Gaelic Beal Feirste meaning ‘mouth of the ford or sandbank’. It was here at the ford of the Lagan River that th…

Related to St George’s Church

The Ghosts of St George’s – The Cemetery of Forgotten Souls

Church Lane and the Cemetery of Forgotten Souls A Shocking Discovery In the spring of 1901, some workmen digging in Church Lane, Belfast made a grim discovery. As they were digging the foundations of a new building on the location of the old Frackelt…

Saint Patrick’s Church – One of Belfast’s Landmark Churches

Saint Patrick's Church exterior Background Growing industrialisation in Ireland and particularly in towns like Belfast, made the traditional weaving and spinning in individual homes obsolete. The rural population flocked to Belfast to work in the cit…

The Three Presbyterian Churches of Rosemary Street, Belfast

First Presbyterian Church Entrance Background – The Early 17th Century The early seventeenth century saw the defeat of the Gaelic clans in the north of Ireland. As a result Arthur Chichester was granted large tracts of land in the Province of Ulster….

Saint Joseph’s Church – The Chapel on the Quays

St Joseph's – The Chapel on the Quays Emergence from Point Fields As Belfast grew and became an industrial and mercantile powerhouse the original docks at Town Key were no longer adequate. The rise in the shipping trade meant the docks at High Street…

Other Places to Visit in Belfast

St George’s Market – Belfast’s Victorian Market

St George's Market – Belfast coat of arms The Belfast 'markets' May Street, near the river Lagan, is the centre of the historic ‘markets’ area of Belfast. There has been a Friday market here in May’s Fields since 1604. The area was owned by the influ…

Belfast’s “Big Fish” – the Salmon of Knowledge

Scotty at the Big Fish Belfast's Big Fish Big Fish Commissioned 1999 In 1999, the Arts Council of Northern Ireland commissioned an art work to celebrate the regeneration of the Lagan River. The resulting Salmon of Knowledge, more commonly known in Be…

The Linen Hall Library-A History of Education, Philanthropy & Rebellion

Belfast Library Sign The Oldest Surviving Subscription Library in Ireland The Belfast Reading Library The Linen Hall Library grew out of the Belfast Reading Society. This Society was established in Belfast on 13th May 1788. Its stated aim was “…the c…

Inside the Linen Hall Library

The Cave Hill Diamond

Belfast Waterworks Park with Cave Hill in background The Legend of the Cave Hill Diamond For centuries the tale had been told of the diamond that could be seen glittering in the sunlight on the higher slopes of the Cave Hill overlooking Belfast Lough…

Cantrell & Cochrane – From Belfast’s Castle Place to a Global Brand

Background Not many in Belfast know of the former Ulster Medical Hall on Castle Place. The small premises still exist although now its a Costa coffee shop. However this small shopfront on 22 Castle Place was the birthplace of Cantrell & Cochrane …

The Story of Ross’s World Famous Ginger Ale and Aerated Waters

Ross's Upper Frontage View Introduction to W. A. Ross & Company “In Ross’s Belfast Ginger Ale we have the spring whispering of vigorous health and of purity; the orchard, the spice garden, and the gentle spirit Ariel of Champagne convey their ten…

Have you seen Charlie Chaplin on Joy Street, Belfast?

Joy Street sign Joy Street Location Joy Street in the Markets area, in the heart of Belfast, has had an interesting history. It is one of the best surviving examples of Georgian architecture in the city. These houses are common in Dublin but rare in …

Queen’s Arcade – The last remaining Victorian Shopping Arcade in Belfast.

Queen's Arcade Fountain Street View Queen’s Arcade in Belfast city centre is a fine example of a Victorian covered shopping enterprise “at once fashionable as a promenade and highly attractive as a business throughfare”. It was constructed in 1880 by…

Francis Calder – The Calder Fountain Memorial

Calder Fountain with the Boat apartments in background Francis Calder Background Early life and Navy Career Francis Anderson Calder was one of Belfast’s most admired and respected citizens in the Victorian era though he was actually born in Edinburgh…

The Albert Memorial Clock – The leaning clock tower of Belfast

The Albert Memorial Clock, Belfast with the harbour in the background Construction of the Albert Memorial Clock Year Built The Albert Clock was built as a memorial to Queen Victoria’s late husband Albert who had died in 1861. Construction work on the…

Other Belfast places worth a visit that we have not covered yet

Belfast City Hall
The Titanic Centre
Belfast Central Library
Commercial Court, Belfast

Places in the Vicinity of Belfast

Belfast Castle, Cave Hill, Belfast

Belfast Castle from it's garden Introduction The first Belfast Castle was built by the Normans in Belfast city centre in the late 12th century. A second castle, made of stone and timber, was later constructed by Sir Arthur Chichester, Baron…

The Cave Hill, McArt’s Fort, Games & Thrones, the Sleeping Giant and more

Belfast from McArt's Fort McArt’s Fort Towering high over Belfast on a rocky ledge at the top of the Cave Hill is the Iron Age fortification of McArt’s Fort. From this viewpoint the whole city and Belfast Lough can be surveyed. On a clear day you can…

The story of Ormeau Park and it’s ‘Lost’ Mansion

Ormeau Flower beds Ormeau – The First People's Park Ormeau Park in the South East of Belfast was the city’s first public park. It was bought by the Corporation as ‘a healthful resort’ for the use of the residents of the town. The opening day, Saturda…

Belfast Waterworks – The Days of Mermaids, Monsters and Sea battles

Belfast Waterworks lower pond with Cavehill / Napoleon's nose Belfast Waterworks Park Despite its rather unappealing name the Waterworks is a very pleasant public park in north Belfast. It is situated on the junction of the Antrim Road and Cavehill R…

A Walk on Carnmoney Hill, County Antrim

Carnmoney Hill View towards Belfast Plants and Flowers Carnmoney Hill lies 6 miles north of Belfast. It rises to a height of 761ft allowing beautiful views over the city, shoreline and Belfast Lough. View towards Belfast Lough The hill is a mixture o…

The Giant’s Ring – A Neolithic Mystery

Giant's Ring – View from the perimeter wall What is the Giant's Ring The Giant’s Ring is a Neolithic henge monument pre-dating the Egyptian pyramids. It is situated in the townland of Ballynahatty, only 4 miles from Belfast city centre. “(The Giant’s…

Carrickfergus Castle – A brief history

Carrickfergus Castle and sea The Carrickfergus Name – Fergus Mór Carrickfergus Castle is named for Fergus Mór, King of Dalriada (Dál Riata). This kingdom consisted of areas of north-east Ulster and parts of western Scotland. In 530 A.D. Fergus d…

Carrickfergus and its Ancient Inn with a Spooky Past – Dobbins Inn

Carrickfergus Castle (Ireland Illustrated, 1831) Location Carrickfergus on the Antrim coast has a long and exciting history. It was a thriving and prosperous town when Belfast was just few cabins on the muddy shores of the River Farset. We have previ…

Shankill Graveyard – A Fascinating History

Headstone and Trees Background to Shankill Parish The Parish of Shankill Shankill Graveyard formed the grounds around an ancient church or monastery in County Antrim (the nearby Glencairn was once known as Monks Hill). The Shankill name comes from th…

The Story of Belfast City Cemetery

Belfast City Cemetery Hillside View Background to Belfast City Cemetery With the accelerating population growth of Belfast, combined with the huge increase in deaths in Ireland in the 1840’s, land for graveyards was desperately needed. Up to this tim…

Further Afield

The Antrim Causeway Coast: Days Out with Belfast Entries

Carrick-a-Rede Cliffside View Introduction The "Causeway Coast" is loose term covering the whole scenic coastline of County Antrim – a term frequently used in setting out places of interest to see, visit or to stay over. Belfast Entries, as a local history website, has covered the history of many lo…

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