|
Belfast’s Victorian Splendour
Situated on Ireland’s eastern coast at the western end of Belfast Lough and flanked by rolling hills, Belfast is probably best known as a city with a long, often troubled past and as the birthplace of the Titanic. Indeed, the two gigantic cranes that tower over the city’s skyline are a constant reminder of the once prolific shipyard, and no visit to Belfast would be complete without one of the many tours of what is known affectionately as the “Titanic Quarter”. It is due in part to these tours that Belfast has become one of Europe‘s most popular tourist destinations. However, the city that also gave the world C S Lewis, George Best and Van Morrison has much, much more to offer.
Modern Belfast
The recent political developments in Northern Ireland have not only seen an influx of investment but a major rejuvenation of the city center. The atmosphere is vibrant, enthusiastic and filled with optimism. Along with the already new and copious amount of apartment blocks, hotels and shops selling the latest fashion, Belfast is now the scene of one of Europe’s largest ongoing urban regeneration projects, Victoria Square. The complex is due to open in spring 2008, at a cost of £320 million and will contain luxury apartments, bars, restaurants shopping malls and an eight screen multiplex cinema. The city’s streets provide a lively mix of pubs and clubs all with their own distinctive brand of entertainment, from traditional Irish music to nightclubs playing some of the hottest beats available. Eating out is second to none, everything from bistros and trendy coffee shops to restaurants owned by award winning and celebrity chefs. As if that wasn’t enough, the Waterfront Hall and the Belfast Opera House regularly play host to some of the worlds top international stars and shows.
Historic City
Belfast takes it’s name from the Irish Béal Feirste and is steeped in history. From it’s earliest days as a Bronze Age settlement through the bloody middle ages to it’s days as one of Europe’s most successful industrial towns and world leader in the production of linen, rope and tobacco. It’s this fusion of old and new that makes the city so truly unique. Look up at any of the freshly completed, gleaming buildings and your likely to see the weather - worn face of a gargoyle, poet or possibly a king staring back. Such is the diverse nature of the place; that modern office blocks stand side by side with the elaborate designs of some of the 19th century’s greatest architects.
 Historic City - Sir Charles LanyonSir Charles Lanyon is regarded as one of the most significant figures, in the development of Belfast. Lanyon was born in Eastbourne, Sussex in 1813 before moving to Dublin and finally settling in County Antrim in 1835. Among the buildings attributed to him are The Linen Hall Library, The Crumlin Road Goal and The Queens Bridge.
The Customs House in the Waterfront area and Queens University in the leafy suburbs of south Belfast are two of the finest examples of his work. The Customs House is a huge square building built in the High Italian Renaissance or Palazzo style. It’s size and structure can only impart the commercial success of Belfast and the potency of the British Empire during Queen Victoria’s reign. On one side of the building are carved images of Britannia and Neptune encircled by angelic beings representing Industry, Manufacture, Commerce and Peace. The steps of the Custom House became a popular venue for debate throughout the late 19th and early 20th century’s and James Larkin (founder of the Irish Transport and General Workers Union), addressed some 20,000 people at the nearby Queens Square during the 1907 Dock Strike. The author Anthony Trollope, whose works include the Chronicles of Barsetshire, was emplyed here for a short time by the Post Office, before finding fame and fortune as a novelist.
Queens University, the red brick building famed for it’s Gothic Revival façade and Great Hall, is one of the city’s most iconic features. Fronted by lawns and surrounding a serene quadrangle, it is regarded by some as Ulster’s pre-eminent piece of Victorian architecture. The university was founded by Queen Victoria in 1845 and opened it’s gates to just 90 students 4 years later. Today the university estate contains more that 300 buildings, many of which are listed due to their architectural importance and has more than 24,000 students. Among those in a long line of notable scholars are Flora Hamilton - mother of C S Lewis, the actor Liam Nelson and Nobel Prize winning poet, Seamus Heaney.
 Also worth noting are the nearby Botanic Gardens and The Union Theological College. Belfast Botanic Gardens were founded in 1828 by the Belfast Botanical and Horticultural Society. As well as being home to a unique tropical ravine, it also contains one of the earliest and finest examples of a curvilinear and cast iron glasshouse.. Known as the Palm House, it too was designed by Lanyon and was built between 1839 - 1840 by Richard Turner of Dublin, who later built the Great Palm House in Kew Gardens, London. The Theological College opened in 1853 and is another of Lanyon’s designs. It trains students for the Presbyterian Ministry and was the temporary home of the Northern Ireland Parliament before the present building at Stormont was completed in 1932.
Historic City - Belfast Castle and The City Hall
Standing in Donegall Place, Belfast City Hall is the city center’s predominant feature and the Civic Building of Belfast City Council. It’s a large rectangular two storey building with stained glass windows, constructed of Portland Stone in the classical Renaissance Style. Construction began in 1889, one year after Queen Victoria granted Belfast the status of City and was designed by Alfred Brumwell Thomas. The building with it’s 53 meter high copper dome covers 1.5 acres, has an enclosed courtyard and is set in gardens which are open to the public. A delightful touch is added by the cupola style towers on each corner of the building. The interior is elaborately and extensively decorated with Italian marble, and a sweeping staircase overlooks the main entrance hall. Construction was completed in 1906, five years after Victoria’s death, but a fine sculpture at the main entrance acknowledges her position, and is just one of a number of statues, representing influential figures in Belfast’s history.
 Belfast Castle on the slopes of the Cave hill rises to 400 feet above sea level and has stunning views of Belfast Lough. It was designed by John Lanyon in 1867 in the Scottish Baronial style as home to the 3rd Marquis of Donegall and with it’s pointed spires, turrets and Italian style Serpentine staircase is reminiscent of a fairytale palace. Construction was completed in 1870, and following the Marquis’ death in 1884 it became home to the Shaftesbury’s and a section of the Shaftesbury crest can still be seen on the exterior staircase.
Belfast’s industrial success in the late 19th and early 20th century helped shape the city as it is today. It’s buildings and architecture are a fitting tribute to the town’s golden era and are there for us all to enjoy today. There are regular walking and bus tours in and around the city center. All have an expert guide and some even include a complimentary pint of Guinness in a local hostelry. With all this and a lot more, one visit just won't be enough.
By John Rooney. He is a Freelance Writer living and working in County Antrim N Ireland. His work has appeared in a variety of magazines and features regularly in Ireland’s Own. To visit John’s website go to www.freewebs.com/johnrooney1
Useful Information
There are a number of airlines that fly direct to Belfast including :
Accommodation is wide and varied for a sample try:www.4hotels.co.uk/uk/belfast.html
 Print | 30-03-2008, 21:40:00 | Admin
|
