Belfast History  By Joe Graham. Part 2.

1836 Ulster Bank founded with capital of £100o,000, Society for the Prevention Of Cruelty To Animals founded in Belfast.. Association of Artists formed. This was the era of the “BIG HOUSES”,, within 4 to 10 mill of the centre of Belfast town there were dozens of houses that could rightly be called mansions, and all were known by their own names and those names later became names of districts or areas in the Belfast of the future as Belfast in need of land for the growing town, and later City, devoured the estates of these mansions, some you will recognise purely by the names of modern areas, or streets, “Connsbrook House”, plenty of modern links to this house, “Suffolk House”, “Belmont House”, “Cliftonville House”, Glenmachan House” ”Clonard House”, “Ardmoulin House”, “Hopefield House”, “Graymount House”,”Ballymurphy House”,”Strandtown House” “Ardoyne House”, ”Richmond Lodge”, “Purdysburn House”, “Solitude House”, of course one must remember, a lot of these houses, like Ballymurphy House, Malone House, Finaghy House, Ardoyne House, etc, were built in the first place on well recorded area’s of those names, these were ancient town lands.

1837 Act obtained to improve Harbour on Walker and Burgess plans, Typhus Epidemic.

1838 Belfast suffers sever flooding. First Iron ship built at Belfast.

Tomb Street was named after David Tomb. Owner of the Limekiln Dock, the original Belfast Butter Market was sited here, also it was the location of many Coopers, barrel makers, in old Belfast. A striking memorial to whom can be seen in Clifton street cemetery, the New Burying Ground.

1839 Ulster Railway line opened to Lisburn-the first railway from Belfast. Music Hall built. “The Vindicator” issued by Gavan Duffy, later a Leader in the “Young Ireland” Movement.

ULSTER FEMALE PENITENTIARY  14 Brunswick Street

Established 1st Nov., 1839, to receive penitent victims of seduction, and to encourage them to work for their own support within the walls of the institution, where there are extensive and appropriate facilities for washing, drying, mangling etc. The institution offers a refuge to all proper objects, without distinction of sect or party.

1840 June 19th, Belfast Water Commissioners Incorporated by Act of Parliament. Belfast Harbour greatly improved, now stretching from Princes Dock to past Mile End Water.

1841 Population 70,447, inhabited houses 10,906, Daniel O’Connell in Belfast, Rev. Bruce, D.D. Dies aged 84. Union Workhouse Opened. The Municipal Act passed.

1842, The first Town Council, under the Irish Municipal Corporation Act elected for Belfast, 25th October. At first meeting ,1st November, George Dunbar elected Mayor, ten Aldermen and thirty Councillors elected. Francis McCracken last surviving member of the Belfast Volunteers dies,, enrolled 1888. “Banner Of Ulster” issued.

Friendly Street was first Lagan Lane then Lagan Court.

Fairy Place was on the Old Lodge Road, would have a different meaning today?

1843 Queens Bridge erected on site of old Long Bridge, opened Jan.31st, cost £28,000.Deaf and Dumb Institution erected. Union Club formed. Clonard House, home of the Kennedy , mill family built, later became a convent now part of a fold.

1844 Amount of postage collected in Belfast, £4,625. Queen’s Bridge Opened, Saint Malachy’s Chapel consecrated., this was first intended to be a Cathedral. There is a very interesting story I heard about the Bells the chapel once had and how they had to be removed due to complaint from Dunville’s the whiskey people who had a distillery nearby, they claimed the noise of the bells were interfering with the fermenting of their whiskey distilling and so the bells were removed!,

Beggars Row was a little street near Pepper Hill Steps, (Carrick Hill)

Bath Place (Divis Street) so named from the fact this was the former site of public bath house.

1845 County Antrim Prison (Crumlin Road Prison) completed, New Belfast bank built, Belfast and Ballymena Railway incorporated. The Public Parades Act is rebuked and Belfast opens to a new era of Street processions.

1846 Co. Down Railway Incorporated. The Belfast Association for promoting Christianity Among Jews established…curious organisation?

1847 The “Swatara” emigrant ship puts in with fever on board, which was

followed by 14,000 typhus cases. “Black ‘47” the famine year many rural people flock to Belfast seeking refuge from hunger.

1848 April 11th Belfast and Ballymena railway opened.

1849 Victoria and Albert visit Belfast, Queens College opened. Victoria Channel completed, second outbreak of cholera.

1841. Belfast has its first Mayor. George Dunbar

1850 Assizes removed from Carrickfergus to Belfast. Albert and Queens Squares formed at old docks. This year 4,490 Vessels have used the Port of Belfast, with 624,113 Tons.

1851 Population 99,660, 46,443 Males, 53,217 Females, 20,553 families, Houses 13,965. (Almost two families to every house), “The Mercury” issued. Belfast Port has 448 Locally registered ships. £405,519 spent on improving the Port and Harbour.

1852 New Northern Bank opened. Belfast flax mills steam engines are burning up to 160.000 tons of coal a year, employing fifty vessels and 300 seamen.400,000 spindles are now at work, with 20,000 operatives, wages paid out is about £40,000 per year.

1853 Municipal Boundary extended, Presbyterian College opened.

1854. Private Robert O’Neill (18) becomes the first prisoner to be executed 21st June at Crumlin Road Prison, having shot his Corporal dead at nearby military barracks. Smithfield Flax Mill built on site of former old prison.

1855 “Belfast Morning News” issued. By Read brothers who are buried at Friars Bush, the columnist Barney MaGlone worked for the “Morning News“.

1857 New custom House opened. Model School built. Terrible sectarian riots in September, these followed an open air meeting addressed by preacher,Rev. Hugh Hanna, "Roaring Hanna", feeling had been running high since the 12th of July when the Rev. Thomas Drew of Christ Church, had made bigoted and inciting speeches at the annual Orange rally. resulting in horrific attacks by Loyalists on the Catholic Pound Loney, Albert Street, area. These open air preaching sessions were ther cause of many vivious ritos in Belfast and when it was proposed to ban such sessions, the Rev.Henry Cooke spoke out in defence of "Roaring Hanna's" position to stand firm against any law enacted against public meetings.

1860 New Ulster Bank and Bank Of Ireland opened.

1861 Population 120,777. Houses 18,375. Belfast has now its highest Catholic population ever 34%, this will steadily decrease in the next 100 years to 26% although the population increases massively.? ,,but it is notable the increase of sectarian attacks over the next few years. Great fire in Bedford Street.

Barrack Street Court, in 1861 described as, “six small houses”

1862 Ulster Hall opened. Linen output increased due to American civil war.

1863 New Ormeau Bridge completed. 8th April, Daniel Ward executed at Belfast Prison.

Lucknow Street, Kashmire Road, etc, hints of British Colonialism.

1864 Great riots in Belfast on which Commission sat in November.

1865 Increase of town expected, great water scarcity.

1866 26th July, Mary Ann McCracken, the patriotic sister of Henry Joy McCracken dies and is buried at Clifton Street Graveyard, “True till death”. Central railway commenced, Lombard Street improvements made. The Ulster hall opened . St Peter’s Chapel Built on land secured by Barney Hughes the Baker who passed It onto the church at “peppercorn rent”

Liddy’s Court, an interesting little street now long gone was almost directly facing St. Patrick’s Chapel in Donegall Street running through to little Donegall street. It housed a starch factory and a biscuit factory that later became a military barracks for the American Army, the first American troops to land in Europe to take part in the last world war landed here in Belfast. They also took over the Plaza Ballroom, Belfast’s most prestigious dance hall, as a base for their Red Cross.

Paradise Row, close to Barracks Street. was also in the old “Falls” area as referred to in a letter by Henry Joy McCracken when he wrote, ‘ I have gone to live in the Falls’. Donaldson’s Court was off Barrack Street.

1867 William Harbinson, Fenian Patriot, dies in Belfast Prison, he is commemerated by a Celtic Cross at Milltown Cemetery, also in 1867.......

William Johnston, The Loyalist, of Ballykilbeg was imprisoned in Downpatrick gaol for defying an Act of Parliament, which banned 'party processions': In gaol he wrote the following......

Let craven hearts to tyranny,

Their coward homage render;

The watchword of the brave and free

Will still be "No Surrender! "

'Twas not in anger, and not in hate,

We kept commemoration,

In honour of our Hero great,

Who freed the British nation.

1868 New town reservoir made. Methodist College opened. Rev. Cooke dies.

1869 High tides caused flooding. Albert Clock completed. Borough Cemetery

and Ormeau Park opened. Holy Cross Chapel, Ardoyne opened

1870 New Provincial Bank and Richardson’s Warehouse opened. “Evening Telegraph” issued. Rev. Dr. Drew (he of the musket) died. “Milltown Cemetery” opened 18th Sept. on site of Ross’s old Mill and brickyard. The house which the “Sisters Of Adoration” live today on the Falls Road was the former home of Mr. W. Ross. The new Cemetery opened with the closure of Friars Bush and a squabble that went on with City Fathers concerning the 90 acres of land left to the Citizens of Belfast to bury their dead by William Sinlaire at Whiterock which later became the “Belfast City Cemetery “.

1871 Population 174,412, New Town Hall opened. New Theatre built. Smallpox Epidemic, Philip Johnston , Mayor, Belfast opens its first public park, Ormeau Park. Joe Devlin, the parliamentarian Nationalist born at Hamill Street., later was M.P for West Belfast.

1872 "Our Lady's Day", 15th August is widely held throughout catholic area's of Belfast, massive parades and bonfires staged, and soon becomes the focus day for annual catholic celebrations for almost a century. Tramways opened. Sir John Savage Mayor, Terrible sectarian riots.

Ardilea Street (Marrowbone) Oldpark Road Belfast was once called “Savages Row” and consisted of “Half Houses” owned by John Savage the local mill owner, John Savage, who committed suicide by cutting his throat. It was said his ghost was to be seen prowling in the area for many years, (see Rushlight January 2005.)

Believe it or not.. there were 46 pawnshops in Belfast in the 1850’s.!

The “Alambra” opens in North Street Belfast, by the famous Willie John Ashcroft, who later committed suicide through debt, his ghost was said to haunt the building in later years.

1874 William Dunville, dies , buried Clifton Street Graveyard.

1875 Leppers Mill burnt down. “Ulster Echo” issued. Local trade depressed., and in this year the Great writer and journalist Barney Maglone died.also in this year St Mary's Hall was built ..as a school....

St. Mary's Hall, Bank Street Belfast

This building, which was erected in 1875-75, has a frontage of 110 feet. The style is Italian, and the walls are built of brick with stone facings. The ground floor story contains two spacious main entrance halls, with staircases and cloak rooms, and two school rooms, male and female, capable of accommodating 600 children. The schools are under the National Board, and are fully occupied. The first story contains a minor hall 63 feet by 26, a reading room, a double billiard room, with committee rooms, lavatories, etc. The great hall is on the second story, and measures 110 feet by 48. The ceiling is 36 feet high, and is arched and panelled with stucco enrichments. A rich entablature surrounds the wall a little below the springing of ceiling arch, supported by fluted pilasters with capitals of the Corinthian order. The hall is approached by two separate stairways, one of which by a further ascent leads to a balcony on the east end of horse shoe plan. On the west end is a spacious platform. The great hall when fully occupied is capable of accommodating 4,000 persons. The building is erected from the premiated (permiated) designs of Mr. Alex. McAlister, of this town, the builder being Mr. James Ross.

Waterford Street, Falls Road Belfast, named after home town of William Malcomson, owner of “Milford“, a local mill., which went burst in 1876 linen depression.

1876 April 27th, John Daly executed at Crumlin Road Prison, having been convicted of murdering Margaret Whitley, his wife’s aunt at Bathurst Court, off Durham street,Belfast

1877 Disastrous fire in Belfast following explosion in Castle Place. The New St Patrick’s Chapel in Donegall Street Belfast is consecrated.

McQuillan Street was named after Hugh McQuillan, Publican and Builder, Hugh had a pub at 77 Falls Road. Theresa street was named after his daughter.

1878 Belfast Improvement Act. Court of Admiralty granted to Belfast. Townsend Street Church rebuilt. Barney Hughes, Baker, who invented the Belfast Bap dies. Barney also was the first Catholic elected to Belfast Council, generations of kids recalled him in the street song….

“Barney Hughes bread…sticks to your belly like lead“

Not a bit of wonder you fart like thunder, Barney Hughes bread.”

Barney Hughes started off working for the "Corporation Bakery" opposite St Anne's Cathedral, now, there is another possible realistic historically linked name for the area "The Bakery Quarter" ? as opposed to the yuppy "Cathedral Quarter?, or how about "The Flogging Quarter", in memory of the "Triangle" that stood permanently on the corner of Bridge Street and North Street, which people were lashed to and publicly flogged, make no doubt about it, there is a political agenda behind the pouring out of masses of money as funds, or grants to rewrite and create an "acceptable" imagery of Belfast, and you know what I think of grants and funding.. as Pearse said, they would, "purchase the one half and intimidate the other". History should never be a commercialised subject, it is obscene, it opens the door for commercial interests to be able to dictate to writers of history and effectively 'edit' their works, common sense tells, you are not going to be given hundreds and sometimes thousands of pounds to write unkindly of those who pay you !, History should not be prostituted.

1879 Very severe winter. General Grant in Belfast. Young & Anderson’s Warehouse burnt. Workman’s & Clarkes shipyard opened. Peters Hill Public Baths opened, cost £28,507, including £7,160 paid for site. Israel Milliken, friend of James Orr and Jemmy Hope had a Private Cold Water Baths here previously. Two street one on Shankill Israel Street and one on Falls Milliken Street named after him. He also was behind the erection of the beautiful monument to James Orr the United Irishman at Ballycarry Cemetery.

1880. Old Belfast Markets

Belfast is simply supplied with markets for the sale of cattle and farm and garden produce ; and, as the positions are near the centre of the town, they are easily accessible to all, and are largely taken advantage of. They are eleven in all, situated as follow :- Smithfield Market, for the sale of pork ; Corporation Street Market, butter ; Chichester Street, May Street and Oxford Street Markets, vegetables, potatoes, flax, fruit etc.; Castle Markets, general produce, poultry, fruit, fish, meal, corn, etc.; May's Market, meal and grain : George's Market, butter, eggs, poultry, and (on Friday) butchers' meat ; Cattle Market, on Tuesday, fat cattle, and on Friday, store cattle ; Police Square, bogwood, turf, grass, etc.; Annette Street, hay and straw. In Townhall Street there is also a fish market held during the season. There is a fair held on the first Wednesday of every month for the sale of black cattle, sheep, swine, horses, etc. - the cattle fair being held in Oxford Street, and the horse fair in the Pork Market. The accommodation in all is amply sufficient for the requirements of the town. The Markets open at 7am and close at 6pm, between February 1st and October 1st ; and during the remainder of the year they open at 7am and close at 4pm.

1880 Corn Market improvement made Foundation stone of Belfast Academy, Cliftonville laid. John Browne Mayor. Hercules Lane and Street being cleared.

1881 Royal Avenue Belfast commenced. Population 207,671.

1882 Accidental fire at the Lucifer Match Company Smithfield kills four workers.

1883, April 8th. another execution at Crumlin Road prison, Daniel Ward was executed for the murder of Charles Wilgar of Ballylesson. The new St Matthews Chapel opened at Ballymacarret

1882 The Market area all a buzz, sightings of a ghost is reported at the old disused McAuley Street Mill.

1884 Ormeau Avenue Belfast opened.

1885. 7th March. Rev Isaac Nelson died, buried at Shankill Cemetery, His sister, Elizabeth erected a Headstone with the following inscription….

“No more hirelings to another’s law,

Yet ne’er will I desert man’s genuine rights.

But gladly perish in fair freedom’s cause.

And when at last I rest from mortal strife,

May silver roses o’er my ashes bloom,

And ah, may she who shared my love through life

Shed drops of fond affection o’er my tomb.”

1886 Albert Bridge collapsed. New Post Office opened. Great Riots in Belfast, fifty people killed. Lord .R. Churchill visits, at a rally at Celtic Park he had to run to safety to Rock Bar, Falls Road.

1887 St. Paul’s Chapel, Cavendish Street, Falls Road Belfast, opened. Main Drainage Act obtained. Alexandra Park opened.

1888 Belfast Created a City. Woodvale Park opened. Ormeau Baths opened.

1889 14th January, another Belfast execution, Arthur McKeown hanged at Crumlin Road Prison.

1890 Corporation Bill passed to acquire White Linen Hall, New Albert Bridge opened. ”Wilmont House” built, was actually a pair of semi detached houses at first, home later of Lord & Lady Dixon, a park since 1959. Robert Wilson opens his Ormeau Bakery.

must of us can remember “Meli’s Chippie” at the corner of Springfield Avenue, but at one time that building was a public house, in the house to the left in the picture lived the manager of Hughes Bakery, who was shot dead there during a robbery , but that is a story on its own. That big clock above the door bore the name B A R N E Y H U G H E S.. a letter of his name for each number from 1 to 12.… remember how we used to spell out his name ?(Left, Barney Hughes at aged about 50)

1891 Population 273,055, 26.3% Catholic. New Victoria Channel opened.

Dunville Park, Falls Road Belfast, opened. Site for Royal Hospital acquired.

1892 Dunville Fountain added to Dunville park.

1893 Templemore Public Baths opened cost, £21,660.

1894 17th August, John Gilmore, aged 21, executed at Crumlin Road Prison.

1895 Grand Opera House opened .

1896 Falls Road Baths opened , cost £17, 669. St George’s Market opens.

1898 Massive celebrations on Falls Road commemorating the 100th Anniversary of the 1798 Rebellion, Maud Goone, Gathal O'Byrne attend. Police attack the parading "Lord Edward Fitzgerald" Band at Carrick Hill, Our Lady Of The Rosary Chapel, Ormeau Road opens .

1899. More Belfast Troubles erupt when the United Irish League parade was attacked by unionists on returning from a rally at Hannatown, Arthur Trew,the infamous 'Custom House Steps' preacher is said to have formented the hatred by earlier speeches, oddly, William Johnston, the ultra unionist had supported the Catholic right to parade.

1900 Population 350,000 . Clonard Monastery completed.

J. B. Kennedy was another baker who stamped his mark on Belfast , seen above with “Kennedy United” a team he sponsored. known as “The Walking Saint” because of his kindness and generosity. Thew gold chalice which couples drink from at St Pauls Chapel at their wedding Mass was donated by J.B, his home “Clondara House” was only recently demolished, St John’s Parish priests were its last occupiers..

1901 Water shortage relieved water being pumped from the Annalong Valley.

Ist November, The execution of William Woods takes place at Crumlin Road Prison , he was hanged for the murder of Bridget McGivern at Bushmills. It was a tragic case of two chronic alcoholics, Woods almost severed McGivern’s head from her body the morning after the two had sat late into the night drinking a bottle of whiskey, it was alleged the murder had been premeditated, since Woods had bought the razor the day before, but yet no motive for the ghastly crime was put forward. and even in court it seems Wood couldn’t grasp the serious situation he was in and at one point smiled and said, “it was little worse than a bad marriage” . at 8 am the black flag, announcing Woods had been hanged, was raised above the prison and the waiting crowds outside fell silent.

1902. 20th January. Terrible tragedy at J. J. Herdman’s Mill in Smithfield (formerly Smithfield Flax Mill) resulting in workers deaths, 13 girls and women died , as young 14 and as old as 60.. Heavy machinery in upper floors crashed through the weak floors. Many ghost sightings were later reported The site lay vacant for many years, the council found it a delicate matter as what to do with the site, In the 1930’s they turned the site into a bus station.

1903 Royal Victoria hospital built., parts added later.

1905 St Colman’s School built in Eliza Street, cost £1,632.

Eliza Street , Emelia , Charlotte, and Arthur Streets thought to be named after the children of The first Marquis Of Donegall.

Donegall Pass, Belfast, is said to be so named as it was a permitted “pass”, through wooded land owned by the Marquis, streets there, Elm, Pine, etc, named after the types of trees to be found in this once heavily wooded area.

1906 Belfast City Hall opened August 1st., cost £360,000,

1907 Belfast College Of Technology opened 30th October….James Larkin ,Socialist, arrives in Belfast to support the great Belfast Docks Strike.

1908 Hollywood comes to town …Two Picture houses open in Belfast . But if some enjoyed this new luxury, most working people of the town are still locked in poverty and dire working conditions ,and unrest grew not only in the labour arena but the political arena . Pictured left, residents of Kennedy’s Lane, Millfield.

1909. August 19th, Richard Justin hanged at Crumlin Road prison for the murder of his four year old daughter,Annie, at their Lepper Street home in March. Justin battered the child brutally to death with an iron rod.

1911. The ship "Titanic", is launched in Belfast, shipyard workers at the time were said to have stated, "There she goes, neither God nor man could sink her".

Belfast Executions.. There were to be 10 more executions in Belfast before hanging was abolished, Simon McGeown was hanged,17th August 1922, for the murder of a little girl. Michael Pratley was executed, 8th May 1924 when a clerk was shot as part of a robbery. William Smiley was executed, 8th August 1928. Samuel Cushnahan was executed, 8th April 1930. Thomas Dornan, 31st July 1931, Eddie Cullens executed, 3rd March 1932. And Harold Courtney was executed 7th April 1933. Tom Williams, an Irish Republican was executed, 2nd September 1942 following an exchange of shots between I.R.A volunteers and an R.U.C man, Murphy, in a house at Cawnpore Street, Clonard. Samuel McLaughlin was executed for the murder of his wife on 25th July 1961. and the last execution was that of Gerard "Bap" McGladdery, executed 20th December 1961, for the murder of Pearl Gamble.

A Daring Crumlin Road prison, Belfast, escape, “Northern Whig” report, May 10, 1927:

One of the most sensational gaol breaking episodes in the records of British prisons occurred at dawn yesterday, when three men under life sentences for murder, and a fourth serving a sentence of twelve years’ penal servitude, escaped from Belfast Gaol.

The men were – Frank O’Boyle of Beragh, Co Tyrone; William Conlon of Sixmilecross, Co Tyrone and Hugh Rodgers of Sixmilecross, County Tyrone, who were convicted at a Court martial in July, 1921, for the murder of William McDowell, motor car proprietor, Gilford, on September 3, 1920.

The fourth man was Edward Thorton, of Belfast, who was undergoing a sentence of twelve years’ penal servitude for wounding a girl in a railway carriage between Holywood and Belfast in November, 1922.

A reward of £500 has been offered by the government of Northern Ireland for information which will lead to the recapture of the men.

The escape was carried out at dawn. It had been carefully planned, and was carefully and systematically carried out. The men must have had help from outside and the affair was worked to a timetable, with the overpowering, gagging, and binding of two of the wardens.

The story of the occurrence reads more like a cinema reel or a chapter from some sensational novel than a story of real life.

That the men had been contemplating their escape for some time is quite clear, and that they had been able to secure outside assistance in the way of a powered motor car to carry them off once they had broken prison is just as evident.

The men had one great advantage in that their cells were situated close to each other. Long-sentence men, it seems, are kept in the penal side of the prison facing Crumlin Road.

There were only two wardens in charge at the time, one inside the building and one outside.

Conlon, Boyle, and Rodgers were lodged to cells beside each other, and investigations since the prisoners escaped have revealed how the escape was effected.

One of the prisoners, it does not matter which, obtained a small block of wood, which he inserted into the socket which caught the laten of his cell.

This prevented the latch, when the door was closed, from going directly into the socket. It caught to the extent of about the sixteenth part of an inch.

Then he obtained a long nail or drill, with which he made a hole in the framework of the door behind the socket, and when the opportunity arrived he pushed either the nail or a piece of wire against the block of wood, which pushed back off the latch, and the door stood open.

Having thus opened the door of his own cell, this man proceeded to release his two comrades.

For this he must have obtained keys, but where he procured them is for the present a mystery. He was able to liberate the other men, and when at 4am the night warder came along on his rounds he was suddenly pounced upon.

He was taken entirely by surprise, and was overpowered almost at once. With odds of three to one his task would have been hopeless in any case, but the element of surprise deprived him of any chance.

He was unarmed, but his defenceless condition did not save him from violence, and he was badly maltreated before he was finally bound.

This was done in a thoroughly unmanlike manner.

Once he was thoroughly quietened and trussed up the three men released Thornton.

They took the warden’s keys, and, having to guard against the possibility of alarm, tied up the bell of the telephone, they proceeded to the door which led to the yard.

Here the other warden on duty was posted. He was armed with a revolver.

The four convicts waited for a favourable opportunity, and then made for him. He, too, was overpowered, but not without a great deal of resistance.

The night warders, it seems, carry some sort of a clock convenience, with which they ‘check’ in their rounds.

This second warder, set upon so unexpectedly, had no time to draw his revolver, but he promptly attacked the man nearest him with this clock, and that he served out some punishment was evident from the blood which was to be seen later in the morning upon the ground.

The odds against him, however, were too heavy, and, like the man inside, he too was overpowered and tied up securely.

The escaping convicts tore up all their sheets, quilts, and blankets to make ropes, which they used not only for binding up the warders, but also for scaling the walls.

It was now an hour since the men had commenced their great adventure.

They had long waits before the favourable moments presented themselves for attacking their victims.

The second warder was relieved of his revolver and rendered harmless, but the escaping convicts had still to get out of the prison yard.

That, however, was child’s play to men who had already achieved so much. Working like furies, they tied all the available ropes of sheets, blankets, etc. together, and with a brick as a weight they threw the sling over the wall boarding St Malachy’s College grounds. They knew the ground thoroughly.

The wall there is lower than at any other section prison grounds.

Fortunately for the escaping men, there is a gate here, and once the sling was over a hand was pushed through the rails, the end of the improvised rope was secured to the rails, and the men were over like monkeys.

The convicts, it is presumed, made their way from here to the Crumlin Road beside the Mater Hospital where it is believed the previously arranged outside help was in readiness in the way of a fast motor car.

From this point on everything is supposition.

The men escaped, and no trace of them has since been found. But there is good ground for the belief that they did, in fact, disappear in a motor car.

In the early hours of the morning a policeman on duty in Donegall Street was startled by the roar of a car coming down from Crumlin Road at terrific speed.

There were no lights up, and as the speed was in his opinion something in the vicinity of 50 or 60 miles an hour, he attempted to stop it.

His attempt was futile, however. The big car dashed on, and disappeared round Royal Avenue corner. That was the last that was seen of it.

It is one of the minor mysteries of the affair that no further trace of the car could be found.

There is no doubt that the car raced down Donegall Street at break-neck speed, but the most diligent inquires of the police have failed to discover where it went or to whom it belonged. Its number could not be seen.

All that is known of it is that it was painted red.

It has been suggested that the men made for the Free State, and this may be correct.

But, if so, they will find themselves no safer there than in Northern Ireland.

No state would willingly harbour convicted murderers, and the Civil Guard in the Free State were put on high alert early in the day, and are keeping a sharp look out for the fugitives.

Any assumption that they might be less anxious to capture the men in the South than in the North is based on an entire misapprehension.

The close accord with which the police of the two Governments act has been frequently commented upon, and has formed the subject of commendation by judges North and South.

On the other hand there is no real evidence to show that the convicts have sought sanctuary in the South.

It is at least as likely that they are still at no great distance from Belfast and a very thorough search for them is being carried out.

Motor cars and motor buses in all parts of the country were closely scrutinised from an early hour yesterday morning, the search being carried on all day.

No arrests have been made, but the police are confident that the men will be laid by heels within a comparatively short time.

The Home Office announced this morning that a reward of £500 will be given to anyone who, within three months, gives information leading to their capture.

The reward will be divided according to the value of the information. The following is the official description of the wanted men:

Frank O’Boyle, of Beragh, County Tyrone is a 28-year-old motor garage owner; 5ft 6in; roddy complexion; brown hair; grey eyes; medium build; oval face; mole on right cheek; third and fourth fingers on right hand deformed; birth mark right shoulder blade and scar on left hand.

William Conlon is 38-years old with no occupation; American citizen; 5ft 3/4in; fresh complexion; dark hair; hazel eyes; medium build; oval face; mole on right cheek; tattooed cross on back of right forearm and heart on left forearm; cross and dot on back of left hand; scar on tip of left thumb; scar on left forearm.

Hugh Rodgers, of Sixmilecross, County Tyrone, age 32 years; motor driver; 5ft. 5in; fresh complexion, grey eyes; brown hair, turning grey; medium build; oval face; mole on right ear and left breast; two scars left thigh; eight scars on inside of left leg; scar on outside of left leg.

Edward Thornton, native of County Monaghan, last residing at 108 Spamount Street, Belfast; labourer; age 37 years; 5ft. 6in; fresh complexion; brown hair, turning grey; blue eyes; stout build; oval face; scar right side of throat; scar on side of left eye; lump on back of neck.

1910. Tragedy in Belfast Lough, the Glasgow steamer, “Copeland” collides with Lagan Dredger.No4, five men killed. Two more cinemas open . Mill girls go on strike, girl shot dead, riots break out, James Connolly address‘s crowd from “Pepper Hill Steps”

1911...Belfast population soars to 386,000. Good Shepard Convent built Ormeau Road. Coliseum Cinema opens, it had previously been the Alexandria Theatre., one of a few cinemas that had a bar in the premises, (Alambra also had a bar) it closed in 1959.

1912 Johnny Donnelly “Arcadian” Cinema opens Albert Street. Belfast, closes 1960, this was the first picture house to let you in for a Jam Jar , then 15th, April, the “Titanic”, the pride of the “White Star Line”, built in the Belfast Yard, sinks on its maiden voyage. Sadly the many films and exhibitions omit greatly many factual aspects of the “Titanic “ story, where lessons may have been learned.

John Mullen must have been an interesting character in Old Belfast, owning the Market in North Street, and indeed the corner of Millfield and North Street , where the public Flogging took place, was once known as “Mullen’s Corner”. North Street at this time probably had more Public Houses that the whole of the town and they seemed to attract the not so nice clientele so John would have a bird’s eye view of the excitement and occurrences horrific as they sometimes must have been. Just behind North street was Mustard Street and its dilapidated 80 houses, this was the centre of Richard Calwell Mustard industry. The whole area, along with the original “Half Bap” area was cleared in the 1890’s redevelopment programme, many of the new streets were built by speculators, small business people who’d often name the street they built after themselves .

1913 James Connolly stands for Belfast Corporation, lost with a vote of 905 to 1,523. Connolly was of course living at Glenalina Terrace on the Falls Road at this point, 3 years later he was to be shot in a chair by the British in Dublin. The Clonard Cinema also opened on the Falls Road, in 1913, closed March 1966, many will recall the beautiful Italian ornate masonry on this cinema, and no doubt the nightly vigilance of the peeler “Pig” Minelly, always ready to clip an ear or two if young lads got up to mischief in the queues, it is said the Italian craftsmen who done the fancy plaster work on the Clonard Cinema also done that at the Bee Hive Bar.

1914 World War breaks out and we are getting closer to an evil part of our local history, the 1920’s,

40.000 items have been downloaded from THIS page by individual readers to date which indicates how useful people and organisations find the Belfast Archives of RUSHLIGHT THE BELFAST MAGAZINE. Please feel free to download pictures etc at will, if you need further help contact Joe Graham Rushlight Magazine at rushlight123@hotmail.com anytime or tel 028 90626631. 34 years recording and archiving Belfast history

“Rushlight The Belfast Magazine”

Belfast Film Archives

Below are some of the titles of Rushlight Films available on DVD at anytime.

OLD BELFAST. . Rarest footage of Belfast through the years, dubbed with Bobby Hanvey’s Downtown Radio interviews with Joe Graham and a selection of Joe’s favourite songs.

“FOREVER YOUNG” The Unveiling of Ballymurphy Mural in memory of Patrick Mulvenna and Jim Bryson. Includes some old unique footage and historic references by speakers.

“OLD GREENCASTLE MEMORIES”. Nostagalia and folklore. Music and craic with locals.

“OLD SAILORTOWN MEMORIES“. Unique photgraphia and interviews. And a reunion celebration.

“ MEMORIES OF THE HALF BAP AND LITTLE ITALY” Interviews with ex-residents, photographs old footage and a re-union at the Dockers club. Includes a celebratory mass at St Patrick’s Chapel.

“A PLACE CALLED THE NEW LODGE”. Old Footage and more recent shot by Rushlight, laced together to present a fly on the wall view of a Belfast Community, nicely dubbed with songs.

“GHOSTLY TALES OF OLD BELFAST”. Narrated by the master shanachie himself Joe Graham.

“THE RISEN PEOPLE”. A riot at Ardoyne, during the Holy Cross School dispute, filmed by Joe Graham, showing the one sidedness of the ‘police’ toward the Ardoyne people. This film brought world wide interest, not to mention death threats (and other threats from unlikely quarters) to the film maker, and has been shown in every state of U.S.A, Canada and Australia. filmed By Rushlight.

“WHO FEARS TO SPEAK OF ‘98”. Stories from Joe and Deborah Graham of local heroes of the noble rising in 1798. Filmed at places of interest. Donegore Hill, Mallusk, Templepatrick, etc, Filmed BY Rushlight.

“OUR WEE SCHOOL”. History and folklore of St. John’s old School, Colinward Street, Springfield Road, Belfast.(Now Gone). Peoples history from the peopleFilmed By Rushlight.

“St. KEVIN’S SCHOOL BELFAST” History and folklore of the OLD St. Kevin’s School, Falls Road, Belfast.(Now Gone). Stories of the murder of the Duffin Brothers, etc. Oral history on DVD. Filmed By Rushlight.

“THE OPENING OF THE NEW St. KEVIN’S SCHOOL”. The celebration’s and ceremony of the opening day of the new school, St. Kevin’s Primary Falls Road Belfast. Filmed By Rushlight.

“OLD ARDOYNE RE-UNION”. History and folklore from former residents of the “Old Ardoyne” district,(now redeveloped). 1969 recalled. Filmed by Rushlight.

“ANDERSONSTOWN REMEMBERS 1969”. Against the backdrop of the unveiling of the Bearnagh Drive Monument, pageantry and ceremony. Joe Graham interviews local people on the ‘war’ and its origins in 1969. Filmed By Rushlight.

“OLD FALL’S RE-UNION”. Craic, Memories and music from former old Falls residents at Donegall Celtic venue re-Union. Filmed By Rushlight.

Rushlight Magazine archiving our history and heritage for 34 years now.

NO GRANTS OR FUNDING WERE SOUGHT OR ACCEPTED FROM ANY QUARTER IN THE MAKING OF THESE FILMS

Rushlight: The Belfast Magazine

Subject Categories:

　

Community and urban studies - Society and Culture

Political behaviour and attitudes - Politics

Conflict, security and peace - Politics

Political history – HistoryHolder(s)/Depositor(s) and Contact Details:

Graham, Joe, <<Rushlight: The Belfast MagazinePrincipal Investigator(s) and Contact Details:

　

Graham, Joe, Rushlight: The Belfast MagazineSponsor(s):

Self-financingAbstract/Description:

Rushlight: The Belfast Magazine was established in 1972. Since then it has been published with varying frequency, at times on a weekly basis, in other periods every month or so. The publication is self-avowedly republican, and indeed takes its name from a combination of the short-lived Rushlight, established in 1823 by Luke Hope, son of 1798 rebel, Jemmy Hope; and William Drennan’s The Belfast Magazine of the early 1800s.

Initially the magazine sought to give voice to the wave of Catholic protest that followed the introduction of internment without trial in Northern Ireland in August 1971. Thereafter it continued to document and raise opposition to the extra-legal methods used by the state and the security forces during the Northern Ireland conflict. In particular, Rushlight focused on the Troubles as they related to North and West Belfast, with regular contributions from local residents, activists, prisoners and others affected by the conflict. In this the publication provided a more localised and immediate voice of protest than the formal republican publications of the Troubles.

Rushlight also took on a quasi-educational role within the nationalist/republican community. The magazine explored the history of Irish republicanism, with articles on Belfast in the 1790s and biographies of the Young Irelanders common to its pages. In addition it included features on Irish folklore and ghost stories, particularly in relation to the Belfast area. Nonetheless, Rushlight’s main focus remained with the contemporary Troubles, providing a commentary on the conflict largely as seen from the republican community in Belfast.

This, the editor’s own collection, containing approximately 400 issues, represents only a portion of the total number printed in the magazine’s lifetime.Publicly Available/Published Material Based on Study:Rushlight: The Belfast Magazine

Main Topics:

　

Northern Ireland; conflict; internment; North and West Belfast; republicanism; history Coverage:

Time Period Covered: 1972-present

Dates of Fieldwork: Not applicable

　

Country: Northern Ireland (Six Counties)

Geography: Not applicable

Spatial Units: Not applicable

　

Observation Units: Not applicable

　

Kind of Data: Rushlight evolved through the course of its lifetime, beginning as little more than a pamphlet, but becoming a more substantial publication, a more genuine magazine, in later years Universe Sampled:

　

While growing up on the Springfield all my heroes were outlaws

Before I take a wee dander down Memory Lane, I must answer a very frequently asked question..where did I get the name for "Rushlight The Belfast Magazine"...I rekindled in 1972 a publication first put out in 1823 by Luke Hope a son of the 1798 man Jemmy Hope his "Rushlight" only lasted about a year ,,,then I completed my title "Rushlight The Belfast Magazine by adding "Belfast Magazine". a publication which Dr. William Drennan ran for about six years, now then, where was I,? oo yes..

You know, when I was growing up the Springfield Road was my world, that may sound a bit narrow minded or parochial today, with people flying to and forth so easily to all corners of the world., but, the Springfield of my childhood was a big world, there were ‘oceans’ and mountains and glens and cows , horses galore and farm yards. There were poor people and rich people, some lived in ’huts’ and others in ‘mansions’ and some even lived in canvas tents and horse drawn wagons, these people lived behind a dilapidated old tarmac factory on the Springfield Road, just about where the Fire Station is today, close to the Springfield Dam. a dam that we’d look on as an ocean in childhood. The ’huts’ of those days were many, some were on the Hannastown Road others was a disused Army Camp on the West Circular Road, it was at 37 Westcircular Huts, that I spent the first five years of my life and was introduced to life on the Springfield area, there were also “huts” on the Mountain Loney (now upper Whiterock Road) housing was so scarce and prefabricated housing called ’prefabs’ or ’bungalows’ sprang up all over the city , my family were fortunate enough to be re-housed in the newly built huge housing estate at Ballymurphy , families, Protestant and Catholic, moved in from all parts of the town, bedrooms galore, hot and cold running water, a bathroom and garden back and front, every family‘s dream, needless to say, jokes became many of the new residents, often sparked by those unfortunate enough to have to remain in bad housing and over cramped conditions in the older parts of the town, a sort of good humoured resentment, spawned jokes like, “They keep their coal in the bath in Ballymurphy”, and,” They play ’tig‘ with hatchets“…they have no doors or staircases.. they have chopped them up for firewood”. And, as for the Bungalows, there were some at Whiterock and at Beechmount, they came in for some choice remarks and name calling, like “Tin Town” and such, but need less to say these were far superior housing than a lot of the older housing in the lower Falls, Carrick Hill, Shankill, etc, with bathrooms and hot water. The Springfield of the 1950’s was more to be likened to a country road than anything it resembles today, it was quite common to see wee Geordie English driving the cows down from Browns fields to John Gordon’s yard at the “Flush” to be milked . Gordon’s yard also housed stables where many of the local dealers housed their ponies and carts, my own father had a stable there for a little palomino horse we called “Tommy”, other dealers like Geordie Scott, from Highfield, Davy Lowry (Ballymurphy) , Joe McCaul from Fort Street had a stable there for his famous “Pinto” pony, which came to a tragic end, it had been “staked out”, on a tether tied to a stake in the ground, to graze on a piece of land over looking the Flush , it hanged itself when it fell over the edge of the hill down into the Flush. Another tragic death at the “Yard” was Geordie English, he died when a cow he was milking kicked him on the head,, sure many a time us kids seen the ghost of Geordie on our way to or from St John’s School at Colinward Street. Across the road from Gordon’s yard was a massive air raid shelter, this was just below the old Franklin Laundry, and this old building was also said by us kids to be haunted, the story goes that a man called Kirk who had a little confectionery shop just below Gordon’s yard also had a pigeon coop at the rear of the Franklin Laundry and was up at the coop one evening when the heavens opened and a very heavy thunderstorm broke out , Mr Kirk ran to get out of the rain to the old air raid shelter. Hours later when he didn’t return home, his family and friends became alarmed and set out to search for him, eventually they found him lying dead in the old shelter, apparently his panic and running had brought on a heart attack and he died alone in that desolate old building. and of course kids being kids, the storey spawned a ghost story., coincidently on the opposite side of the Springfield Road, right into the 1970’s stood perhaps the smallest building on the Springfield, a metal gents urinal, and this was a left over from when ever this spot was the terminus for the Trams, the urinal of course was for the convenience of the tram men., us kids called it the “Trammy End.” , This was the site of the original Springfield Village, running up toward where Workman’s Avenue is today. Opposite Gordon’s yard in my childhood was “The Belfast Glass Factory”, where my father worked for a while in the late 1940’s, apparently earlier it was a brickworks, latterly it was part of Mackies. John Gordon’s family had a long link to the Springfield area as perhaps this advertisement below advertising the sale of “Ballymurphy House” in the “Belfast Morning News” on the 19th October 1987 will indicate…..

“Valuable farm of land for sale at Whiterock, near Belfast, to be sold by Mrs Gordon…the farm of land now in the town land of Ballymurphy, parish and barony of Belfast and county of Antrim, containing 41 acres, 1 rood, 22 perch statute measure , held under lease dated 28th April 1880 from Maurice Coates, esq., for 20,000 years from 1st November 1879 at the yearly rent of £85. The lands, which are situate within a mile of the borough boundary, are of very fertile character, and admirably adapted for a grazing or dairy farm. They are well fenced and drained, and there is an abundant water supply at all seasons, not only for the lands but for the dwelling house thereon, which is large and commodious with suitable out houses.”

The “abundant water” referred to above was the “Bleachy River” which snaked its way down from the “Rock Dam “ which was part of the “Glenalina (Whiterock)Bleach Works”, as kids we’d swim for hours in the old dam and then act out as knights of old in the old ruined wheel house nearby, which we called “The Castle”, and often enough, as kids do, at dusk, we’d see the ghostly figure of “Lord Glenalina” (William Sinclair) come riding past on his white horse, for, generations earlier it was said he loved to roam the land on his horse with a Hawk perched on his gloved hand, hence he was known as “Sinclair of the Hawks”, the dam would have been on the mountain side of where now stands the Moyard housing estate. William Sinclair, a friend of Wolfe Tone, and fellow United Irishman, often had Tone and Thomas Russell as visitor’s to his home which stood at the top of “Sinclair’s Loanan” (Whiterock Road), Kelly’s old bar and Charlie Corry’s old cottage and dairy sat on the former site of Sinclair’s home (both now gone). Tone who was fond of giving people nicknames, referred to Sinclair in his diary as “The Draper”, his nickname for Thomas Russell was “P.P” (Parish Priest). Sinclair and his brother John also had a town house in Donegall Place, John was a bit, to say the least, eccentric, he was to be seen regularly parading round the town of Belfast in different colourful uniforms carrying at times exotic birds or even a monkey. A rumour existed in the early days of the Ballymurphy housing estate that William Sinclair cursed the land on which it was built, and for years locals blamed any ill-luck they had on this. Sinclair’s house was known as “Whiterock House” and he gave 90 acres on which the City Cemetery and part of the Falls Park was built. In 1838 an English couple, historians, called Mr & Mrs Hall, who wrote many fine books of their travels through different countries , visited the area and wrote of seeing rolls of linen stretched out on the grass there on the land, which would be at the top end of the cemetery today., Well into the early 1900’s members of the Sinclair family lived at two houses there (still there) on what is now called the Upper Springfield Road, (Then Hannastown Road),so the Sinclair link is not that distant. The Whiterock Road in the 1835 Ordnance map is shown to be what we today call the Ballygomartin Road, in fact there was no trace of a road on that track of land which we now know as the Springfield Road, although, of course, Springfield Village was in existence, and on the point of Bleachworks,, the Falls Park was not build on Sinclairs Bleaching Green property, as some historians say, it was built on the “Falls Bleach Works“, a significant point too is that the original Falls road ran through a stretch of the what we now call the Falls Park, it looped, leftwards, in an arc then straightened out at Sinclairs Loanan (Whiterock Road). In 1832, the arc was straightened giving us that “new” stretch of Falls Road between Milltown and Whiterock Road, thereby, later, handing over quite a parcel of land for what later became the Falls Park and City Cemetery .The Glen Road of today didn’t exist, the main lane to the mountain, was a track running through from the village of “Andersonstown”, (formerly “Whitesidestown”) through “Lake Glen” and the town land of “Ballydownfine” to what we now call “Hannastown”, later this lane became known as “Kate Rush’s Loanan” . What we know today as the Andersonstown Road was the Englishtown road , English Town would roughly have been where Suffolk Road is today. “Ballymurphy House” which I mentioned earlier was known to us local kids as “The Haunted House”, the last owners as residents were the Murphy family who also owned the nearby Brickworks, this brickworks ceased operations a couple of years after Ballymurphy housing estate was developed and the old ruins lay there for many years, the kilns became popular hang -outs for homeless men and women who would sleep rough there, I remember as a child watching the workmen topple the five or six huge chimneys at the ruined brickworks, I watched so intently as to how they went about it that I could describe to this day in detail the so simple and yet so effective method . We would play as kids in the old quarries, they became our “glens” and “lakes”, on any day we’d be the heroes of the then popular movies which were being shown at the Broadway, Diamond or Clonard picture houses, like “Davy Crockett”, “Rob Roy”, all this helped fan our boyhood imaginations. and of course there was the infamous Springfield Road R.U.C Barracks, more usually called The Barrack, with its fortress like Barrack Wall at Cavendish Square. but that’s another story for another time. Don't forget to click on the other "Rushlight The Belfast Magazine" pages above.. and feel free to contact me at.. rushlight123@hotmail.com