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Elena Terekhova
400 years of Belfast: Legends of Industry [0] - 22.01.2025
Heavy (with success) IndustriesIf you are not working for Harland & Wolff, your brother is. If not your brother, at least one of your neighbours is employed at one of the biggest shipyards in the world. This is true if outside your house is bustling, prosperous, spreading North and West, dynamic 19th century Belfast.
Harland and Wolff Heavy Industries was formed in 1861 by Edward Harland and Gustav Wolff and in a couple of decades was a world-renowned shipbuilding company. The success of the firm was dependent upon the partners’ personalities; Wolff’s good humour and wit moderated Harland’s scrupulous and fastidious nature. They both became enthusiastic Ulstermen and admirers of Belfast.
Edward James Harland was a keen engineer, Gustav Wilhelm Wolff was initially his personal assistant and became a partner with the establishment of H&W; therefore many of the technical advances are mostly attributed to Harland. Later Harland also recruited William James Pirrie as another partner. H&W throve due to the use of innovations in shipbuilding: they started the construction of upper decks of iron, replacing wood, which made the ships stronger; they constructed ships with a flatter bottom and squarer section which increased the capacity.
Gustav Wolff was an able financier and a fully-qualified engineer. Once asked to make a speech on board a trial trip for a steamer, Wolff said: "Sir Edward Harland builds the ships for our firm; Mr. Pirrie makes the speeches, and as for me I smoke cigars for the firm" - and promptly sat down. (Michael Moss, John R. Hume. "Shipbuilders to the World: 125 years of Harland and Wolff, Belfast 1861-1986”)
Having emerged on Belfast skyline in 1969, 96-meter high Goliath was the first crane to be build by Harland & Wolff shipyard. The second crane Samson was completed in 1974 and reached 106 meters. 4000-tonne landmarks of modern Belfast, they have a secure future listed as historic monuments; needless to mention them having a glorious past. Photo: Brian F. McCabe © bordersoff
The ‘Daughter’ of Belfast
She is more famous for her death, not life. Though the life was not long, and the fatal hour was not as well. Born in 1911 in Belfast she was a massive creature, deemed invulnerable, most luxurious ever and embodying many aspirations.
In fact, she was the largest ship of her days, cost £1.500.000 to build and had the electrical generating equipment of a larger output than that of many city stations. Her name was TITANIC.
Along with her two sisters Britannic and Olympic (the luckiest of all three), Titanic was built for a prominent British shipping company White Star Line by Harland & Wolf and sank on its maiden voyage, April 1912.
This is the original dockland where Titanic was built. ‘The new wonder of the world’ entrusted Belfast with some of its glory. The Queen’s Island area of Belfast received £7billion for the special Titanic Quarter development and revitalization to make it a perfect brand and commemorate the association with the most famous ship ever constructed. Photo: Elena Terekhova © bordersoff
Titanic Museum, the world’s largest Titanic visitor’s experience being built, will open 31 March 2012. As Belfast’s branding strategy includes ‘industrial tourism’ apart from the new Museum a variety of tours to Titanic Dock, Pump-House and other remarkable places are offered. Photo: Elena Terekhova © bordersoff
Fragments of the current Titanica Exhibition, located in Ulster Folk& Transport Museum, are telling the legendary story in human dimension. They’re the tiny details, emotions and personal possessions of the people, moving your imagination and making your visit long-remembered. Photo: Carly Harte © bordersoff
Culture |29.01.2012 | Views: 1637
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