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Elena Terekhova
400 years of Belfast: Highlights of Culture, Lowlights of Labour [0] - 22.01.2025
If asked to depict Belfast in one letter only, many Belfast tourists or residents are likely to paint a big red ‘Q’ with a whimsical pattern in the centre. Why not the widely branded ‘B’? That’s not a question as ‘Q’ is the historical brand of excellence and city development; that’s not a debatable issue if you know Queen’s University Belfast: an internationally renowned institution, Belfast’s pride and history, established by Queen Victoria in 1845 as a College and situated in South Belfast within a huge Queen’s quarter.The Queen’s College was honoured to have a ‘home’ designed by Sir Charles Lanyon who was Belfast’s Lord Mayor and one of the leading architects of 19th century Britain. Queen’s University Building is often referred to as ‘Lanyon building’ and some say it was inspired by the Founder’s Tower at Magdalen College, Oxford, with Queen’s central tower being even more elegant and remarkable because of its greater height.
Lanyon building, one of the principal ornaments of Belfast, is often imaged on tourist literature, post cards, Northern Ireland banknotes and credit cards. Not surprisingly, it is one of the most recognizable symbols of the city of Belfast and of Northern Ireland. Photo: Mirela Dimitriu © bordersoff
However, Lanyon building is never promoted as a place of interest alone, but only within the Queen’s Quarter which embraces even more gems to explore. The Palm House, also designed by Charles Lanyon in 1839, is inside the Botanic Gardens, established in 1828 due to the citizens’ interest in planting and horticulture.
Botanic gardens host concerts, weddings and performances. The park also appears in the movie "Divorcing Jack”, implementing ‘branding through film’ method. In July 2011, Botanic Gardens, rightfully promoted as a part of green Belfast, were awarded the Green Flag Award 2011 as one of the best open spaces in the UK. Photo: Elena Terekhova © bordersoff
During the century Belfast had experienced the population increasing from 22,000 in 1806 to nearly 340,000 ninety years later. A 19th century ‘city of emigrants’ hosted the rich who made fortunes here, and sheltered the poor from the rural areas of Ulster struggling for life in the mills, at the shipyards and the linen halls which were numerous.
Construction of this landmark, Belfast City Hall, began in 1896. Linen was vital to Belfast’s economy and it was the Linen Hall which occupied the city center. Only after considerable negotiation it was agreed to build the City Hall on 1.5 acre White Linen Hall territory. Photo: Brian F. McCabe © bordersoff
The progress of Belfast had attracted 100 000 Catholics to work in industries by the end of the century. Many occupations demanded learning a profession, but unskilled labour dominated and Catholics took many jobs they were capable to do. This sometimes formed a notion among poor unskilled Protestants of Catholics taking up their jobs. Protestant working class was also alarmed by such an influx of people settling in own quarters. This was giving way to sectarianism and intolerance. Female and child labour was a common occurrence, and the minimum age to start working was 11 and later 12 years. The children did not work full time and were called ‘half-timers’ attending school three days every one week and two days every other.
In the meantime the rich invested into building and charity. The Mater Infirmorum Hospital had been founded in 1883 by Bishop Dorrian, who bought and converted Bedeque House in the Crumlin Road. Under the care of the Sisters of Mercy its creed was caring for the sick regardless of their religion.
Things would have probably been very different for Belfast if only had the next century been merciful to anyone, specified in the last four words of the previous passage.
Culture |29.01.2012 | Views: 1864
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