Wednesday, 13 January 2010

Bank Buildings, Belfast: An Historical Note


The Bank Buildings was built in 1900 by W H Lynn. It is still one of Belfast's finest late Victorian edifices, constructed with such materials as red sandstone, polished granite floors and pilasters. The front faces Castle Place; and its name refers to Cunningham's Bank, 1767, which stood on this site.

A former palace of the Lord Bishop of Down, Connor and Dromore stood on this site too; and a branch of the Northern Bank later. Three buildings are known to have occupied this prime location in Belfast.

Moving on to Callender Street: the building where Alden's in the City now stands was once a tobacco factory! Murray's tobacco factory was here in 1888 and it was connected to 21 Arthur Street.

Last published on December 4th, 2008.

2 comments :

Anonymous said...

Never knew that Murrays had once been in Callendar St. My father worked for Murray's when it was on Sandy Row. Believe it has was a linen mill before Murrays moved in.

Timothy Belmont said...

Yes, I think they must have been at Callender St prior to expansion in Sandy Row.

There must have been quite a heady aroma of tobacco for passers-by!