Custom House Pediment

Custom House Pediment. Click to enlarge (Timothy Ferres, 2023)

THE CUSTOM HOUSE in Belfast is located at Custom House Square, which runs from 4, Queen's Square, to Albert Square.

This large Italianate block, completed in 1857, is notably one of the city's finest buildings.

Perhaps its greatest feature is its pediment, which faces the river Lagan.

Marcus Patton OBE, in his Central Belfast gazetteer, describes it thus:-

Dentilled pediment containing three figures carved in whiter stone: Neptune on the left reclining with an anchor and a dolphin, Mercury on the right relaxing before delivering the sheaf of corn at his feet to the ends of the earth, and in the middle Britannia with her trident and royal shield, flanked by a lion and a unicorn; 

Below the pediment the spandrels of tall arched windows are filled by winged figures representing Manufacture, Peace, Commerce, and Industry.

CUSTOM HOUSE LANE was an old entry which ran from High Street to Waring Street.

Thomas Phillips' map of Belfast in 1685. Click to enlarge.

It was near High Street Court, an entry which exists today (and seems to be a cul-de-sac).

Thomas Phillips' map of Belfast in 1685 shows a two-storey double-gabled building on Waring Street with a flag.

It has been suggested that this property belonged to the Warings, though another historian (Merrick) has remarked that it might have been a warehouse or early custom-house.

Custom House Lane and Bluebell Entry were swept away in 1846 for the creation of Victoria Street.