Belfast City Centre in the Second World War

Belfast City Centre came under attack from the Luftwaffe in 1941. During the Belfast Blitz, Bridge Street, High Street, and other streets sustained damage.

Belfast City Centre

Belfast

Northern Ireland

Places of Interest

The following places will be of interest to anyone wishing to explore more of the area's Second World War heritage.

Map showing Bedford Street, Belfast

Bedford Street, Belfast

Belfast

Bedford Street runs through the Linen Quarter of Belfast City. During the Second World War, Belfast Telegraph photographers captured life on the street.

Map showing Bridge Street, Belfast

Bridge Street, Belfast

Belfast

Bridge Street in Belfast City Centre is almost unrecognisable today compared to 1941. Much of it was flattened after the devastation of the Belfast Blitz.

Map showing Castle Street, Belfast

Castle Street, Belfast

Belfast

Castle Street, Belfast was one of many heavily-bombed streets in the Luftwaffe air raids of April and May 1941 in what became known as the Belfast Blitz.

Map showing Donegall Place, Belfast

Donegall Place, Belfast

Belfast

Donegall Place, Belfast was a scene of chaos and destruction in 1941 as Luftwaffe bombs flattened buildings in what became known as the Belfast Blitz.

Map showing Donegall Square North, Belfast

Donegall Square North, Belfast

Belfast

Belfast City Hall on Donegall Square North suffered damage to the roof and the ornate banquetting hall during the Belfast Blitz of April and May 1941.

Map showing High Street, Belfast

High Street, Belfast

Belfast

High explosive Luftwaffe bombs destroyed much of High Street and nearby Bridge Street in Belfast City Centre during the Belfast Blitz of April and May 1941.

Map showing Montgomery Street, Belfast

Montgomery Street, Belfast

Belfast

The factories of Montgomery Street were the source of Belfast's world-famous Giner Ale. Today the street still bears some wartime markings.

Map showing Queen’s Square, Belfast

Queen’s Square, Belfast

Belfast

The naming of Queen's Square, Belfast dates back to 1849 and a visit from Queen Victoria. Service personnel frequented the square in wartime.

Map showing Royal Avenue, Belfast

Royal Avenue, Belfast

Belfast

During the Belfast Blitz of April and May 1941, buildings such as the offices of the Belfast Telegraph newspaper on Royal Avenue sustained serious damage.

Map showing Sugarhouse Entry, Belfast

Sugarhouse Entry, Belfast

Belfast

Sugarhouse Entry took its name from the old sugar refinery in Belfast. This lane once ran parallel to Bridge Street between High Street and Waring Street.

Map showing Waring Street, Belfast

Waring Street, Belfast

Belfast

In later years, Waring Street became home of the Northern Ireland War Memorial and the Royal Ulster Rifles Museum. It suffered greatly in the Belfast Blitz.