Montgomery Street in Belfast City Centre runs from 19 William Street South to 26 May Street intersected by Chichester Street. The lower half of the street is now pedestrianised and leads into the Victoria Square Shopping Centre.
Before and during the Second World War, both sides of this part of the street produced soft drinks, known then as “aerated water”. The Ginger Ale produced by W.A. Ross and Sons Ltd. and Cantrell and Cochrane was famous throughout the world.
Montgomery Street in 1939
The following information is taken from the 1939 Belfast Street Directory.
| Number | First Name(s) | Last Name | Occupation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-7. | W.A. Ross and Sons Ltd. | Soft Drinks Manufacturers. | |
| 1-7. | Braithwaite and McCann | Side Door | |
| 1. | M. | McCormack | Auctioneer and Valuer |
| 3. | Frank | Savage | Radiators, Mudguards, etc. |
| 5-9. | Charles Hurst Ltd. | Automobile Engineers | |
| 11-13. | W.P. Grey and MacDowell | Auctioneers | |
| 11-13. | The Services Club | ||
| 15. | John Ross and Co. | Auctioneers and Valuers | |
| 15a. | J.C. MacMurray and Co. | Sausage Casing Manufacturers and Importers | |
| 2. | Cantrell and Cochrane | ||
| 2. | Belfast Plaza Ltd. | ||
| 2. | The Grand Billiards Hall | ||
| 4. | Naivette Café | ||
| 6. | T.A. | Fisher | Estate Agent |
| 6. | W.J. | Johnston | Estate Agent |
| 8-12. | Ferodo Ltd. | ||
| 14. | James | King | Auctioneer and Valuer |
| 14. | J. Osborne | King | Estate Agent |
Montgomery Street in 1943
The following information is taken from the 1943 Belfast Street Directory.
| Number | First Name(s) | Last Name | Occupation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-7. | W.A. Ross and Sons Ltd. | Soft Drinks Manufacturers. | |
| 1-7. | Braithwaite and McCann | Side Door | |
| 1. | J. | Creelman | House Furnisher |
| 3. | Frank | Savage | Radiators, Mudguards, etc. |
| 5-9. | Charles Hurst Ltd. | Automobile Engineers | |
| 11-13. | Belfast Food Control Office | ||
| 11-13. | The Services Club | ||
| 11-13. | The Motor Agents' Association Ltd. | ||
| 15. | John Ross and Co. | Auctioneers and Valuers | |
| 15a. | J.C. MacMurray and Co. | Sausage Casing Manufacturers and Importers | |
| 2. | Cantrell and Cochrane | ||
| 4. | Naivette Café | ||
| 6. | T.A. | Fisher | Estate Agent |
| 6. | W.J. | Johnston | Estate Agent |
| 8-12. | Vacant | ||
| 14. | James | King | Auctioneer and Valuer |
| 14. | J. Osborne | King | Estate Agent |
On the corner of Montgomery Street and May Street, a remnant of the Second World War remains. On the red brick wall are faint marking of an arrow with the letters E.W.S. During wartime, this bright yellow signage would have shown directions to the nearest Emergency Water Supply.