South Belfast in the Second World War

Throughout the Second World War, South Belfast was a more affluent area of the city and many buildings saw use by the British and United States military.

South Belfast

Belfast

Northern Ireland

South Belfast centres on the River Lagan in Belfast. Today, it is a mixed area containing many of the city's more exclusive areas as well as Queen's University.

The main demographic of the area is seem a young, cosmopolitan and middle-class. Inner-city working-class areas such as The Markets in the Ormeau make up several suburban estates. This part of Belfast contains Northern Ireland’s largest concentrations of students and ethnic minority groups.

Throughout the Second World War, the area saw use as a staging post for the US Army and many large houses and estates became military headquarters. The south of the city escaped severe damage during the Belfast Blitz of 1941.

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 Apsley Street, Belfast, Co. Antrim

Apsley Street, Belfast, Co. Antrim

Belfast, Co. Antrim

Apsley Street lies to the south of Belfast city centre connecting Bankmore Street to Ormeau Avenue. The surrounding area is much changed from the 1940s.

Map showing Blythe Street, Belfast, Co. Antrim

Blythe Street, Belfast, Co. Antrim

Belfast, Co. Antrim

Blythe Street runs off Sandy Row in south-west Belfast, Co. Antrim. During wartime, several serving members of the forces lived on the working-class street.

Map showing Derryvolgie Avenue, Belfast

Derryvolgie Avenue, Belfast

Belfast

Derryvolgie Avenue runs between the busy Lisburn Road and Malone Road in South Belfast. In 1943, it was home to timber yards, merchants and HM Government.

Map showing Donegall Pass, Belfast, Co. Antrim

Donegall Pass, Belfast, Co. Antrim

Belfast, Co. Antrim

Donegall Pass runs between two of south Belfast's main thoroughfares; Shaftesbury Square and Ormeau Road. An Air Raid Precautions Post stood there in 1943.

Map showing Dunluce Avenue, Belfast

Dunluce Avenue, Belfast

Belfast

Dunluce Avenue in South Belfast runs off Lisburn Road. In the Second World War, quite a few members of the Royal Ulster Constabulary lived on the avenue.

Map showing Eliza Street, Belfast, Co. Antrim

Eliza Street, Belfast, Co. Antrim

Eliza Street, Belfast, Co. Antrim

Eliza Street in East Belfast lies off Cromac Street running towards Stewart Street. The markets area of the city remains a mainly working class community.

Map showing Linfield Road, Belfast, Co. Antrim

Linfield Road, Belfast, Co. Antrim

Belfast, Co. Antrim

Linfield Road lies off andy Row in South Belfast, Co. Antrim. In the 1940s it was a hive of industry with both tobacco and linen manufacturers based there.

Map showing Ormeau Road, Belfast

Ormeau Road, Belfast

Belfast

The Ormeau Road was built in 1815 as the New Ballynafeigh Road. During the Second World War, British and American troops were a common sight.

Map showing Parkmore Street, Belfast

Parkmore Street, Belfast

Belfast

Parkmore Street lies off the Ormeau Road, a busy thoroughfare in South Belfast. During the Second World War, it was a working-class residential street.

Map showing Stockman’s Lane, Belfast

Stockman’s Lane, Belfast

Belfast

Stockman's Lane in Belfast is home to Musgrave Park Hospital, which saw use as No. 31 (London) General Hospital during the Second World War.

Map showing Stranmillis Road, Belfast

Stranmillis Road, Belfast

Belfast

Stranmillis Road, Belfast is the site of Stranmillis University College, an institution that saw use as a Military Hospital during wartime.

Map showing Sunnyside Street, Belfast

Sunnyside Street, Belfast

Belfast

Sunnyside Street lies off the thriving Ormeau Road in South Belfast running towards the River Lagan. During the Second World War, it was mostly residential.

Map showing Ulsterville Gardens, Belfast

Ulsterville Gardens, Belfast

Belfast

Ulsterville Gardens in South Belfast runs between the wide UlsterVille Avenue and Fane Street. During the Second World War, many residents were in the RUC.

References
  1. Wikipedia