Belfast Central Library@BelfastCentLib

(Twitter is not monitored 24/7). Please contact Library during opening hours. Mon & Thurs 9am -8pm, Tues, Wed, Fri 9am - 5:30pm, Sat 10am - 4:30pm. CLOSED Sun.

 Royal Avenue, Belfast, BT1 1EA
librariesni.org.uk/libraries…
Joined February 2013
4,660 Photos and videos
The Village continues to take shape as new houses are being constructed along what will become Donegall Avenue #OnThisDay in 1924. Photographs courtesy of Belfast Telegraph #ConnectWithHeritage
A historical black-and-white photo of workmen building a row of terraced houses at the Donegall Avenue site in Belfast.

ALT A historical black-and-white photo of workmen building a row of terraced houses at the Donegall Avenue site in Belfast.

A historical black-and-white photo of a construction site with timber, scaffolding, and terraced houses in the background.

ALT A historical black-and-white photo of a construction site with timber, scaffolding, and terraced houses in the background.
27
The 'Half-Bap' is a historic Belfast place-name that has since faded into history with the reshaping of the area. The origin of the name was mooted in the Belfast Telegraph #OnThisDay in 1982 #ConnectWithHeritage
A newspaper clipping titled 'Round the Half Bap' describing Joe Nugent's childhood memories of a Belfast street corner.

ALT A newspaper clipping titled 'Round the Half Bap' describing Joe Nugent's childhood memories of a Belfast street corner.
1
2
55
Belfast’s oldest tram driver, Bob Gray, was set to retire #OnThisDay in 1949. Remarkably, Mr. Gray had been working on Corporation trams since the horse-drawn days of 1899 #ConnectWithHeritage
58
Work was progressing at Belfast’s newest power station at Musgrave Channel Road #OnThisDay in 1922 #ConnectWithHeritage
Two historical black-and-white photos showing the construction of Belfast's electrical station and its coal conveyor.

ALT Two historical black-and-white photos showing the construction of Belfast's electrical station and its coal conveyor.
2
1
55
#OnThisDay in 1908, construction work continued at Harland & Wolff on the new Arrol Gantry, as well as the slipways where the great White Star liners would come to be built. Image courtesy of the Belfast Telegraph #ConnectWithHeritage
Historical newspaper clipping showing the construction of the massive Arrol Gantry at Queen's Island shipyard.

ALT Historical newspaper clipping showing the construction of the massive Arrol Gantry at Queen's Island shipyard.
75
The latest addition to the Inglis bread van fleet was out and about #OnThisDay one hundred years ago #ConnectWithHeritage
A vintage black and white newspaper photograph of an Inglis & Co. Ltd. bread van built on a Morris Z3 chassis.

ALT A vintage black and white newspaper photograph of an Inglis & Co. Ltd. bread van built on a Morris Z3 chassis.
65
The Limestone Road was being widened to accommodate Belfast Corporation’s new bus service #OnThisDay one hundred years ago #ConnectWithHeritage
A newspaper clipping showing two black and white photos of road widening works in Belfast for a new bus route.

ALT A newspaper clipping showing two black and white photos of road widening works in Belfast for a new bus route.
52
REMINDER 👇 North of Ireland Family History Society will be in Belfast Central Library TOMORROW for a family history talk to help you get started on your research journey! Booking advisable - ☎️ 028 9050 9150
Promotional flyer for a free family history talk at Belfast Central Library on 10 September.

ALT Promotional flyer for a free family history talk at Belfast Central Library on 10 September.
1
1
74
“I walk on air around Smithfield, and past the Brewery Mill, to meet my lovely Eileen, who lives on Lettuce Hill.” The etymology of this old Belfast street, long absent from Belfast maps, was discussed in the Belfast Telegraph #OnThisDay in 1959 #ConnectWithHeritage
A newspaper clipping titled 'To-day Long Ago' explaining the historical origin of the Belfast location 'Lettuce Hill'.

ALT A newspaper clipping titled 'To-day Long Ago' explaining the historical origin of the Belfast location 'Lettuce Hill'.
64
Kerbstones and lamp posts at Castle Junction were being painted in anticipation of possible Wartime blackouts #OnThisDay in 1939 #ConnectWithHeritage
A black-and-white photo of a workman painting a lamp-post in Belfast to prepare for wartime blackout conditions.

ALT A black-and-white photo of a workman painting a lamp-post in Belfast to prepare for wartime blackout conditions.
1
1
46
#OnThisDay in 1948, work was underway to restore the York Street Flax Spinning Mill after it had been destroyed in a Wartime air-raid. At one time it was the largest of its kind in the world. Image courtesy of the Belfast News-Letter
A 1948 newspaper clipping showing the reconstruction of a Belfast mill and a photo of two consuls.

ALT A 1948 newspaper clipping showing the reconstruction of a Belfast mill and a photo of two consuls.
1
2
94
Breaker, breaker. The News-Letter delved into the local CB radio scene #OnThisDay in 1980 #ConnectWithHeritage
A newspaper article featuring a man using a CB radio in his car, with text about the Belfast radio craze.

ALT A newspaper article featuring a man using a CB radio in his car, with text about the Belfast radio craze.
76
From Dana to Elgar via The Outcasts and Rudi! Belfast (and beyond) has always had a deep appreciation of music in its many varied forms. As seen in the Belfast Telegraph #OnThisDay in 1980 #ConnectWithHeritage
A newspaper clipping showing advertisements for a medieval fair, a punk music festival, an orchestra, and a dance event.

ALT A newspaper clipping showing advertisements for a medieval fair, a punk music festival, an orchestra, and a dance event.
2
4
148
📰 Belfast Central Library Fully Reopens to Customers 📰 Belfast Central Library is once again fully open to customers, with the reopening of the first floor Reading Room for reading, studying and research. We would like to thank customers for their patience and understanding.
A grand library interior with a domed ceiling, white columns, and rows of study desks with colourful chairs.

ALT A grand library interior with a domed ceiling, white columns, and rows of study desks with colourful chairs.

A modern library reading area with lime green and blue armchairs, circular tables, and tall floor lamps.

ALT A modern library reading area with lime green and blue armchairs, circular tables, and tall floor lamps.

A bright, spacious library interior with high ceilings, classical white columns, study desks, and colourful chairs.

ALT A bright, spacious library interior with high ceilings, classical white columns, study desks, and colourful chairs.
1
1
174
A demonstration of the new locally produced road surface ‘tarkold’ was being given at its Duncrue Street works #OnThisDay in 1925 #ConnectWithHeritage
A historical photo of men in suits watching a worker apply a new tar solution to a road surface.

ALT A historical photo of men in suits watching a worker apply a new tar solution to a road surface.
83
#OnThisDay in 1964, the Belfast Telegraph featured stories of the aul’ hands whose lives crossed paths at the historic Great Victoria Street GNR terminus #ConnectWithHeritage
A newspaper feature about Great Victoria Street station, featuring photos of a newsstand, a clerk, and a man with a cat.

ALT A newspaper feature about Great Victoria Street station, featuring photos of a newsstand, a clerk, and a man with a cat.
89
#OnThisDay in 1913, the Irish News shared a first look at the new Clonard Picture Theatre on Falls Road. The cinema opened later that year, and early audiences were treated to the 3-reel action drama Kelly of the Emerald Isle on Christmas Day
1
63
Edwardian elegance at Ferris Brothers’ drapery establishment in Shaftesbury Square. As seen in the Belfast Telegraph #OnThisDay in 1910 #ConnectWithHeritage
A 1910 newspaper photograph of the Ferris Brothers Drapers storefront in Belfast, advertising a summer sale.

ALT A 1910 newspaper photograph of the Ferris Brothers Drapers storefront in Belfast, advertising a summer sale.
61
Happy 250th birthday to the United States! The Declaration of Independence appeared on the front page of the Belfast Newsletter on the 23 August 1776. View our copy on display on the second floor of Belfast Central library. #connectwithheritage
Front page of The Belfast News-Letter from 1776, featuring the Declaration of Independence and various classified adverts.

ALT Front page of The Belfast News-Letter from 1776, featuring the Declaration of Independence and various classified adverts.
3
60
At the Europa Hotel it was strictly "no denim" but over at The Harp Bar, the hub of the city's punk scene, anything went! As seen in the Irish News #OnThisDay in 1978 #ConnectWithHeritage
A vintage black and white advertisement listing various music events at the Harp Lounge, Europa Hotel, and King Arthur.

ALT A vintage black and white advertisement listing various music events at the Harp Lounge, Europa Hotel, and King Arthur.
1
54
Load more