Just 60 centimetres beneath the surface of Belfast city centre, the River Farset has flowed for over 170 years. In fact, despite being largely forgotten, the Farset may just be the very reason for Belfast’s existence - it has been claimed that Belfast was founded at the very spot where the Farset flowed into the more famous (and visible) Lagan. By the end of the 19th century, the Farset had made Belfast into the world’s largest linen manufacturer, with over 50,000 people working in the mills alongside it. However, the overwhelming stench from the river, where rubbish was freely discarded, caused much public protest, leading to the river being sealed in 1848. While the river itself is now invisible, a piece of the history can still be seen in the form of the Albert Memorial Clock which leans at a slant of 1.25 metres because it was built on marshy, reclaimed land.placeholder image
Just 60 centimetres beneath the surface of Belfast city centre, the River Farset has flowed for over 170 years. In fact, despite being largely forgotten, the Farset may just be the very reason for Belfast’s existence - it has been claimed that Belfast was founded at the very spot where the Farset flowed into the more famous (and visible) Lagan. By the end of the 19th century, the Farset had made Belfast into the world’s largest linen manufacturer, with over 50,000 people working in the mills alongside it. However, the overwhelming stench from the river, where rubbish was freely discarded, caused much public protest, leading to the river being sealed in 1848. While the river itself is now invisible, a piece of the history can still be seen in the form of the Albert Memorial Clock which leans at a slant of 1.25 metres because it was built on marshy, reclaimed land.

11 things you probably didn’t know about the history of Belfast city centre

By Conor McAteer
Published 10th Oct 2022, 15:06 GMT

As you stroll through the streets of central Belfast, you may not necessarily stop to think about the storied history of the heart of Northern Ireland’s capital, but there are certainly plenty of stories to be told.

From historical tales to bizarre facts, there is far more than meets the eye when it comes to the heritage of one of Europe’s most loved cities.

There isn’t a section of Belfast that doesn’t come with a backstory, making it an incredibly intriguing hotspot for history.

Including modern-day marvels and centuries-old facts, this definitive list of the capital’s most unusual facts is sure to show you a different side to the place you think you know.

Additional reporting by Maisie Laughton

As with all cities across the world, Belfast was known for a handful of things, one of which being its linen industry. In the 1800s, the linen factories in and around Belfast were incredibly profitable and successful, making it a wealthy city in the 19th Century. Whilst men primarily worked on ships, another of Belfast’s industries, women and children worked in linen mills, with the industry growing so rapidly that it became the world hub for linen. Belfast’s nickname became Linenopolis, with one remaining linen factory standing following the troubles on the corner of Linenhall street.

9. Linenhall Street.jpg

As with all cities across the world, Belfast was known for a handful of things, one of which being its linen industry. In the 1800s, the linen factories in and around Belfast were incredibly profitable and successful, making it a wealthy city in the 19th Century. Whilst men primarily worked on ships, another of Belfast’s industries, women and children worked in linen mills, with the industry growing so rapidly that it became the world hub for linen. Belfast’s nickname became Linenopolis, with one remaining linen factory standing following the troubles on the corner of Linenhall street. Photo: Contributed

The Giant’s Causeway is one of the main attractions in Northern Ireland, only a small drive away from Belfast, but many don’t know quite how long it has been on the north coast. The completely natural formation of the columns seen today is believed to have happened between 50-60 million years ago. After a flood of lava erupted from the fissures within the earth, the unique-looking tourist hotspot was made, leaving a destination like no other, with around 40,000 hexagonal shapes standing on the coastline.

10. The Giant's Causeway

The Giant’s Causeway is one of the main attractions in Northern Ireland, only a small drive away from Belfast, but many don’t know quite how long it has been on the north coast. The completely natural formation of the columns seen today is believed to have happened between 50-60 million years ago. After a flood of lava erupted from the fissures within the earth, the unique-looking tourist hotspot was made, leaving a destination like no other, with around 40,000 hexagonal shapes standing on the coastline. Photo: Contributed

Whilst it may be a well known fact that the RMS Titanic was built in Belfast before it set sail and eventually met its unfortunate demise, the impressive size of the ship is often overlooked. A team of 3,000 workers helped forge the Titanic on Belfast docks, with eight people dying during its construction, but the size of the infamous boat is potentially most shocking. Sitting at 882 feet and six inches long, the Titanic was longer than the world’s tallest building at the time, making it an even more impressive piece of work. Now nearly 2,000 feet smaller than the world’s current tallest building, The Burj Khalifa, the dimensions may seem small, but considering it was built in the early 1900s, this magnificent creation that sat at 46,328 tonnes was undeniably a marvel to the world.

11. The Titanic was more than it was made out to be

Whilst it may be a well known fact that the RMS Titanic was built in Belfast before it set sail and eventually met its unfortunate demise, the impressive size of the ship is often overlooked. A team of 3,000 workers helped forge the Titanic on Belfast docks, with eight people dying during its construction, but the size of the infamous boat is potentially most shocking. Sitting at 882 feet and six inches long, the Titanic was longer than the world’s tallest building at the time, making it an even more impressive piece of work. Now nearly 2,000 feet smaller than the world’s current tallest building, The Burj Khalifa, the dimensions may seem small, but considering it was built in the early 1900s, this magnificent creation that sat at 46,328 tonnes was undeniably a marvel to the world. Photo: Contributed

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