Up until the early 1600’s, Belfast was just a small settlement, having achieved “town” status in 1613. However, with industrialization, the city rapidly expanded, eventually being granted “city” status by Queen Victoria in 1888. Its linen, rope making, and ship building industries were responsible for this rapid growth. With its new status, city authorities began to plan for a new city hall building that would reflect the city’s growing reputation. Construction for the new building began in 1888 and completed 18 years later.
Covering 1.5 acres, surrounding an enclosed courtyard, the building has towers at its four corners and an impressive 173 foot lantern-crowned copper dome in its center. Due to its elegant design, Belfast’s City Hall became the model for an almost exact replica in Durban, South Africa.
From its very beginning, Belfast’s City Hall has had a very close connection with RMS Titanic. Viscount William Pirrie, the city’s Lord Mayor from 1896 to 1898, was also the managing director of Harland and Wolff shipbuilders ( the company that built the Titanic). Pirrie has been credited with developing the ideas for both construction projects.
The building’s Great Hall (i.e. ballroom) was the only part destroyed by German bombings during World War II. Fortunately, its wonderful stained glass windows depicting monarchs who had visited the city prior to 1906 ((King William III, Queen Victoria, and Edward VII) had been removed in 1939 for safe keeping, and re-installed when the room was rebuilt. The remaining stained glass windows depict the city’s Coat of Arms, and those of the four Provences of Northern Ireland. The gardens outside the building are a popular place for office workers to enjoy their lunches.
INTERESTING FACT: Due to pressure from the city council’s Irish Nationalists member, on December 3, 2012, an act was passed to limit the number of days the Union Flag (the British flag) could be flown from City Hall to no more than 18 days per year.