lO 



Guide to Belfast. 



castles erected to hold and control the pass of the ford, 

 was burned down, in 1708, through the carelessness of a 

 servant, by which accident three daughters of Arthur, third 

 Earl of Donegall, were burnt to death. The castle stood 

 in the middle of an extensive garden, between what is now 

 Donegall Place and Corn Market : many names in the 

 vicinity, as Castle Street, Castle Place, etc., sufficiently indi- 

 cate its proximity. Of this castle not a vestige now remains, 

 the whole area of the castle, with its pleasure-grounds, being 

 built over. Sir Arthur, the Lord-Deputy, died in 1625, and 

 was succeeded by his brother. Lord Edward, afterwards 

 Viscount Chichester, whose eldest son was created Earl of 

 Donegall in 1647; and, subsequently, a descendant, Arthur, 

 fifth Earl, was raised in 1791 to the dignity of Marquis of 

 Donegall and Earl of Belfast. 



BELFAST CASTLE. 



The Chichester family, as lords of the soil, have been 

 closely identified with Belfast and its interests all through 

 its history. The mansion at Ormeau, on the east side of 

 the river, was long the country residence of the family (now 

 one of the public parks of the city, and well worthy of a 

 visit). They had also a town house in Donegall Place, since 

 demolished, and the site occupied by business premises. 

 The third marquis built a magnificent residence (Belfast 

 Castle) on the south-eastern slope of Cave Hill. Upon 



