118 REPORT—1874, 
On the Belfast Harbour. By T. R. Satmonp, C.E. 
[A communication ordered by the General Committee to be printed in extenso, | 
(Pxartes I.-ITI.) 
Ir is with no small degree of diffidence that I have undertaken to draw 
up an account of the Port and Harbour of Belfast, the subject being one 
of considerable importance, and the materials at my disposal somewhat 
meagre, at least so far as the ancient history of the harbour is concerned. 
I have, however, endeavoured to prepare, in as concise a manner as possible, 
a synopsis of the various improvements which have been effected in the 
harbour, at least so far back as the sixteenth century; prior to which time 
the position of Belfast as a seaport or place of resort for shipping was rather 
vague and indefinite, if we can judge from the fact that no mention whatever 
is made of its existence as a harbour in any historical record prior to that 
date. On examination of the map of Belfast (vide Plate I.) which was 
prepared as early as 1660 (perhaps one of the most ancient maps of the 
town now extant), it will be seen that the old town was, as compared 
with Belfast of the present, a very insignificant pla¢e indeed. The limits of 
the town were circumscribed by an extensive line of fortification, which 
encompassed it on the north, south, and western sides only, it beiig bounded 
on the east side by the river Lagan, the land entrances to the town being by 
two gates called the North Gate and the Mill Gate. The North Gate was 
situated in North Street, at its juncture with John Street, and the Mill Gate 
was situated in Mill Street, at a point about 330 yards from the entrance to 
the Old Castle. It would, then, appear that the ramparts of the town ceased 
at William Street and commenced at Mary Street, now called Corporation 
Street, the interval between these points being bounded by the Lagan river 
precluded the chance of land attack from the eastward side of the town. 
At this time Belfast only consisted of five streets—High Street, Bridge 
Street, Skipper’s Lane, Waring Strect, and North Strect ; and the number of 
houses then in existence were, exclusive of the Castle, 150, the greater 
number of which were thatched houses of an inferior class, 
Previous to the year 1637 the harbour appears to have been under no 
regular system of government, and was assumed to be the property of the 
Chichester family. The trade was at that time as insignificant as the harbour 
itself, which was, in point of fact, a port of secondary importance to Carrick- 
fergus, which was the only stronghold in the bay occupying the same position 
relative to the latter town that Carlingford did in respect to Newry. Prior 
to the date I have just mentioned, the Corporation of Carrickfergus enjoyed 
the privilege of reserving to their use one third of all the Customs duties 
payable on goods imported into that place, together with other trading mono- 
polies. These immunities, however, the Earl of Strafford succeeded in pur- 
chasing in 1637, since which time the commerce of this port has become a 
matter of importance. A Custom House was then for the first time esta- 
blished in Belfast, and the revenue business of the port removed from Carrick- 
fergus. In the year 1729 tho first legislative interference with the port took 
place, when an Act, 3rd George II., was passed, which delegated to the 
Sovereign and free burgesses of the town the conservancy of the harbour. 
The Corporation of Belfast had the harbour-trust committed to their care, 
and the reason assigned for appointing them as the conservancy was that, as 
expressed in the Act, ‘*The harbour had become extremely shallow, by 
which means voyages have been prolonged, to the very great prejudice of 
