Belfast Sugarhouse Entry Reopened After 50 Years of Closure
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- Опубліковано 9 вер 2024
- I'm on the recently restored and reopened historic Surgarhouse Entry in the centre of Belfast. The old street short cut entry runs parallel to Bridge Street between High Street and Waring Street and as well as being at the heart of city trade and commerce it has links to one of the most radical periods of the capital’s history.
Back in the 1600s onwards the Belfast heartland grew up around a maze of similar entries. Most are now gone but quite a few still remain and are in constant daily use. We have Pottinger's Entry, Wineceller Entry, Crown Entry, Joy's Entry and Wilson's Court.
As said these historic Belfast Entries represent the very birthplace of Belfast. We have the businesses that provided work and the narrow streets provided homes for the people who drove commerce and industry. The taverns, some of which survive to this day, provided entertainment and a social meeting place where deals could be done. Lovers met here. Trysts were made. Some hostelries became places of intrigue where plots could be plotted and hatched. these are the Belfast Entries. Now Sugahouse Entry rejoins all the others nearby.
Sugarhouse Entry
Sugarhouse Entry takes its name from a nearby sugar refinery, but is probably best known for links to the Society of United Irishmen, a group led by Wolfe Tone and Henry Joy McCracken that was inspired by the French Revolution. These fiery men and women led largely by Presbyterians wanted to overthrow British rule. Henry Joy McCracken, went on to be hung in the Belfast Cornmarket for his role in a failed rising attempt in 1798. In the 1940s, Sugarhouse Entry was extensively damaged by German long range Luftwaffe bombers during the Second World War. There is very little left of the original entry or its notable buildings. Sugarhouse Entry was closed to the public in 1972 during the height of the Belfast Troubles, as part of a number of army security measures. Now it is seeing the light of day and the footsteps of local people for the first time in 50 years.
PS Sorry for the poor sound quality during the initial part of the video.
PPS I have made a number of other Belfast Entry videos.
Thanks, Tom, for sharing. Indeed, this would be scary place after dark and sad to see that it’s already occupied by some homeless people so soon after reopening. However, at least a good effort has been made to remember the history of the city. It’s nice to see that the “horse-mounting stone” has been preserved. Looking forward to seeing the Entry in person very soon.👍
Thanks Bernadette. I love investigating old places and their many stories. lol
So well remember your previous video Tom, and these wee pockets of Belfast infrastructure are so interesting a bit of cheerful street art would look nice on some of the brickwork.
Yes Chris it could do with some historically linked street art pieces to bring out the history. I hope that might happen. I love old places with a bit of a story or two attached!
That was interesting Tom. What did it look like before the reopening? Thanks Tom.
If I remember correctly, I think Tom made a video on this a few months ago. You might find it back in his video library 🤔
@@bernadettedunne118 Thanks Bernadette
Yes indeed Mike. As Bernadette says I made a wee pre opening video of the Entry. Prior to that it was all boarded up.
Check out the link.
Belfast 1600s Sugarhouse Entry Hospitality Commerce and Intrigue
ua-cam.com/video/jE8OL4BB_9w/v-deo.html
Thanks Bernadette!