I've been meaning to make this video for some time Jeanette because I know how many people all round the world started off on or near the Newtownards road!
Hi YB. I'm afraid all our urban areas have suffered a massive hit right across the province. The recent shutdowns were the death knell for many. Amazon worked away delivering throughout while everyone else stayed at home. The rise of internet shopping meant people could buy cheaper online delivered to your door. It was easy to predict what would happen. I didn't realize this was a chapel until I got home and checked!!!!!!!
Hi Jacqui. I hope this did indeed bring back a few happy memories. I have done quite a few walk rounds of Belfast streets. Best wishes from the Belfast Castlereagh hills of Northern Ireland.
Thanks Tom! Your wee episodes are great! I lived in this area is just around the corner from this video! I lived up Ravenscroft Avenue. I love looking back. Keep the memories coming please
BTW wher Wyse Byes is now used to be Inglis Bakery. Wyse Byes was originally on the corner of Connswater Street. Just on the corner by the library was McKays Pharmacy, then Lemons Fruit Shop, Cochrane's Menswear, The Victory (confectionery) used to be Fusco's Ice Cream - my mum worked in Fusco's and the Victory! I worked in a hairdressers just above as a Saturday job. It was then called "Flair" but used to be John Magees Barber shop
Ah Diane, as the poet said, - 'I weep like a child for the past'. Yes I must do a few more of these wee danders. It's good to remember. Things have changed a lot though. Sadly a lot of businesses have gone and old buildings have been allowed to become badly neglected. Much of the vibrant life of these major street has disappeared.
Oh I'd love to get hold of someone like yourself who remembers all these places and sit them down for a wee recollection interview. It's hard to get hold of anyone though and older folk always think that they wouldn't be interesting or any good! They would!!!!!!!!! Best wishes from the Belfast Castlereagh hills.
Hey many thanks Mike. All of Belfast city shops have suffered a complete run down. The same thing has been happening all across the country. Online shopping is the death knell for on street shopping.
Hi Tom, I remember the smell of the biscuit factory that used to be along there in the seventies, two of my Auntie’s lived just off the arches. Brings back some memories for me. Bless you.
Hi Richard. Sadly so many of our traditional Belfast N' Ards road industries have been lost. I'm delighted to have brought back those memories for you. So many folks are linked to the Newtownards road and the wee connecting surrounding streets. Best wishes from the Belfast Castlereagh hills.
That sounds like Ignis Bread and Biscuits on the corner of Bread Street just beside Connswater bridge, had a lot fo family worked there they always speak fondly of it, it closed about 1980. It's now a Wyse Buys.
Ahh Tom, you've rekindled some old memories for me - again! I remember the Arches when there were trains running across (1950s), and of course the old "Inglis" Corner where I used to have to do Points Duty by the Zebra Crossing. The old pub clock now long gone, and the Ropeworks Corner. Diagonally opposite that corner I had to operate the traffic lights from the box by Ribble Street. I have a little story about the Ropeworks Wall, where it ran down to the old Fire Station. Just before the station there were a Ladies and Gents toilets built into the wall - open 24 hours a day. I used to walk past them very late at night on my way home to Parkgate from the Belfast dance halls. One night as I was passing the station, I spotted a gentleman coming around the Albertbridge/N'Ards corner, I had taken about seven or eight steps past the toilets just as he approached me, and I thought he looked very odd, wearing a large wide-brimmed hat and long black overcoat. Two seconds later I looked round and he had disappeared. I thought, he can't have gone into the toilets in the time I'd turned, so I waited for a minute to see if he came out. He didn't, so I went into both the ladies and the gents, but there was no sign of him! You will know that road, and there was nowhere he could have hidden himself, so it remains a mystery to this day! I oten walked from the Ropewoks corner to Parkgate along the Connswater path, which is still there today, although as you say much changed with new flats etc. Where the path meets Mersey Sreet there used to be a huge bonded warehouse, another (minor) landmark now gone. Strangely, the atmosphere that used to be there no longer exists, but still, a lot of happy memories. thanks Tom - what would we do without you!? Best wishes, Reg. BTW, have you made a start on the tutorial?
Wow Reg that must have been something to see! And Inglis was there too! Loved your strange wee story. No I haven't got round to the tutorial yet. It's on my to do list for maybe a rainy day. That N'Ards road video took quite some time. I've been meaning to do it for a while now.
@@richardwhite5139 Not a chance, as I knew Van c1962/3. He had a band called the Green Onions and was was looking for a rythym/lead guitarist. I went along for a trial, but all they wanted to play was R&B which I wasn't into in the least. Anyway, he was happy with what I did and asked me to come back for their next rehearsal. I never did, but in a matter of weeks they had changed their name and made their first record "Here comes the night." They used to practice at the corner of Castlereagh Rd and Grand Parade, above the shops. "Mystic Night!....Nice reference to a weird experience!!
my family came from there,methuen st and island street,but everythings changed now,streets have gone houses and entrys also gone,still good to visit though.my cousin ned used to have a pub on the corner of templemore ave,now gone and called the peace corner.
Hi Patrick. Great to hear from you. Yes so much has changed over the years. Methuen street is gone but Island street is very much still there. Few of the old pubs are left, At one time there were 30+ up and down the Newtownards road. Best wishes from the Belfast Castlereagh hills.
This brought back some happy memories for me. I was a regular visitor to East Belfast for best part of 20 years. I used to stay not far from Bllomfield Ave, just off Ravenscroft Ave and I have been in a fair few of those shops whenever I was over from Liverpool. The Unionjack shop was one of them, as was Wyse Buys. We also have a Great Eastern Bar here too and it`s not to far from where I live. In fact a lot of the streets in Liverpool are named the same as in East Belfast, A place I am proud to say was like a second home to me. The people were always very warm and genuine, just like back home. I think that`s one of the main reasons I loved the place so much, a visit is long overdue. Many thanks for a trip down memory lane my friend 👍
Hi Stephen. Great to hear from you talking about your memories of the Newtownards road. I always go to WiseBuys when I want something cheap! lol I buy all mys bird seed there and garage tools etc a super fairly priced shop. If you haven't seen my Great Eastern Bar video here it is. I don't even drink but bars like the Great Eastern interest me because of their link to the community and their wealth of history. 1890 Great Eastern Bar Newtownards Road Belfast th-cam.com/video/ZvY5rWl6VTo/w-d-xo.html
Tom, I'm glad you said the shops were "looking a bit rough" as I thought it looked a bit depressing. Having said that, there are lots of empty shops, offices everywhere and I doubt things will get any better. As to the Freedom Corner, it is part of history.
Hi FF. The whole of Belfast and indeed every other town are looking very sad. The age of the shop is largely over. Amazon and others like them have been allowed total freedom to take control. Town and city councils here are still milking the goose, that always laid the golden egg, ....- high rates and rentals. Shop owners/restaurant owners cannot pay what councils are asking on top of rising gas, electric and food prices. City and town streets are going to be reduced to ghost towns. Our central heating oil bills have doubled here!
Some of my family were born and lived around Tamar Street back in the early 1900's. Always remember hearing that if someone moved out and the house was empty. You just went down and get the rent book and moved your stuff in. It was bombed during the Belfast Blitz and only about three original terrace houses remain. I think they moved out towards Dundonald after that.
That was the way it was back then. The whole N'Ards Rd suffered badly during the Blitz. Probably in the top 5 of UK cities for damage to housing and people.
I love this video. I Spent 2 years as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints beginning in January of 1982. Times were rough back then. Lived at 1 Farmley Gardens, Glengormley, for 4 months then Moved to 43 Tates Avenue for about 5 months. We knocked on a lot of doors and met many great people, both Protestant and Catholic. I have a love for the Irish people. This video brings back many great memories. My wife and I visited Belfast in May of 2023 and met up with some friends from 41 years ago. I was so happy to see that the Europa no longer had razor wire surrounding it and I felt safe walking all the streets. My flat on Tates Ave had been recently raised and was just a pile of bricks. Sad to see empty churches regardless of the faith, but it’s great to see people living in peace and using their God given common sense to treat each other like humans.
My Great Uncle and Aunt were married in St. Patrick’s Ballymacarrett also. It was 16 November 1908. The church was bombed twice in 1941 repaired and reopened in 1952.
Hi Tom,I watched this on tv yesterday and actually watched it twice because of the interruption of phone's ringing and people in and out LOL. I really enjoyed this video there is so much to take in, the street art as usual was brilliant and it was nice to see James Ellis up there with the other notables and the murals were amazing. The Titanic trivia was excellent and talking of ship's I liked the Great Easten Bar unfortunately one of Mr Brunel's not so successful achievements, (they should have built here in Belfast at least the launch would have been successful) LOL. It's such a sorry sight to see all the empty shop's i do wonder if they will make a recovery one day. Were those yellow boxes with the H & W logo on them for plant's? they looked just the job. I think the highlight was the hanging garden's Tom never seen anything like them before, but besides the empty shop's as you mentioned there is the church's, most now empty what do you do with them? Anyway Tom all in all another topping video great stuff.
Thanks so much again Chris! I reckon inner cities are done for. First they were hit by out of town mega shopping complexes with free parking and wide walkways. then they were hit by internet shopping. Now they are hit by high fuel prices. Yes those were for the garden. There are much better ones than those around though. This road and the side roads were heavily damaged in the Belfast Blitz. I want to do a video about this some time. But when!!!!!?
Tom you need to ssk folk about "Willie Watts" - he was a shoe shop! He'd pick a pair (or not), - if you didn't want them he'd literally throw them over his shoulder into the pile lol
Just a quickie Tom: Did you know about the plaque re the Blitz at the corner of Ravenscroft Ave? It's high up on the wall above the carpet shop, and records 14 deaths from the bombing. I think the Linenhall Library has some great photos of the damage caused there - I can't remember since it was so many years ago when I was researching. Ride safe young man.
No Reg! I will be down there tomorrow to look for this plaque. I should have known about this. how did I miss all these plaques dotted round the city. Oh dear! I've seen quite a few pictures of the damage. Many of the neighbouring street were flattened. No one could have survived in them. Young people today have either no knowledge at all or little idea just how badly Belfast was hit. Thanks a lot for this!
@@TomMcClean Haha Tom, if we knew all these things we'd be walking encyclopaedias!! The only other thing that springs to mind is the entrance door to the Belfast Telegraph - or rather the ground-level brickwork on the corner - damage from the Blitz. I believe there wer more than 1,000 killed, but can't remember the exact figure. I do know that the elephant from Belfast Zoo was rescued by a female Keeper, and kept in he back garden!! Happy hunting, and stay safe! Reg. I've just remembered this: During the Belfast Blitz, HMS Ark Royal was in at H&W for some repair work. The Germans didn't know it or see it, but mercifully no bombs came close enough to do any damage.
Used to be trolley Buses on the Road many moons ago, seen an old photo with one going up there, I was looking for a photo of Burkes Store, it was near St Patrick’s Church or Ireland.
it's great to see it all again thank you for the memories
I've been meaning to make this video for some time Jeanette because I know how many people all round the world started off on or near the Newtownards road!
@@TomMcClean its where I was for over 6years I miss it terribly so thank you very much for bringing back such great memories
Ahhhhhhhh Jeanette. I'm glad to be bringing back old happy memories.
Hi YB. I'm afraid all our urban areas have suffered a massive hit right across the province. The recent shutdowns were the death knell for many. Amazon worked away delivering throughout while everyone else stayed at home. The rise of internet shopping meant people could buy cheaper online delivered to your door. It was easy to predict what would happen. I didn't realize this was a chapel until I got home and checked!!!!!!!
Thank you for this, I was brought up in Parkgate so loved seeing my old area again.
Hi Jacqui. I hope this did indeed bring back a few happy memories. I have done quite a few walk rounds of Belfast streets. Best wishes from the Belfast Castlereagh hills of Northern Ireland.
Hello Tom , Thanks great walk I found it all very interesting some lovely Churches and old building . Take care .
Hey thanks Shaun. i've been meaning to film this for some time.
Thanks Tom! Your wee episodes are great! I lived in this area is just around the corner from this video! I lived up Ravenscroft Avenue. I love looking back. Keep the memories coming please
BTW wher Wyse Byes is now used to be Inglis Bakery. Wyse Byes was originally on the corner of Connswater Street. Just on the corner by the library was McKays Pharmacy, then Lemons Fruit Shop, Cochrane's Menswear, The Victory (confectionery) used to be Fusco's Ice Cream - my mum worked in Fusco's and the Victory! I worked in a hairdressers just above as a Saturday job. It was then called "Flair" but used to be John Magees Barber shop
Ah Diane, as the poet said, -
'I weep like a child for the past'.
Yes I must do a few more of these wee danders. It's good to remember. Things have changed a lot though. Sadly a lot of businesses have gone and old buildings have been allowed to become badly neglected. Much of the vibrant life of these major street has disappeared.
Oh I'd love to get hold of someone like yourself who remembers all these places and sit them down for a wee recollection interview. It's hard to get hold of anyone though and older folk always think that they wouldn't be interesting or any good! They would!!!!!!!!!
Best wishes from the Belfast Castlereagh hills.
Hi Tom... enjoyed this nice historical walk, thanks for this showing
Hey many thanks Mike. All of Belfast city shops have suffered a complete run down. The same thing has been happening all across the country. Online shopping is the death knell for on street shopping.
Hi Tom, I remember the smell of the biscuit factory that used to be along there in the seventies, two of my Auntie’s lived just off the arches. Brings back some memories for me. Bless you.
Hi Richard. Sadly so many of our traditional Belfast N' Ards road industries have been lost.
I'm delighted to have brought back those memories for you. So many folks are linked to the Newtownards road and the wee connecting surrounding streets. Best wishes from the Belfast Castlereagh hills.
That sounds like Ignis Bread and Biscuits on the corner of Bread Street just beside Connswater bridge, had a lot fo family worked there they always speak fondly of it, it closed about 1980. It's now a Wyse Buys.
Yes CP I reckon it was Inglis. I found the family graves in our Belfast cemeteries. I think they are in Friar's Bush and the City.
@@skimmingstoness Yes, I think you're right Ignis's ✅
Was it Burk's store down at the bottom end of the road?
Ahh Tom, you've rekindled some old memories for me - again! I remember the Arches when there were trains running across (1950s), and of course the old "Inglis" Corner where I used to have to do Points Duty by the Zebra Crossing. The old pub clock now long gone, and the Ropeworks Corner. Diagonally opposite that corner I had to operate the traffic lights from the box by Ribble Street.
I have a little story about the Ropeworks Wall, where it ran down to the old Fire Station. Just before the station there were a Ladies and Gents toilets built into the wall - open 24 hours a day. I used to walk past them very late at night on my way home to Parkgate from the Belfast dance halls. One night as I was passing the station, I spotted a gentleman coming around the Albertbridge/N'Ards corner, I had taken about seven or eight steps past the toilets just as he approached me, and I thought he looked very odd, wearing a large wide-brimmed hat and long black overcoat. Two seconds later I looked round and he had disappeared. I thought, he can't have gone into the toilets in the time I'd turned, so I waited for a minute to see if he came out. He didn't, so I went into both the ladies and the gents, but there was no sign of him! You will know that road, and there was nowhere he could have hidden himself, so it remains a mystery to this day!
I oten walked from the Ropewoks corner to Parkgate along the Connswater path, which is still there today, although as you say much changed with new flats etc. Where the path meets Mersey Sreet there used to be a huge bonded warehouse, another (minor) landmark now gone.
Strangely, the atmosphere that used to be there no longer exists, but still, a lot of happy memories.
thanks Tom - what would we do without you!? Best wishes, Reg.
BTW, have you made a start on the tutorial?
Wow Reg that must have been something to see! And Inglis was there too! Loved your strange wee story. No I haven't got round to the tutorial yet. It's on my to do list for maybe a rainy day. That N'Ards road video took quite some time. I've been meaning to do it for a while now.
Could have been Van Morrison disappearing into the Mystic Night😎😉
@@richardwhite5139 Not a chance, as I knew Van c1962/3. He had a band called the Green Onions and was was looking for a rythym/lead guitarist. I went along for a trial, but all they wanted to play was R&B which I wasn't into in the least. Anyway, he was happy with what I did and asked me to come back for their next rehearsal. I never did, but in a matter of weeks they had changed their name and made their first record "Here comes the night." They used to practice at the corner of Castlereagh Rd and Grand Parade, above the shops.
"Mystic Night!....Nice reference to a weird experience!!
LOL Richard ...very good.
😁
my family came from there,methuen st and island street,but everythings changed now,streets have gone houses and entrys also gone,still good to visit though.my cousin ned used to have a pub on the corner of templemore ave,now gone and called the peace corner.
Hi Patrick. Great to hear from you. Yes so much has changed over the years. Methuen street is gone but Island street is very much still there. Few of the old pubs are left, At one time there were 30+ up and down the Newtownards road. Best wishes from the Belfast Castlereagh hills.
This brought back some happy memories for me. I was a regular visitor to East Belfast for best part of 20 years. I used to stay not far from Bllomfield Ave, just off Ravenscroft Ave and I have been in a fair few of those shops whenever I was over from Liverpool. The Unionjack shop was one of them, as was Wyse Buys. We also have a Great Eastern Bar here too and it`s not to far from where I live. In fact a lot of the streets in Liverpool are named the same as in East Belfast, A place I am proud to say was like a second home to me. The people were always very warm and genuine, just like back home. I think that`s one of the main reasons I loved the place so much, a visit is long overdue. Many thanks for a trip down memory lane my friend 👍
Hi Stephen. Great to hear from you talking about your memories of the Newtownards road. I always go to WiseBuys when I want something cheap! lol I buy all mys bird seed there and garage tools etc a super fairly priced shop. If you haven't seen my Great Eastern Bar video here it is. I don't even drink but bars like the Great Eastern interest me because of their link to the community and their wealth of history.
1890 Great Eastern Bar Newtownards Road Belfast
th-cam.com/video/ZvY5rWl6VTo/w-d-xo.html
Ahh! Me and my bike! 😁 Was looking for that video! ❤️
Good man OSA ME. Best wishes from the Belfast Castlereagh hills.
Oooops! Good lady I mean.
@@TomMcClean 🤣🤣🤣❤️
Tom, I'm glad you said the shops were "looking a bit rough" as I thought it looked a bit depressing. Having said that, there are lots of empty shops, offices everywhere and I doubt things will get any better. As to the Freedom Corner, it is part of history.
Hi FF. The whole of Belfast and indeed every other town are looking very sad. The age of the shop is largely over. Amazon and others like them have been allowed total freedom to take control. Town and city councils here are still milking the goose, that always laid the golden egg, ....- high rates and rentals. Shop owners/restaurant owners cannot pay what councils are asking on top of rising gas, electric and food prices. City and town streets are going to be reduced to ghost towns. Our central heating oil bills have doubled here!
@@TomMcClean We have just been advised our electricity is to rise from 1 July.
Some of my family were born and lived around Tamar Street back in the early 1900's. Always remember hearing that if someone moved out and the house was empty. You just went down and get the rent book and moved your stuff in. It was bombed during the Belfast Blitz and only about three original terrace houses remain. I think they moved out towards Dundonald after that.
That was the way it was back then. The whole N'Ards Rd suffered badly during the Blitz. Probably in the top 5 of UK cities for damage to housing and people.
My parents were married in St Patrick's Ballymacarret on 1 Septmember 1962, I was born 19 August 1963!
Right. born and breed local then.
I love this video. I Spent 2 years as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints beginning in January of 1982. Times were rough back then. Lived at 1 Farmley Gardens, Glengormley, for 4 months then Moved to 43 Tates Avenue for about 5 months. We knocked on a lot of doors and met many great people, both Protestant and Catholic. I have a love for the Irish people. This video brings back many great memories. My wife and I visited Belfast in May of 2023 and met up with some friends from 41 years ago. I was so happy to see that the Europa no longer had razor wire surrounding it and I felt safe walking all the streets. My flat on Tates Ave had been recently raised and was just a pile of bricks. Sad to see empty churches regardless of the faith, but it’s great to see people living in peace and using their God given common sense to treat each other like humans.
My Great Uncle and Aunt were married in St. Patrick’s Ballymacarrett also. It was 16 November 1908. The church was bombed twice in 1941 repaired and reopened in 1952.
Hi Tom,I watched this on tv yesterday and actually watched it twice because of the interruption of phone's ringing and people in and out LOL.
I really enjoyed this video there is so much to take in, the street art as usual was brilliant and it was nice to see James Ellis up there with the other notables and the murals were amazing.
The Titanic trivia was excellent and talking of ship's I liked the Great Easten Bar unfortunately one of Mr Brunel's not so successful achievements, (they should have built here in Belfast at least the launch would have been successful) LOL.
It's such a sorry sight to see all the empty shop's i do wonder if they will make a recovery one day.
Were those yellow boxes with the H & W logo on them for plant's?
they looked just the job.
I think the highlight was the hanging garden's Tom never seen anything like them before, but besides the empty shop's as you mentioned there is the church's, most now empty what do you do with them?
Anyway Tom all in all another topping video great stuff.
Thanks so much again Chris! I reckon inner cities are done for. First they were hit by out of town mega shopping complexes with free parking and wide walkways. then they were hit by internet shopping. Now they are hit by high fuel prices. Yes those were for the garden. There are much better ones than those around though. This road and the side roads were heavily damaged in the Belfast Blitz. I want to do a video about this some time. But when!!!!!?
Tom you need to ssk folk about "Willie Watts" - he was a shoe shop! He'd pick a pair (or not), - if you didn't want them he'd literally throw them over his shoulder into the pile lol
The problem is finding the right people to ask! lol
Just a quickie Tom: Did you know about the plaque re the Blitz at the corner of Ravenscroft Ave?
It's high up on the wall above the carpet shop, and records 14 deaths from the bombing. I think the Linenhall Library has some great photos of the damage caused there - I can't remember since it was so many years ago when I was researching. Ride safe young man.
No Reg! I will be down there tomorrow to look for this plaque. I should have known about this. how did I miss all these plaques dotted round the city. Oh dear! I've seen quite a few pictures of the damage. Many of the neighbouring street were flattened. No one could have survived in them. Young people today have either no knowledge at all or little idea just how badly Belfast was hit. Thanks a lot for this!
@@TomMcClean Haha Tom, if we knew all these things we'd be walking encyclopaedias!! The only other thing that springs to mind is the entrance door to the Belfast Telegraph - or rather the ground-level brickwork on the corner - damage from the Blitz. I believe there wer more than 1,000 killed, but can't remember the exact figure. I do know that the elephant from Belfast Zoo was rescued by a female Keeper, and kept in he back garden!! Happy hunting, and stay safe! Reg. I've just remembered this: During the Belfast Blitz, HMS Ark Royal was in at H&W for some repair work. The Germans didn't know it or see it, but mercifully no bombs came close enough to do any damage.
I had heard all of this Reg. They made a film about the elephant and the keeper a few years back.
An interesting point you may not know, is that the aforementioned Belvoir Bar is pronounced, unlike the estate, Belle-Voire.
I didn't know this. Thanks Nigel. Best wishes from the Belfast Castlereagh hills.
Hello, My Mum talked about a Dr. Pitt-----she was born 1924------is this the same Dr. Pitt. My uncle used to ask the doctor to bring them a wee baby.
I reckon this is indeed the very same doctor Dr Pitt, BB! What a wonderful story. Best wishes from the Belfast Castlereagh hills.
Memories of Tamer Street Dezanos is cream fish chip 🍟 mushy peas mersey Street school 😢😊
Ah Andrew .....all gone now I'm afraid. That was a brave number of years ago! Best wishes from the Belfast Castlereagh hills.
Sorry Tom it's pronounced as Mageean Memorial Church
Ooops Diane I always manage to get things wrong! lol
Witham street east belfast had 3 different type houses cos German bomb drop on it renew
I didn't know that wee piece of history Geoff!
why not have a `mono rail` use old railway to Comber !!
I have often thought this Geoff but no one ever came up with the idea.
Used to be trolley Buses on the Road many moons ago, seen an old photo with one going up there, I was looking for a photo of Burkes Store, it was near St Patrick’s Church or Ireland.
Yes indeed I remember the trolley buses from my childhood. I'm afraid Burkes Store must be long gone.
@@TomMcClean I remember Burke's!! My granny lived in ¹ Lendrick Street,just across from Willie Watt's Shoeshop!
Righto Diane!