Old Smithfield Market, Belfast.

[chanel5]

Can anyone remember the old Smithfield market, in Belfast, before it was burned down in 1974? I am trying to find out the approximate size of the market, ie how many square feet it covered, how many shops it held. I remember the place well, when I was a young teenager - the wonderful book stalls, Joe Kavanagh's "I buy anything" shop, the secondhand furniture shops, and the secondhand jewellery stalls where my first boyfriend bought me a ring. I can find all this kind of nostalgia on Google, but I can't find any actual facts about the market's size and the extent of the trading. Also, I wondered (and I apologise if anyone finds this question a bit contentious), was the market perceived as "owned" by one side or the other in the city? In other words, was it used by both Catholic and Protestant communities, or was it perceived by either of the two sides as "biased"? Hoping someone local can remember it, and can give me some info. With many thanks in advance.

[sandyRoe]

The people who burnt it considered it to be 'Catholic'. Though the customers and stallholders were from both sides of the community.

[Buenchico]

I don't know if these pictures will help but I'll offer them to you anyway.

Interior of the market:
http://s498.photobucket.com/user/stanthony2/media/img418.jpg.html

A similar view:
http://lisburn.com/history/memories/memories_images/smithfield2.jpg

An artist's representation of the market entrance:
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/incoming/article29221832.ece/ALTERNATES/h342/smithfield.jpg

That appears to show that, to get to the glass-roofed part shown in the first two images, you had to pass through a slate-roofed block. That might explain why this photo, which apparently shows the market in the 1950s, looks nothing like the first two. (i.e. it's the outer bit, rather than the glass-roofed bit):
http://i51.tinypic.com/nl7hpe.jpg

Similarly this also shows the outside:
https://slavkasverakova.files.wordpress.com/2014/03/smithfield-market-belfast-we-buy-anything.jpg

This (1930s?) map of central Belfast shows an extensive market area but, not being local, I don't know whether it's Smithfield:
http://s257.photobucket.com/user/tonymc527/media/DSCF1277.jpg.html

[Buenchico]

The people who should have all of the answers to your questions:
http://www.nidirect.gov.uk/index/contacts/contacts-az/public-record-office-of-northern-ireland.htm

[sandyRoe]

The longest side of the market ran from Berry St to the end of Gresham st. They're both still there. There were three cobbled aisles in it full of shops selling all sorts of stuff.

[chanel5]

Thank you SandyRoe and Buenchico for this information. It is very helpful, and good to know that I am not the only one who remembers the place. I was aware that the republican paramilitaries were considered to be responsible for placing the incendiaries (although I think no group ever actually claimed responsibility) but I got confused because I remember my mother (who was strictly anti-republican) warning me as a young child never to go near the place because everybody there was republican (naturally, her warning against the place made me eager to visit it first chance I got). So I was confused because if the place was predominantly run and operated by individuals from the catholic/republican community, I couldn't see why the IRA or INLA would burn it down. I still don't. But I suppose that was the seventies and times were crazy. Thanks again for your answers.

[atalanta]

The local public library will have archive copies of the newspapers of the time. They are bound to include pictures, and maybe maps of the damage, as well as detailed descriptions. There should be copies of those newspapers in the British Library archive at Colindale, too.

[dieseldick]

no, but i remember the IRA bombing of mcmanus shoe shop north street in the early 70,s ...my ma sent us down as kids to get our square toe oxford boots.

i came back with 2 left feet .........lol

[dieseldick]

The people who burnt it considered it to be 'Catholic'. Though the customers and stallholders were from both sides of the community.

they still are from both sides but sadly its dead there atm, was there yesterday . surprised the german jew is still there to this day, fair play to him too.