IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Pottingers Entry, BELFAST, BT1 4DT

See Image What makes this one of interest is the survival of some of the (once common) white tiles (above the modern blue ones) on the building at the corner of Pottinger’s Court and Pottinger’s Entry.

The streets around High Street were popular as boarding points for the various stage coaches connecting Belfast with neighbouring towns (and those further afield). The “Morning Star”, in Pottingers Entry, off High Street, was a coaching inn dating from the early part of the 19th century. It has survived without modernisation but has not achieved the celebrity status of houses such as the “Crown” or “Kelly Cellars”. This lion (said to be the winged lion of St Mark) stands above the main door.

See Image Pottinger’s Entry, also runs from Ann Street to High Street. It is an example of how to destroy a historic and atmospheric thoroughfare by demolishing most of one side and replacing it with a multi-storey car park. The view is towards High Street with the “Morning Star” on the left and Pottinger’s Court running off to the left alongside it.

An entry off Pottinger’s Entry Image At one time there were five small houses. At least two were occupied until the early 1970’s when they were vacated after a fire. Now replaced by the red building at middle right. The Morning Star Image occupies the entire southern (left) side. Continue to Image

See also Image and Image The view along Pottinger’s Entry from High Street.

The Pottinger’s Entry side (looking towards Ann Street) of the “Hi park”.

A plaque, in Joy’s Entry Image, giving a short history of the thoroughfare. It records that it was named after Francis Joy – founder of the “News” Letter” Image and grandfather of Henry Joy McCracken Image It includes two references which might not be entirely accurate – one a spelling and the other a date.

With the ground-floor internal “InShops” closed, the Hi Park, in High Street, now has a banner offering “To let substantial retail unit 30,000 sq ft suitable for a range of retail/leisure uses”. This photograph appears as a matter of record only. I have no connection with any of the parties involved in the letting.

Heading SSE from High Street to Ann Street

The illuminated dome of Victoria Square Shopping Centre from the basement level, quite a spectacular sight in night-time Belfast.