IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Lindsay Way, BELFAST, BT7 1TS

The upper floors of the training tower, at the back of the Central (Ormeau Avenue) fire station Image, seen from Donegall Pass. This link http://strangeharvest.com/obscure-design-typologies-fire-training-towers is to an interesting article comparing the design of towers in the UK and the USA. Image shows the tower in its geographical setting.

The Fire Brigade training tower Image (left) and Windsor House Image seen from Donegall Pass.

It takes an average of four minutes for units from this station to arrive at the scene of any emergency incident.

The rapid growth in the population of Belfast in the periods 1831-51 and 1891-1901 is well known. That growth required housing for the new residents. Much was in the form of kitchen houses – often with several generations sharing properties with minimal (and sometimes no) amenities. Widespread redevelopment came about, after the creation of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive (later assisted by housing associations and, later still, by private enterprise) in the 1970’s. Old streets simply disappeared. Others were retained but with new (and often stylish houses; Image and Image are examples nearby). Some exist in more or less in name only. Charlotte Street is one. Built in the 1850’s it originally ran from Donegall Pass Image to Basin Lane (later Bankmore Street Image) and had 52 houses. It’s now reduced to this truncated street (off Donegall Pass). The red wall on the left hides a council yard. Ormeau Avenue fire station Image is behind the red wall behind the white box van at middle right. There are a few commercial properties on the right.

This building is both the busiest fire station in the province and the site of the NIF&RS Eastern Region Headquarters. This image was taken from Howard Street South. Central Station had 3,127 call outs during 2011 and 2012. This compared with 0 call outs during the same period for the Rathlin Island station, the least busy of Northern Ireland's 68 fire stations. Image

A “Broads” access cover at Bankmore Street. It carries the inscription “GPO” (abolished in 1969) and the trade name “Silent Knight”. Image shows part of the inscription.

See Image A detail from the corner showing the inscription “GPO” (abolished in 1969), the foundry name and part of the trade name “Silent Knight”.

The Central Fire station is now in Ormeau Avenue. It replaced the one in Chichester Street demolished to make way for the Laganside Courts Image See also Image

This inner city car park is located outside the Central Fire Station.