Sailortown

Sailortown is the oldest remaining residential area with links to the Harbour and its dockers, and once had over 5,000 people packed into its small, terraced streets. The area was where dockers and immigrant families settled while seeking work in the increasingly busy shipyards and docks. The men worked on the docks or went to sea while the women looked after families and found work in the linen mills. An influx of Italian immigrants in the 19th century led to one area of Sailortown being called Little Italy. Many of the Italians were in Belfast to carve the marble for buildings such as City Hall.

The streets here have names reflecting their maritime history, such as Princes Dock Street, Pilot Street and Corporation Street – where the Harbour has its offices. Much of the area has been redeveloped into apartment buildings and a motorway, but some key heritage remains such as St Joseph’s Church, a Grade 2 listed building built in the 1870s, which will soon be open for activities and will showcase its rich Maritime Heritage through photographs, stories, film and exhibitions. Known as the Chapel on the Quay, its spire was the first and last sight of home for generations of seamen.

Sailortown is also home to Sinclair Seamen’s Church, a maritime themed church built for its seafaring congregation in 1857. It is decorated with an array of maritime items, with a pulpit shaped like a ship’s prow, a binnacle font, and a WW1 ship’s bell that calls the congregation to worship.

Get to know the Mile from the local neighbourhood experts – Read Alissa’s story.