Queen's Quay, Belfast
Queen's Quay is a section of the River Lagan, in the western Titanic Quarter of the city of Belfast, Northern Ireland. The quay became known as the Coal Quay during its industrial period, with industrial businesses running along the quay, including scrap and coal transporting and exporting to and from freight and coal boats.
As its name suggests, it originally located the southern section of the Belfast docks complex. But, as ships grew, it became a major transportation hub for both the capital and Northern Ireland.
Belfast & County Down Railway (B&CDR), Queen's Quay station
Originally it was located in the southern section of the Belfast docks complex, but as ships grew it became the Belfast terminus of the Belfast and County Down Railway, linking Belfast south-eastwards via 80 miles of track into County Down. The first train from the station ran on 2 August 1848 to Holywood, with services eventually extending as far as Castlewellan, Downpatrick, Newcastle and the fishing village of Ardglass.Queen's Quay also housed the B&CDR's locomotive maintenance workshops, and from 1886 the carriage works. The last carriage was built in 1923. All lines except to Bangor closed in 1950 shortly after nationalisation into the Ulster Transport Authority. The station was closed and demolished in 1976, and Bangor services were diverted to the new Belfast Central Station via the reopened Belfast Central line.
Industrial usage and "coal quay"
Queen's Quay was used as an industrial location for over 150 years, from the 1840s up until the 1990s. It featured coal yards, scrapyards, shipyards and engine works. It became locally as "the coal quay" during this period. Prior to redevelopment, the scrapyards extended as far as the Queen Elizabeth Bridge.The coal quay was the centerpiece of Queen's Quay during this period, which featured bars such as the Canberra Bar and the Rising Tide, to serve shipyard workers, dockers and other industrial workers alike from the quay. Prior to redevelopment, the scrapyards extended as far as the Queen Elizabeth Bridge. The Canberra was named after the SS. Canberra, a large glass mural picturing the SS Canberra was located behind the bar. It was also known for its vegetable soup.
Various coal companies occupied the quay, including the most well-known and first, John Kelly Limited. This originated from Samuel Kelly setting up business on Queen's Quay in 1840 as a "grocer and commission coal merchant". Following expansion, the company was then incorporated in 1911, by his son, John Kelly. The economic important of rising coal industries was pivotal in the early 1900s to the success of Northern Ireland. Other coal companies during this period included Cawoods Coal and Hugh Craig & Co.