Belfast, Castle Place 1897

Photo ref: 40187

More about this scene

The horse-drawn trams were a long-established feature of the city, and the system was still being extended up the Cregagh and Anderstown Roads. All parts could be reached from this corner, and its popular name of Castle Junction had become fixed. The 114 cars and 1,000 horses were the property of the Belfast Street Tramway Company. The company was now ready to bring in electric trams, and had an act of parliament approving the work. However, this was subject to having the agreement of the Corporation, which was not forthcoming. As things stood, the company operated under a lease from the Corporation under which it paid rent for the use of the streets. The Corporation had just gained some experience in supplying electricity for light in the city centre from a station in Chapel Lane. The demand of the trams would make it all the more worth-while to carry on with plans to build a more substantial power station on East Bridge Street by the river, using imported coal. Without doubt, the councillors' thinking was influenced by their experience of running a gas works at a very good profit. Even then, it was producing the money to build a splendid new City Hall, which was to become the perfect memorial for those years. The company made three offers to the Corporation, including one with profit sharing, but to no avail. With another seven years for the lease to run, the city had to wait until 1905 for the new trams.

An extract from Belfast Photographic Memories.