‘Sydenham’ takes the form of a journey and looks at the way things used to be. It starts at the Holywood Arches and travels along the Holywood Road from Gelston’s Corner to Knocknagoney, taking in St Mark’s Dundela, Edgcumbe and Ashfield Dairy. It also looks at the development of the area around Connsbrook Avenue, Strand Presbyterian Church, Camlin’s Nursery, the Sydenham Bypass and Victoria Park.

History of Sydenham 

In the recent Belfast Telegraph publication ‘Brilliant Belfast, 400 facts you never know – part two’ a good description of the area is to found. East Belfast only merged with the rest of Belfast because the municipal boundary was extended in 1853 to take in the old townland of Ballymacarrett on the Co Down bank of the River Lagan. However Ballymacarrett had been part of Belfast in all but name since its inclusion in the Chichester estates in 1787. Thousands of households were linked by the fact that their men and women worked in what was, at one stage, in the late 1800s, the world’s largest single shipyard, Harland and Wolff. Community identity remains strong and East Belfast has absorbed the villages of Sydenham, Strandtown and Knock.’ 

In the East Belfast Historical Society Journal Vol.4 No 4 from 2010, Charles Ludlow authored a chapter entitled ‘Sydenham’. The area of the district regarded as Sydenham has changed over the years. At one time it was considered as part of Strandtown, but later an Ordnance Survey map of 1902 incorporates much of what is now considered as Strandtown, and also Belmont. It is contained by the Holywood Road from Knocknagoney, Connswater and Belfast Lough, but confusingly, not Sydenham Avenue or the former site of Sydenham House. 

The name Sydenham only came into use in 1854. Unlike other areas of East Belfast such as Ballyhackamore, Knock and Cregagh (which are all townlands) the name does not relate to a physical geographical feature or historical background. The name of the fashionable London suburb was chosen by James Entwhistle, a speculative builder, who developed much of Sydenham as a residential area, presumably as being more high sounding than Strandtown. The name of Strandtown has a long history going back to the time when the Hamiltons of Bangor were granted the land by King James I.  In 1858 Thomas McClure purchased the townlands of Strandtown and Ballymaghan from the Ranfurley family of Dungannon. He later became the proprietor of the townland of Ballycloghan and Belmont mansion, which is now the site of Campbell College.

This painting was completed in 1864 by Jacob Henry Connop and entitled ‘View of Sydenham, Belmont and Glenmachan.’ Connop was an English-born artist who had been working in Belfast during the 1860s and produced a number of scenes and views of the city. He was well known for his ‘bird’s eye’ views which were often taken from towers or hills.

(Courtesy of Alan Rintoul)

Horatio Todd established his pharmacy at 72 Holywood Road in 1906. His range of preparations included perfumes, pills, stomach powders, cough mixtures, ointments, tonics and animal remedies. He lived at Sandown Road and kept a pony in a stable at the rear of his premises. It was said that when he opened his premises on the edge of town that he could see green fields from the front door.

(Courtesy of Tom McClure)

 

Edgcumbe House was built in 1837. It was an early Victorian, two-storey residence, with two gate lodges and grounds extending to 26 acres. It became the home of ‘Wee shipyard’ owner James Workman of Workman Clark & Co in 1854.  Like many big houses of a certain age in East Belfast, it reached the end of the line in terms of its useful life and it was demolished in 1993.

(Courtesy of Gary Kincade, Edgcumbe Day Centre)

The caption says: ‘Sydenham level crossing 1920’. The small shop operated by the Bruce family displays lots of advertising for ‘Fry’s Chocolate’ and ‘Gallaher’s’ tobacco. It was located on the seaward side of the railway line facing Sydenham Station and the Sydenham Bypass now occupies the site. 

(Courtesy of John Thomson)

This photograph is dated July 22^nd 1952 and captioned ‘Children keep cool at the fountain, Victoria Park swimming pool’. The outdoor swimming pool at Victoria Park was a popular attraction for youngsters from the Sydenham area for many years during the summer time.

 

(Courtesy of ‘Yesterday’s Photos and Photographic Services’ – The John Bonar Holmes website)