The Belfast Ropeworks
The Belfast Ropework Company The ropeworks as it was known started life as a small ropewalk employing 50 people in the 1850s, but in 1873 it was taken over by the owners of the shipyards as the demand for rope could not be met by their suppliers. This like the shipyard became the largest ropeworks in the world, it was on 46 acres and by the 1920s it was employing 4,000 people. Not only did they produce rope but also twine, cord and fishing nets these where made at the three different walks or factories they were the Bloomfield, Connswater and Pottinger sheds each over a quarter of a mile in length and in the early days horses were used in the making of rope as they pulled the strands of 30
hemp up and down the shed so as they intertwined to produced the strong Rope. During the Second World War the Belfast Ropeworks produced one third of all rope and cord required by the Allies.
the wonderful panelled red brick wall that surrounded the works being demolished and taken away. I think that a piece of forward thinking could have seen the wall remain and the shopping complex built behind it so as the old and the new told there At one time the works own stories about our had over 100,000 past and our new customers worldwide beginning. 16,000 tons of goods left the premises annually The East Belfast Lamp valued at a staggering Lighters Office was at ÂŁ2m, sadly with the introduction of synthetic yarns the ropeworks could not compete against overseas competitors and sadly closed the gates for the last time in 1974 and so ended 100 years of industrial history in Ballymacarrett. I think that one of the saddest sites was to see
198/202 Albertbridge Road and had at one time over 200 men working from it the manager was a Thomas Mc Bride, and at number 208-212 was the Ulster Unionist Labour Association this was an organized trade union group and was well supported . The last building on the left coming down the road was a bar called BEN L’s after its owner Ben L Ferris now a bookies and the lounge is now called "The Prince Albert" I hope you enjoyed this trip along the Albert and it has brought memories to some and an eye opener to others when we look at the road today it is hard to believe that it was a thriving working class community with a soul and a heart. .