This old Mill Gate on the Crumlin Road Belfast is a remnant of Belfast’s industrial past, when the flax harvested in the fertile Lagan Valley was woven into the ‘Irish Linen’ cloth so valued by discerning (and wealthy) clients all over the world.
An interesting blend of the old and modern – a derelict factory chimney on the site, with mobile communications equipment attached!
The mountain area protruding to the right of the chimney is known locally as ‘Napoleon’s Nose’ – part of Cave Hill Country Park.
The BBC’s ‘Line of Duty’ police drama is a powerful, compelling drama, watched by (series 5) by over 8 million viewers across the UK, – and shot in and around Belfast. Today, with a few minutes to spare I stopped at one of its favourite locations, TATE’S AVENUE, to make some images of the area.
Passport Agencies are changing the way passport photographs are conveyed to them. The old paper passport photograph will soon not be accepted, as the agency changes to digital, online applications.
On a recent visit to the North Coast (of Ireland) I visited the town of Portrush, and made some images of the local Methodist Church there. Why so? Because of its name! This church is named for the learned Bible commentator Dr Adam Clarke.
Adam Clarke was born in 1760 near Tobermore, and died of Cholera in Westminster, London in 1832. Clarke’s greatest work was his Bible Commentary, which was to be a standard theological text among Methodists for around 200 years. Continue reading Dr Adam Clarke→
Every year the grounds of Belfast City Hall become a Christmas Continental market, selling goods from home and abroad. Here’s a few images from the market:-
Janette and me went for a wee drive up to Castlerock today, and out to visit the Mussenden Temple, Downhill Demesne and Beach. It was a bright sunny November morning, cold and with an invigorating wind! Great day for photography though.
On a visit to North Belfast I drove past the old Courthouse on the Crumlin Road, and decided that on my return journey, I stop and make some photographs. The courthouse was, like many old buildings in Belfast, designed by the architect Charles Lanyon and built in 1850. It closed in 1998 when the new court buildings at Laganside were opened, and it has remainded derelict since. Continue reading Crumlin Road Courthouse→
I’m getting desperate. Now I really can say I’d photograph anything! Literally. I know this to be true because I stood in the rain at Portstewart, just to see if I could get a photograph of Hugo Duncan* of BBC Radio Ulster fame as he did a live broadcast. Don’t ask me why. I don’t even like C&W music.
On Monday 18th June 2018, the cruise ship ‘Oriana’ – a P&O Cruises ship, visited Belfast as part of a ‘British Isles’ cruise. Janette and I have a particular fondness for this ship, we’ve been on holiday aboard Oriana, – we’d first encountered the Oriana when we were on a cruise on the MV Canberra in 1994, and the then brand new Oriana, on her second voyage passed us at sea. There was much enthusiasm on board both ships as they passed within a few hundred yards of each other, blowing their horns; Canberra releasing hundreds of red white and blue balloons, and loud strains of ‘Rule Britannia’ wafting across the sea. P&O turned it into a patriotic occasion that no doubt also did the company’s image much good. Continue reading MV Oriana→
