Historic Building Details

HB Ref No:
HB26/11/010

Address :
Parliamentary boundary post Garage between 44 and 50 Gilnahirk Road Belfast Co. Antrim BT5 7DG

Townland:
Knock/ Tullycarnet

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Survey 2:
B2

Date of Listing:
24/03/2016 00:00:00

Date of De-listing:

Current Use:
Boundary Marker

Former Use
Boundary Marker

Conservation Area:
No

Industrial Archaeology:
No

Vernacular:
No

Thatched:
No

Monument:
No

Derelict:
No

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OS Map No:
147-04

IG Ref:
J3920 7325

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Owner Category

Exterior Description And Setting

A cast-iron administrative marker post of 1918 marking the outer extent of the administrative jurisdiction of Belfast Corporation (as Belfast City Council was then known), and of Pottinger District Electoral Division and Ward within it. Embedded at entrance to petrol station on east side of Gilnahirk Road, immediately south of a row of shops (nos 28-44). A wooden fence runs behind it and a garage entrance sign, litter bin and pillar box are all in very close proximity. Of slightly tapered cylindrical profile, the post measures c.3ft high by 1ft diameter and is painted black. Banded octagonal base and oversailing flat octagonal cap with slightly smaller fluted circular upstand. Front face bears the shield of Belfast Corporation’s coat of arms, below which is an attached plaque reading “Parliamentary/ and Municipal/ Boundary of/ Belfast/ Pottinger Division/ Pottinger Ward/ 1918”. The plaque is secured to the post with four countersunk screws. There is also an identical shield near the top of the post on its rear face.

Architects

Historical Information

The County of the Borough of Belfast was created under the Local Government Act 1898 and enacted the following year. The new borough was divided into four constituencies for the purposes of parliamentary elections to the Westminster House of Commons (this was pre-Partition) – North, East, West and South. Each division had its own Member of Parliament. Under the Redistribution of Seats (Ireland) Act 1918, the existing four constituencies were abolished and their number increased to nine - Cromac, Duncairn, Falls, Ormeau, Pottinger, St Anne’s, Shankill, Victoria, and Woodvale. Each new parliamentary division had its own MP and encompassed one or several municipal wards; the latter were used for elections to Belfast Corporation. Pottinger Division encompassed just one municipal ward, of the same name. As its legend states, this particular post marks the boundary of that particular parliamentary division and ward. These new constituencies were first used in the 1918 General Election which took place on 14 December 1918, just over a month after the cessation of the First World War. This particular election took place under the Representation of the People Act 1918 (also known as the Fourth Reform Act). It is of special significance in that, for the first time, all men over 21 years of age and all women over 30 could vote; it was also the first election to be completed within the one day. Previously, only male property owners but no women could vote, and the election was spread out over several weeks. With the inception of the devolved parliament for Northern Ireland in 1922, the number of Westminster MPs was greatly reduced. The Pottinger parliamentary constituency, created only four years previously, was abolished and the previous constituency of East Belfast restored. However, the municipal wards continued in use, although some, including Pottinger, have since been reconfigured and renamed. Belfast Corporation was superseded by Belfast City Council in 1973 and its jurisdiction extended beyond the former borough boundary. Pottinger Electoral Division was created in 1985 and encompassed six wards - Ballymacarrett, Bloomfield, Orangfield, Ravenhill, The Mount, and Woodstock (note that Pottinger Ward was no longer extant). Pottinger Division was abolished in 2014 and all its wards excepting Orangfield became part of the new Titanic Electoral Area; Orangfield was included in Lisnasharragh Electoral Area. The boundary of the County Borough of Belfast is clearly marked on the 1901-02 OS map, but without any boundary post at this location. It is first captioned ('B.P.') on the 1919 map and on subsequent editions (1931, 1938 and 1959). A second post, now gone, is also marked on the opposite side of the road on the 1919 map. References – Primary Sources: 1. Local Government Act 1898. 2. PRONI OS/6/5/3. OS six-inch map, Co Down sheet 5 (1901-02). 3. Representation of the People Act 1918 (7 & 8 Geo. 5 c.64). 4. Redistribution of Seats (Ireland) Act 1918 (7 & 8 Geo. 5 c.65). 5. PRONI OS/10/3/5/9/1. OS 25-inch map, Co Down sheet 5-09 (1919). 6. PRONI OS/10/3/5/9/2. OS 25-inch map, Co Down sheet 5-09 (1931). 7. PRONI OS/10/3/5/9/3. OS 25-inch map, Co Down sheet 5-09 (1938). 8. PRONI OS/11/147/4/1. OS IG 1:2500 map, sheet 147-04 (1959).

Criteria for Listing

Architectural Interest

A. Style B. Proportion C. Ornamentation J. Setting K. Group value

Historic Interest

X. Local Interest Z. Rarity R. Age S. Authenticity T. Historic Importance U. Historic Associations

Evaluation

A cast-iron marker post dated 1918, unaltered and in its original setting. Displaying an ornamental capping and inscribed plaque and also a shield on its obverse face as well as on its front. Marking the outer extent of the administrative jurisdiction of the former Belfast Corporation and of Pottinger District Electoral Division. It is of historical significance as a remnant of the first election in Britain and Ireland when nearly everyone (bar women under 30) had the right to vote. It also marks a short-lived period in the province’s political development up to the formation of Northern Ireland and the Stormont administration in 1922. It is relatively rare as many of these posts have succumbed to road widening and random removal. It has group value with two nearby boundary posts also along the line of the Knock River (HB26/11/009 and /011).

General Comments

Date of Survey

14 October 2014