Yes, this was a busy corner. In the morning between 7 and 9 am the corner would be black with dock, coal and shipyard workers, hundreds of men on foot heading over the Queens Bridge to work. People walked a lot more in those days. I don't know why maybe it was because people lived closer to their work.

The double decker buses would be standing room only. For a few hours in the morning you would get a policeman directing traffic mainly, as you mentioned, to get the workers across Oxford Street. If you notice the slight hill the bus is turning (which shows well in the sketch) onto the Queens Bridge, there used to be a tow horse to help the heavy laden cart horses pull round that corner. Anyone else remember that?

Across the road the first house used to be a diner upstairs, for 2 shillings and 2 pence you could get a 3-course lunch, a good deal even in those days.
On Oxford Street the pub is either next door or one over - where I had my first pint. The pub is still there, at least it was in 2000 when I visited Belfast, but it's a little more of an up market restaurant.

I also remember the open top trucks ( sorry lorry! )with dried corn and the pigeons on top eating as fast as they could until the lorry picked up speed.

Just down from the corner on Ann Street does anyone remember a hardware store? I started work on the QE2 bridge as a young lad and as a kind of initiation it was standard to play a few jokes on the new employees ( especially the young ones ) I remember being sent to the hardware store to pick up a pail of spotted paint. I also remember others being send to pick up white lines for the road (even given a wheel barrow to fetch it!!!) A bucket of blue steam was the usual first joke, they would keep it up for days, "hey! Jimmy did you get that bucket of blue steam for me, he! he!" It was all in good fun. You were never accepted until you had your initiation and everyone had a good laugh at your expense.

I live in Canada now, been here for over 32 years, but I can still remember it like it was yesterday.

John R

There is a hardware store there yet. I think it's McMaster's. A real old fashioned traditional place where they still hand-write receipts and the staff know everything about everything they sell.

I can remember another great scam that "newbies" were put through.. that is to go to stores and ask for a 'long stand'. They were kept waiting a long time!

Yes, I remember that horse too. In the early 1960's, it was a white one. We used to take our children to see it. On the wall was a metal notice giving instruction to the horse's handler. Something about the slippery road or not going too fast on the slope down the other side.

Here's another memory of that corner. the horses pulling carts of steaming coal dust briquettes.

And another one - the herds of cattle being trotted along Oxford Street from Allam's Market and being driven to the boat. I remember on one occasion a poor beast falling into the Lagan and swimming up the Farset under the High Street. Trouble is I can't remember the outcome of that episode.

I was sent for a "long felt want" once

No - Not McMasters They are/were in Church Lane. The tool shop at the end of Ann Street near the bridge was/is Jamison and Green.

McMasters are still in Church Lane and specialize in tools. It is still a family business and won a BBC Radio 4 best shop competition a few years ago.

Jamison and Green are still at 102-108 Ann Street next door to Elliotts hire Shop. They are hardware, tools and ships chandlers. I still remember, within the last five years, being sent downstairs and across the rear yard to the ironmongers to obtain larger nuts and bolts. It has not changed much in the last 20 or so years. I think they still have a vacuum system to send invoices and money upstairs somewhere, probably one of the last remaining sytems in Belfast.

The other hardware shop in Ann street is long gone, it was up near Cornmarket and was called Pattersons. It must have gone sometime in the 1980s, although this is a guess. I think Eason's may be on the site now or if not at least it was near it.

Jamison and Green the name rings a bell, I don't remember the vacuum system to send invoices and money upstairs but then when I went to the hardware store it was always on the contractor's account so I never got to pay or handle the invoice. Ship chandlers would best describe the store for me. The next time I visit Belfast I am going to pop in to take a look, I hope they don't close before then!!!

Cheers, John R

On Saturday 19th April 2003 the branch of Eason's in Ann Street closes. It opened here in 1972.