Historical Information on Belfast Street Sign Designs

It is difficult to date the introduction of the various iterations of Belfast street sign designs precisely. What evidence we do have suggests that prior to the early 1900s, there was little uniformity, with developers or residents seemingly taking it upon themselves to install signs whose style may have varied from street to street.

Standardisation of Signage in Belfast

The move towards the standardisation of signage by Belfast Corporation seems to have begun in late 1904 when that body’s Police Committee established a sub-committee for the purpose of looking into the matter. This group decided upon a form of enamel signage; however, in July 1907, this decision was rescinded. Councillors agreed that, ‘in future tile street signs be used in leading thoroughfares, and iron signs in other streets in accordance with the patterns now submitted’, and prohibited the ‘erection of hanging signs or projecting signs’ in the main arteries.

Factors Prompting Uniformity

This effort towards uniformity was doubtless prompted by the rapid growth of the city itself at this time, and the need for legible markers through which new streets could be recognised. It may also have been given further impetus by the Corporation’s takeover (and electrification) of the city’s tram system in 1905, with many passengers undoubtedly needing clear identifiers for the various roads along their journey. Thus, the introduction—or at least the widespread adoption—of the freestanding white on black ceramic signs, and similarly coloured ceramic or iron wall-mounted signs (in locations where end properties were much closer to the thoroughfare), may be dated to around this time.

The first of these signs could well have been erected along the tram routes, with other streets beyond the tramlines following. It is possible that some such 'tiled' signs already existed at this point; however, the regularity of those that have survived—distinctive elongated sans serif lettering, fluted cast-iron column with ball finial—seems to indicate that all are Corporation installations of 1907 or later.

Evolution of Signage Support Structures

It appears that the cast-iron columns holding up the freestanding signs began to be superseded, firstly by plain metal supports (sometimes two supports), and then by square section concrete posts. The plain metal variants are difficult to date, as they can still be seen on streets predating 1907 and on some laid out in the early 1930s. By the latter date, however, the concrete version seems to have become the norm. It was still being utilised along newly-developed streets in 1951, and tenders for the supply of 'glazed tile sign letters' continued to be advertised by the Corporation up until late 1955, suggesting this combination remained current until that date at least.

Eastleigh Drive: A Historical Overview

Eastleigh Drive had existed as an ‘avenue off Newtownards Road Upper’ since before 1896, linking the latter long-established road with Kincora Avenue, which had been laid out around 1867. The avenue assumed the name Eastleigh Drive around 1901, taking its name from a large house of the mid-1860s (‘Eastleigh’) that stood to the immediate west. It is possible that the present sign is also from around 1901, but the plain pole (if original) suggests it might be later, possibly around 1920; however, it is difficult to be certain.

References

Primary Sources

PRONI VAL12B/17/2B (1867-78)
PRONI VAL12B/43/N/2 (1897-1905)
PRONI LA7/10/AB/1/12 Belfast Corporation Police Committee minutes, Oct 1904 - Nov 1907
‘Belfast Telegraph’, 26 July 1907
'Belfast News-Letter', 31 December 1937, 28 November 1955
'Northern Whig', 13 June 1949

Secondary Sources

“Word on the street”, lecture delivered by Liam McComish at ATypI conference, Dublin, Sept. 2010

46 Myrtlefield Park

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