Lost Boundary Posts

Where?

54.553474, -5.943487
BT8 7XP – Red Bridge, Lagan Towpath (and others)

Description of chosen place

Parliamentary and Municipal Boundary Post of Belfast, erected in 1918. This Boundary Post beside the Red Bridge on the Lagan Towpath is teetering on the edge of sliding into the River. It was uncovered in storms in 2022 when a collapsed tree tore away overgrowth that was hiding it. This is one example of many boundary posts across the city which have fallen into a neglected state. Many others have been removed through road widening or other construction. While listed monuments there is no practical care or protection of these important historical markers. The boundary posts were erected in 1918 to mark the boundaries of new municipal wards in Belfast which were created as a result of the widening of the franchise to include all adult men and the majority of adult women. They also represent the last election Ireland voted in as a whole island and many became defunct almost immediately afterwards as boundaries were redrawn once again in light of partition. Their symbolism as the markers of boundaries, long forgotten but whose surrounding events still impact us today, is evocative in a city that has been so heavily defined by the drawing and redrawing of boundaries. (A map and images of other known Boundary Posts in Belfast is available if desired. Or viewed in Instagram @belfast_boundary_posts)

What do you imagine the space could be?

I would imagine this space, and those surrounding other boundary posts to be well kept and maintained, with boundary posts themselves being regularly maintained to preserve this important part of Belfast's heritage (the best example of what this could look like exists outside the shops at the junction of the Glen Road and the Gransha Road). It is also important for people to engage with built heritage and the proliferation of boundary posts across the city, and their presence in multiple communities, allow for those on public property to be the focal point of different campaigns highlighting heritage or other issues. This could involve decorating them in various ways to draw attention to commemorate various events or highlight issues or they could become the focal points for series of community events to be held in their vicinity.

Submitted by

Peter Heaney

Date

February 19, 2023

About the ‘Forgotten Spaces’ project

We added a competition element and public voting mechanism to the exhibition to encourage engagement over passive viewing. From this process, two submissions – Short Strand Green Wall and Donegall Street Car Park – were allocated the ‘top prize’ of £100, racking up well over 300 stars between them. A discussion event and prize giving was held on Wednesday March 22nd at the Europa Hotel. We were joined by Sean Dolan, Senior Development Manager, Belfast City Council and Seamus Connolly, Group Manager, Neighbourhoods, Regeneration and Sustainability, Glasgow City Council for discussion on methodologies and policies in place for ‘How to Regenerate Forgotten Spaces?’. In the continuing spirit of democracy the event audience got to vote to give special commendations for ‘inspiring our collective imagination’ to a further three entries from a shortlist – those selected were Clandeboyne Corner, Inner City Forest (east) and The Church at Fountainville Ave.

With Forgotten Spaces we were interested in derelict buildings, waste-grounds, and development sites in that limbo-state, not because we were trying to address the myriad of complexities about land ownership, access or regeneration but rather because we were trying to draw attention to the vast number of neglected, unloved and underused spaces of the city which seem to get forgotten or ignored in top-level conversations. Imagination is a muscle – you need to feed it, feed it with ideas from other places, people, positive news - hopefully this project is feeding your imagination.

We’re not sure what the next stage will be (or if there will be one) but are always open to discussion ideas. Get in touch if you think we can help you or you can help us.

Meadhbh McIlgorm, Project Curator

Lost Boundary Posts

Where?

Description of chosen place

What do you imagine the space could be?

Submitted by

Date

Social

Contact

About the ‘Forgotten Spaces’ project