Marcus Patton OBE, in his splendid historical gazetteer of central Belfast, provides this apt description:-
Long shopping arcade from Donegall Place to Fountain Street, built in 1880 for George Fisher of the Castle Restaurant to designs by James MacKinnon, with new shopfronts inserted 1932 by Sage of London.
Two-storey arcade with pitched, glazed roof carried on perforated iron trusses with pannelled barrel soffits; first-floor windows semicircular with spoke divisions; cornice above first floor with richly-carved floral ornament.
A stone doorcase survives near the Donegall Place entrance. New canopies added at both ends c. 1987.
In 1890 it was described as "at once fashionable as a promenade and highly attractive as a business thoroughfare", containing "upwards of thirty finely fitted shops"; but the existing shops are all modern."
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A monogram "AR" at 3rd floor level on Donegall Place refers to Austin Reed, which came to the building in 1935.
In front of the gable is a model of a fantasy castle, possibly a fanciful reference to the original Belfast Castle which stood across the street.
I HAVE COMPILED a list of the original tenants in 1910, including five milliners, two tailors, one confectioner's shop and one café:-
1/3. William Dickson and Company, Manufacturers of Umbrellas and Walking-Sticks
5. The Irish Art Depot ~ Miss S Burke
7/9. The Queen's Linen Company
11. Mrs Smith, Milliner
13. The Ulster Dairy Company
15. Miss Holmes, Milliner
17. P F Gulbransen, Watchmaker
19 Ladies' Blouse Depot ~ Miss Spence
21/23. Letitia Mayes, Milliner
25. Mills' Lending Library
27/29. Mrs Snugg, Milliner
31. S Bamford, Merchant Tailor
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2. Side door
4/6. The Queen's Café
8/10. Miss Hanna, Costumier and Ladies' Tailor
12. S I Cronne, Milliner
14. the Vienna Photographic Art Company ~ W L Allison, proprietor
16. Miss Nicholson, Boot, Shoe & Slipper Warehouse
18. Universal Knitting Machine Company
20. Howden & P H Charley ~ Coal Merchants
22. Miss Beresford, Milliner
24. North of Ireland Loan Bank ~ J Lamont, Manager
26. Miss Mary Bill, Confectioner
Hopefully Mrs Snugg lived up to her name!
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