Bladon Court

Bladon Court
BT9
Malone Lower
Year approved: 1963

On the recommendation of the city surveyor, the committee approved of the proposals of developers to name new streets as follows: ...Messrs GH Brown and Sons New Streets adjoining Knightsbridge Park and Bladon Drive, Knightsbridge Park (Continuation) and Bladon Court. (17th June 1963).

 Bladon Court

Key Points:

  • Bladon Park:
    • Location: Bladon Park was a rural estate owned by the Atkinson family, first recorded in 1864 
    • Development: The estate was used for grazing and later developed with buildings designed by architect William Batt in 1877 
    • Naming: The name "Bladon" was adopted from a village in Oxfordshire, not derived from a local Irish term
  • Bladon Court:
    • Development: Bladon Court was created during the 1960s suburban expansion and named in June 1963 

Narrative: Bladon Park, nestled in the Malone area of Belfast, began as a rural estate owned by the Atkinson family. The earliest known reference to Bladon Park dates back to 1864, when it was advertised for grazing . The estate's name was inspired by the village of Bladon in Oxfordshire, where Winston Churchill is buried, rather than any local Irish term . This connection to Oxfordshire suggests that the Atkinson family, or earlier landowners, named their estate after the village on the River Glyme.

In the late 19th century, the Atkinson family developed the estate further, with architect William Batt designing a formal gate lodge and entrance for Bladon Park between 1877 and 1880.   By 1890, parts of the estate had been subdivided into villas, and Bladon Park appeared as an address in directories.

This advertisement appeared in the Belfast Telegraph in 1907: 

BLADON DRIVE
MALONE ROAD, OVERLOOKING BLADON PARK.
A Few SITES still TO LET. Splendid Situation. Sewerage perfect.
STOUPE MAGINNIS. x6324

In June 1963, the Council's committee sanctioned the name Bladon Court for a new street adjoining Knightsbridge Park and Bladon Drive.  These names preserve the memory of the Victorian-era Bladon Park estate and highlight how suburban development in the 1960s honored earlier landholdings when creating new streets.

Sources:

Belfast City Council - Improvement Committee Minutes

The Belfast And Province Of Ulster Directory 1890

Belfast Morning News - Monday 06 June 1864

Belfast Telegraph - Tuesday 16 April 1907