On the application of Messrs. Johnston & Carlisle, your committee have authorised a new street, from Crumlin Rond to Shankhill Road, to be named Cambrai Street". Minutes of the Improvement Committee, (Northern Whig - Thursday 02 January 1862). 'American war will make the fortunes of the Belfast people' from the News Letter, August 16, 1864 indicates that Johnston and Carlisle who had started a linen mill in 1850. It is clear that the "Cambrai streets" take their name from this linen connection. Cambrai is a region in France where Cambric a particularly fine form of linen was originally made.