"The committee have named eight new streets off the West side of Ormeau Road: Mornington Street, Zetland Street, Gosford Street, Gosford Place, Powerscourt Street, Belmore Street, Bagot Street, and Essex Street". From the minutes of the Town Improvement Committee, reported in the Belfast Weekly News on Saturday 05 September 1874.
Essex Street as a name is no longer in use, instead there is Essex Grove. The Essex name may be named for the county in England to the northeast of London. In McCready's book on Dublin Street Names: he believes that Essex Bridge was named after Arthur Capel, Earl of Essex who was Lord Lieutenant Of Ireland from 1672-77.