Fountain Street was once called Water Lane, once the site of natural springs. There were fountains in the street which had been getting water from Munday’s Well near Sandy Row. It had earlier been called Stable Lane. (Patton, p150). "It is so called from a public fountain situated in this thoroughfare. In the map of 1790 showing the position of the turncocks the fountain is clearly shown, but.the street itself is called Stable Lane. In the maps of 1819 and 1823 It is called by its present name". (Belfast Street Names. John J. Marshall)It is included in the list of streets in the Belfast Directory 1831-1832.