Howard Street was originally Henrietta Street. The 1842-43 edition of Martin's Belfast Directory lists it in the name of streets with a reference to "Cromac". Howard Street in Glasgow was called after the philanthropist and prison reformer John Howard (2 September 1726 – 20 January 1790). The House of Correction was at 42-58 and was opened in 1818 “for the confinement of felons and disorderly persons to hard labour etc.” Over the front door were the words: “Within amend, without beware”.