Takes its name from the architect Sir Charles Lanyon (1813-89) who was described by the architectural historian Charles Brett as "the greatest single name in the development of Belfast" quoted in Bardon, Belfast, An Illustrated History. Lanyon Place is now also the name of one of Belfast's main railway stations, formerly Belfast Central Station. Lanyon was born in Eastbourne, England, but spent much of his working life in Ireland, particularly Belfast. He was responsible for designing many of the city's landmark buildings including Belfast Castle, the Custom House, Crumlin Road Gaol and Courthouse, the core part of Queen's University Belfast (known as the Lanyon Building), Sinclair Seaman's Presbyterian Church, the Palm House in the Botanic Gardens, the Linenhall Library and Union Theological College. He was elected Mayor of Belfast in 1862 and was MP for the city 1865-68.