Linenhall Street takes its name from one of Belfast’s most important buildings at that time, the White Linen Hall, built in 1787, which stood in Donegall Square before Belfast City Hall, completed in 1906, replaced it on this site. The White Linen Hall was demolished in 1896 to make way for the City Hall. The street-name is first recorded in 1815 as Linen Hall Street on Mason's town plan. Note that Linenhall Street laid out in 1754 and named by 1756 was a different street located further north, named after the Brown Linen Hall and which later became Donegall Street (John J. Marshall, Belfast Telegraph, 08/01/41).
Linen Quarter Document states: "Laid out by 1819, but not fully developed until the 1860s, Linenhall Street was largely occupied by linen firms in its early days. Two of the biggest were Charles Duffin & Co’s Linenhall Steet Flax Mill and David Currell & Co’s Linenhall Street Factory, both established by 1850. By 1900, nearly all the premises were linen related".