"So called from 'Ormiston', for many years the residence of Sir E. J. Harland, and later for many years the home of Lord Pirrie" (John J. Marshall, Belfast Telegraph, 05/02/41). "Ormiston was built by a Scot, James Combe, in 1865 as a memorial to his father." It was sold to Campbell College in 1927 and then was acquired by the Police Authority in 1974 (Haines, East Belfast, p. 41). The house is situated off Hawthornden Road.
Combe was a Scots-born iron-founder (Falls Foundry) and linen manufacturer (Combe Barbour) according to Timothy Belmont. The building is in the Scottish baronial style, designed by David Bryce of Edinburgh (Lord Belmont in Northern Ireland blog).
The name of the house comes from Ormiston, a village in East Lothian, situated south-east of Edinburgh.
This is the only street with Ormiston in the name which is situated on the south side of Newtownards Road.
"That on the application of Dr Gibson and Mr Jas Hollywood a new street on their property situate off Upper Newtownards road be named Ormiston Gardens". (Improvement Committee, 7th May 1907).