Rosemary Street
Located in the heart of Belfast city centre, Rosemary Street appears in the Belfast Directory of 1831–1832, with Martin’s edition from 1839 listing people living there. The origin of its name has prompted different explanations over the years.
One possibility is that the street was named after the rosemary herb. Local historian George Patton suggests that rosemary may once have been grown in abundance here. It’s believed the herb was used to mask the strong odours from nearby tanneries, mills, and the Farset River—which, in the 19th century, carried large volumes of untreated sewage. The scent of rosemary would have brought some relief in what was then a heavily industrialised and unsanitary part of the city.
Another view comes from historian Jonathan Bardon in his book Place Names in Ulster. He argues that street names like Rosemary, Ann, Howard, Alfred, and Arthur reflect the influence of the Donegall family—major landowners in Belfast at the time. From this perspective, Rosemary Street takes its name not from a plant, but from a person: a member of the family whose names were inscribed on the city’s map as a legacy of power and ownership.
Whether its roots lie in fragrant herbs or powerful names, Rosemary Street carries with it the layered history of Belfast’s growth and identity.
Sources
Patton, George. Central Belfast: A Historical Gazetteer. Ulster Architectural Heritage Society, 1993.
Bardon, Jonathan. Place Names in Ulster. Institute of Irish Studies, Queen’s University Belfast, 1992.
Belfast Directory, 1831–1832.
Martin’s Belfast Directory, 1839.