Origin of Name:
St Andrew’s Square North takes its name from St Andrew’s Church of Ireland, which stood on Hope Street at the top of Sandy Row. The parish of St Andrew was formed in 1867, and the church opened in 1870. It was dedicated to St Andrew, patron saint of Scotland, reflecting the strong Scottish influence in the district.
History:
The square first appears in Belfast directories in the 1870s.
It was laid out with labourers’ cottages on one side and St Andrew’s Church on the other.
The church closed in 1971 and was demolished soon afterwards. The name “St Andrew’s Square” continued in use.
Present Layout:
Today the old square survives in three parts: St Andrew’s Square North, West, and East.
Surroundings:
St Andrew’s Square North lies just off Sandy Row. For decades it was overlooked by the Boyne Bridge (opened 1935), which crossed the railway beside Great Victoria Street Station. That bridge was removed in 2024–25 as part of the Belfast Grand Central Station development, which has transformed the surrounding area into a major transport hub and regeneration site.
Key Dates:
1867: Parish of St Andrew formed
1870: Church opened on Hope Street
1877: Square appears in directories
1971: Church closed and demolished
2024–25: Boyne Bridge dismantled during Grand Central works
Legacy:
Although the church is gone, the street names remain as a reminder of the once-prominent St Andrew’s parish at the heart of Sandy Row.