One of the earliest references to Stanley Street is in the Belfast News-Letter on Tuesday 18 July 1843 which gives details of a riot in the area. One possiblity is that the street was named after Edward Smith-Stanley, 14th Earl of Derby (29 March 1799 – 23 October 1869). He became known as Lord Stanley from 1834 to 1851. He became the Chief Secretary in 1830. On three separate occasions he served as British `Prime Minister (1852, 1858–1859, and 1866–1868).
There are no longer any properties in Stanley Street and it is, therefore, not listed in some sources such as Royal Mail Postcode Finder.
“Resolved, That it be recommended to the Council to order the cost of paving, sewering and otherwise completing Wellwood Place and Williams Place, Athol Street, and the new street from Stanley Street to Willow Street, called Wylie Street, to be apportioned on the owners of property abutting thereon.” (28th May 1862).