York Street leads north from the city centre and continues first as York Road, then as Shore Road. The name was first mentioned in the Belfast News Letter in 1803 (IHTA xii, 20).
Its early name was Duke Street, both names being commemorative of Frederick, the Duke of York (1763-1827), second son of George III, known in song and story as 'The Grand Old Duke of York'. Frederick Street in the north inner city was also named in his honour. On the outbreak of war in 1783, his father insisted on his being appointed Comnander-in-Chief of the English contingent despatched to co-operate with the Austrian army. The well-known nursery rhyme mocked a rather unsuccessful military campaign during the Anglo-Russian invasion of Holland, where British troops retreated and gave up prisoners after initial successes. The Duke was certainly not conspicuous as a leader in the field, but had some talent as an administrator. He carried out important reforms in the British army and supported the establishment of the Royal Military College, Sandhurst.
Some of the most important industries on or near York Street included the York Street Flax-Spinning Mill, built by the Mulholland Brothers, Andrew and Thomas, in 1830 (the first such flax-spinning mill in Belfast); Jennymount Mill (North Derby Street); and Gallaher’s tobacco factory. Thomas McTear states that in 1606 York Street only existed as an opening to John McCracken's cotton mill in York Lane. Thomas Gallaher founded in 1867 the tobacco factory on part of the site now occupied by the Co-operative Society. When expanding business rendered the premises insufficient, he acquired the premises of Rowan's Foundry, on which he built the present extensive factory. John Rowan, who came from Doagh, was a man of outstanding mechanical ability. He started life as a blacksmith, and made a steam coach, which he exhibited in Belfast in 1836 (John J. Marshall, Belfast Telegraph, 24/02/1941).
Up to the 1960s, York Street was a thriving street for shopping and had numerous cafés, tea-houses and public houses (see photo in Peggy Weir 1999, 32).
"Submitted letter dated 27th ultimo addressed to the Lord Mayor by Mr A P. Reddy, asking that consideration be given to a suggestion, which he had made through the press, that York Street be renamed New York Street. After consideration, the committee decided not to take action in the matter" (Minutes, 10th November 1953).