"
In 1612, Belfast consisted of about 120 houses, built of mud and
covered with thatch. The whole value of the land on which the
town is built, is said to have been worth only 5L. in fee
simple.[19] "Ulster," said Sir John Davies, "is a very desert or
wilderness; the inhabitants thereof having for the most part no
certain habitation in any towns or villages." In 1659, Belfast
contained only 600 inhabitants: Carrickfergus was more
important, and had 1312 inhabitants. But about 1660, the Long
Bridge over the Lagan was built, and prosperity began to dawn
upon the little town. It was situated at the head of a navigable
lough, and formed an outlet for the manufacturing products of the
inland country. Ships of any burden, however, could not come
near the town. The cargoes, down even to a recent date, had to
be discharged into lighters at Garmoyle. Streams of water made
their way to the Lough through the mud banks; and a rivulet ran
through what is now known as the High Street.
The population gradually increased. In 1788 Belfast had 12,000
inhabitants. But it was not until after the Union with Great
Britain that the town made so great a stride. At the beginning
of the present century it had about 20,000 inhabitants. At every
successive census, the progress made was extraordinary, until now
the population of Belfast amounts to over 225,000.
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