Linen production in Belfast dates back to the 14th century but it was during the 19th century that the city became a truly global powerhouse in the production of the fabric - earning the Linenopolis nickname.

During the 1800s the growth in Belfast’s four key industries (shipbuilding, rope making, printing and linen) transformed the city. The industries were labour-intensive, boosting the population from around 20,000 to nearly 300,000 within the space of a century.

A global cotton shortage, caused by the American Civil War, contributed to Belfast becoming the linen capital of the British Empire and lead to its nickname Linenopolis, City of Linen.

Between 1891 and 1926, one in every three working women in Belfast was directly employed in the industry. Indeed, whole families worked in the mills – even children as young as ten. 

For the mill owners, the industry brought vast wealth and influence. Many of Belfast’s most historically significant buildings have their origins in the mills. The White Linen Hall (where Belfast City Hall now stands) was at the centre of Linenopolis. Here linen merchants, growers and producers bought, graded and sold their goods. 

The Linen Hall library was originally a textile warehouse. Joy Street’s fine Georgian houses were built for linen merchants, while the Ulster Hall was created to provide entertainment for those who worked in the industry. 

The fine commercial building on Donegall Square North was designed by Charles Lanyon as a linen warehouse and today’s Linen Quarter, located to the south of City Hall, is home to many other original buildings. These now host culture and arts venues, hotels and restaurants alongside corporations and technology start ups. 

The outputs may have changed but Linenopolis as a location is still a beating heart of innovation in the city.

Téann táirgeadh an línéadaigh i mBéal Feirste siar go dtí an 14ú haois ach is le linn an 19ú haois a bhí an chathair i mbarr a réime i dtaca le táirgeadh na fabraice ar scála domhanda - is uaidh sin a fuair an chathair an an leasainm Linenopolis.

Le linn na 1800í, bhí Béal Feirste claochlaithe ag na ceithre phríomhthionscal ann (longthógáil, déanamh téad, priontáil agus línéadach). Ba thionscail dluthshaothair iad, agus mhéadaigh siad an daonra ó thart fá 20,000 go beagnach 300,000 taobh istigh de chéad bliain. 

Mar gheall ar ghanntanas cadáis ar fud an domhain, a tharla de bharr Chogadh Cathartha Mheiriceá, tháinig Béal Feirste chun cinn mar phríomhchathair an línéadaigh in Impireacht na Breataine agus fuair sé an leasainm Linenopolis, Cathair an Línéadaigh dá bharr. 

Idir 1891 agus 1926, bhí duine as gach triúr de mhná oibre i mBéal Feirste fostaithe sa tionscal. Bhí teaghlaigh iomlána ag obair sna muilte - páistí chomh hóg le 10 d’aois fiú. 

Fuair úinéirí na muilte saibhreas tionchar mar gheall ar an tionscal. Thosaigh cuid de na foirgnimh is suntasaí i mBéal Feitste ó thaobh na staire de ó thaobh na staire amach mar mhuilte. Bhí Halla Bán an Línéadaigh (an áit a bhfuil Halla na Cathrach anois) i gcroílár Linenopolis. Is anseo a cheannaigh, a ghrádaigh agus a dhíol ceannaithe, saothróirí agus táirgeoirí an línéadaigh a gcuid earraí. 

Ba thrádstóras teicstíle é Leabhar Halla an Línéadaigh ar dtús. Tógadh na tithe galánta Seoirseacha ar Shráid Joy do na ceannaithe línéadaigh, agus tógadh Halla Uladh le siamsaíocht a chur ar fáil dóibh siúd a bhí ag obair sa tionscal.

Dhear Charles Lanyon an foirgneamh galánta tráchtála ar Chearnóg Dhún na nGall Thuaidh mar thrádstóras línéadaigh, agus tá cuid mhór foirgnimh eile i gCeathrú an Línéadaigh, ó dheas ó Halla na Cathrach. Is ionaid chultúir agus ealaíon, óstáin agus bialanna iad seo sa lá atá inniu ann, chomh maith le corparáidí agus gnólachtaí nuathionscanta teicneolaíochta.

Cé go bhfuil an t-aschur difriúil, tá Linenopolis go fóill i gcroílár na nuálaíochta sa chathair.