Welcome to Saltwater Square – a vibrant new public space at the heart of Belfast, where the city’s past, present and future come together.
The square takes its name from a 17th century saltwater bridge that once crossed the River Blackstaff at this very location. While the bridge itself is no longer visible, parts of it still lie preserved beneath the ground, making this one of the oldest continually used crossing points in Belfast.
For centuries, this area has been shaped by hidden rivers, industry and movement. Today, it forms part of Weavers Cross – a name that honours the generations of linen workers whose skill and craftsmanship helped make Belfast a global industrial city.;[p
This self-guided trail invites you to explore a place where arts, heritage and community meet. As you follow the route, you’ll uncover the stories beneath your feet and around you – from forgotten waterways and historic crossings to powerful public art inspired by people and place.
Take your time, explore each stop, and discover how this place continues to evolve.
Want to hear the stories in person? Join our free guided Stories @ Saltwater walking tour and explore the public art, heritage and hidden history of Saltwater Square with Creative Tours Belfast. From 28th June to 30th July.
Follow the Trail...
1. Inside Belfast Grand Central Station
Begin your journey inside Belfast Grand Central Station, where creativity brings the space to life. A collection of artworks, poetry and live painting—created by local artists, students and the wider community—celebrate the everyday journeys, connections and shared experiences that define the Translink network. Together, these pieces reflect the diversity, energy and identity of modern Belfast.
2. Saltwater Stories Murals
Step outside into Saltwater Square and discover a series of striking murals that tell the story of Belfast through five themes: innovation, science, industry, community and nature. From pioneering figures like John Stewart Bell to the working lives of “Rosie” and “Jack,” each artwork captures an aspect of the city’s character, resilience and imagination—past, present and future.
This ‘Network Wall’ showcases these stories through a striking design of angled steel and layered paint, inspired by the public transport network. Intersecting lines reflect the connections between people and places, forming the basis of the ‘Weavers Cross’ identity and echoed in the walkways that criss-cross Saltwater Square. It’s a visual celebration of how public transport brings communities and opportunities together.
3. Art Deco Lights (Boyne Bridge)
Look out for the distinctive iron lampposts, originally cast in 1936 for the Boyne Bridge by the Millfield Foundry. These Art Deco lights reflect a period of optimism, modernity and civic pride in Belfast’s history. Carefully repurposed within Saltwater Square, they provide a tangible connection to the city’s industrial and architectural past while enhancing the public space today.
4. When Walls Speak Welcome
This bold and colourful artwork is a celebration of community and collaboration. Created through a schools-led programme involving local pupils and artists, it explores themes of welcome, identity and connection. The result is a powerful civic artwork that reflects the voices, creativity and diversity of Belfast, offering a warm and inclusive greeting to all who pass through this space.
5. What Flows Beneath: Hidden Waters
Beneath your feet, Belfast’s hidden rivers continue to flow. The Blackstaff River and the Pound Burn once ran openly through the city, shaping its geography, industry and communities. Even the name “Belfast” comes from the Irish Béal Feirste, meaning “mouth of the sandbank,” referencing these waterways. Though now hidden, their influence remains embedded in the landscape around you.
6. What Flows Beneath: Hidden Rivers
As Belfast grew into a major industrial city, its rivers became increasingly polluted and were eventually enclosed beneath the streets. These buried waterways tell a story of growth, transformation and challenge - from natural lifelines to industrial channels. Today, they remain out of sight but continue to shape the city above, both physically and historically.
7. What Flows Beneath: Working Rivers: Industry & Transformation
The rivers flowing beneath this area once powered Belfast’s industrial rise. Mills, brickworks, linen factories and other industries lined their banks, relying on water for production, energy and waste management. This was a place of hard work and innovation, where natural resources and human effort combined to build the foundations of the modern city.
8. What Flows Beneath: Crossing the Blackstaff – Bridges Through Time
For over 400 years, this site has been a vital crossing point over the Blackstaff River. From early wooden and stone bridges to railway crossings and modern road infrastructure, each generation reimagined this route to meet the needs of a growing city. It is a place defined by movement, connection and continual change.
9. Reflections Sculpture
At the heart of Saltwater Square stands Reflections, a landmark artwork that connects Belfast’s past and present. The piece was created by reusing elements from the 1936 Boyne Bridge, the piece celebrates craftsmanship, heritage and identity. It invites visitors to pause, reflect and consider the city’s journey - while looking ahead to its future.
10. The 1936 Boyne Bridge
Completed in 1936, the bridge was once a key transport route linking different parts of the city. Though removed as part of the Grand Central Station redevelopment, elements of the bridge have been carefully preserved and incorporated into the square. Beneath the ground, even older remains of the 17th-century Saltwater Bridge still survive, representing Belfast’s layered history.
11. Crossing the Blackstaff: 1610–1936
This location has been an important crossing point since at least 1610. Over centuries, the bridge here evolved from early structures into major infrastructure supporting trade, travel and industry. Each new version reflected the changing needs of the city, while traces of the past have been retained, offering a rare link to Belfast’s earliest built environment.
Discover. Reflect. Be Inspired.
Saltwater Square is more than a gateway - it’s a place to pause, explore and connect.
From hidden rivers to bold artworks, every step tells part of Belfast’s story -
a story that is still unfolding.
Follow the trail. Share the story. Come back again...
