Old Belfast Courthouse

When I was in Belfast a couple of weeks back visiting my dad in the Mater Hospital I couldn't help but notice this massive old courthouse opposite. It's been derelict since 1998 and it has a tunnel that runs under the road connecting it to the prison on the other side of the road which is also currently derelict. I'v read that there are current plans to develop the courthouse into a hotel/luxury app/offices while preserving the exterior and some interior features, and I think they are also planning on turning the prison into a tourist attraction. I was wandering however whether perhaps any of our NI members have managed to get inside? I would have loved to but wasn't really the appropriate time to go diving through barbed wire
Here are some pic of the exterior and a link a bbc article about it...







http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/5336876.stm

That is an impressive building

haha wow, and to think I just thought that smell was the hospital canteen

Love this building, the pillars at the front, great. Do you know how long its been closed etc? Looks like a great explore. Hopefully someone in NI will be able to shed some more light on it. Someone may have pictures of the cells, courtrooms etc. Would love to see them.

Cheers,

Sal

smileysal said:

Love this building, the pillars at the front, great. Do you know how long its been closed etc? Looks like a great explore. Hopefully someone in NI will be able to shed some more light on it. Someone may have pictures of the cells, courtrooms etc. Would love to see them.

Cheers,

Sal

Click to expand...

I didn't consider that aspect, abandoned courtroom would be awsom although there are proberbly a lot of confidential things in side and some heavy laws with them

Be brilliant to see inside, wouldn't it! There's loads of history in that building...can't even begin to count how many times Crumlin Road used to be in the news.
Maybe there'll be chance for someone to get in once they start development.
Good pics Marmaduke.