The area around the ship yard was at one time a pleasure park this was known as Dargans Island the name was changed in 1849 when Queen Victoria visited the city of Belfast. This was Belfast's only public park and there was a broad footpath that ran right around the island, there were seat's at different parts of the park, other sections were fenced off and laid out in flower beds. In the middle of the island was a glass house, this island was created from the slob dredged from Belfast Lough to make a training bank for the river Lagan. The Abercorn Basin was named after the Marquis of Abercorn who opened not only the basin but also the Hamilton Dock and a graving dock. The first shipyard opened was in 1853 and was owned by a Mr Robert Hickson, his manager was Edward Harland. Harland was from Liverpool and he was working in Belfast only due to the fact that he could not aquire the land he wanted in Liverpool where he wanted to build his own ships in Birkenhead. Hickson then sold the shipyard to Harland who had to borrow £5,000 from a Mr G.C. Schwabe, this was lent to Harland on the understanding that Schwabe's nephew would be given the job of personal assistant, his nephew's name was Gustave Wolff. The first ships that were built at the yard were nicknamed Bibbys Coffins this was due to the design and layout of these boats in that they looked like coffins. The other smaller shipyard in Belfast was the Workman&Clark shipyard and this went out of business in 1934.

Queens Island.

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