Parliament Buildings, Stormont Estate, Belfast
[** If you think the post is useful, please re-share via Facebook, Google+, Twitter etc. **] European Heritage Open Days rolled round once again in early September. This year I said that I was going to be ready. This year we would get involved. This year we would get out and see some stuff! I downloaded the brochure and made my list – this year we were going to concentrate on what is on our own doorstep: East Belfast. Despite my best intentions, fate (and work) intervened to ensure that I only got to see one heritage building … but what a building it is ! With the creation of the Northern Ireland home rule region in the Government of Ireland Act 1920 there was a need to provide the province with a dedicated building for parliamentary debate. The building that we see today was designed by Sir Arnold Thornely, though it had originally been envisaged as but one component of a much grander complex. The original plan was to create a large, domed building with two side buildin