Sirocco Works, officiallySirocco Engineering Works, was anengineering firm based inBelfast, Northern Ireland.[1][2] The site is located besideShort Strand, adjacent to Bridge End andRiver Lagan.[3] It was founded bySamuel Cleland Davidson in 1881 underDavidson and Co, which Sirocco was also known as.[4][5][6]
Belfast Sirocco Works initially producedtea processing machinery.[7] They once produced three-quarters of the world's tea processing, and lead worldwide inventilation equipment.[8] Sirocco Works played a significant part of Belfast'sindustrial revolution at the turn of the 20th century.[9]
Sirocco Works' engineering products were used in a range of industries, includingshipbuilding,manufacturing andmining. Davidson's invention, thecentrifugal fan, among other parts, were installed in numerous ships, including theRMS Titanic. Their technology played a crucial role in industrial development across the globe.[10][11] Sirocco became one of the leading industries forrope production, referred to asSirocco Ropeworks.[12][13]
In 1988, Sirocco Works was purchased by James Howden and Co and its name changed toHowden Sirocco as a part of Howden Group up until its closure in 1999.[14][15]
Davidson had inherited his fathers wealth following his death, and after working on a family teaplantation and becoming manager of Cacher Estate inCalcutta, India,[16] he returned to Belfast to establish Sirocco Works in 1881.[17] In the beginning, he would employ only seven workers, but at its height, the factory would have 1,500 workers employed.[18] The name 'Sirocco' is derived from hot wind that blows across theNorth African desert.[19]
Sirocco Works developed centrifugal fans initially for tea drying.[20] The hot air would be used as a quick, sufficient method forair flow, where hot air would be forced through many trays of tea leaves.[21] The machinery's processing speed and quality of tea leaves impressed investors, making it a success.[22]
In 1902, the Sirocco Works producedmechanical ventilation, passing the air through wet screens to free venues from dust, soot and microbes. They installed their ventilation inRoyal Belfast Academical Institution andUlster Hall.[23]
In 1904, following its early success, the site expanded to 40 acres.[24]Harland & Wolff Shipyard had made a deal to use Davidson and Co for the use of their Sirocco Fans on the RMS titanic during its construction in 1909 and 1912. The partnership improved between H&W and Sirocco Works involving the fitting of ships up until the 1960s.
In 1922, Sirocco Works builtheat exchangers, which helped develop terrace housing in Belfast east.[25]
The1907 Belfast Dock Strike affected multiple trades in Belfast, from dockers, such asSir Samuel Kelly'sJohn Kelly Limited, to Sirocco Works employees, including its engineers andwelders. It stemmed fromJames Larkin, who revived the close to dissolvingNational Union of Dock Labourers. He organized laborer's into the union and called for astrike following the employer's refusal to meet the wage demands of the workers. A failed strike caused by unorganized by Sirocco Works' employees escalated into widespread working classmilitancy.[26][27]
In 1909, the Sirocco Works' fan was used in a training test by theInstitution of Mechanical Engineers.[28]
In the 1910s and 1920s, Sirocco Works beganadvertising and installing their Sirocco Fans inEngland andWales. It was used in various venues, such astheatres andoffice blocks, as well asfactories.[29] Advertisements referred to how they "ensure an invigorating atmosphere that is free from impurities andsmoke", as well as maintaining the righttemperature.[30]
In July 1920, Catholic and Protestant tensions were high, following the murder of anRUCpolice officer inBanbridge by theIrish Republican Army. Notices appeared in Belfastshipyards and other trades calling on the predominately Protestant workforce to drive out 'disloyal' workers. Following furthercivil unrest, Catholics wereexpelled from Sirocco Works.[31][32] The Protestant workers entered the Sirocco works and used brute-force to throw the Catholics out of the premises.[33]
In 1988, Howden Group purchased Davidson and Co's Sirocco Works. It was renamed to Howden Sirocco.[34]
In 1991, Sirocco Works reported a slump in half-year profits. IT was git by contractual issues on a tunneling project in theGreat Belt,Denmark, other issues included loss of business on sanctions placed onIraq, as well as being hit with theeconomic recession during this period.[35]
Sirocco continued to struggle in the 1990s asindustrial production continued to disappear in the UK and Ireland, and move to other countries for inexpensive costs and labor.
In 1999, Sirocco Works ceased operations, it was sold for redevelopment.[36][37] Production moved overseas. The property was demolished in 2009.
Sirocco Works was acquired by Howden group and the factory opened onQueen's Island, Queen's Road, Belfast east.
In 2015, Howden closed down, seeing around 100 jobs lost. They moved production toGlasgow, Scotland.[38] This seen the last connection to Sirocco Works in Belfast come to an end after an over 150-year history.[39][40]Alliance Party deputy leaderNaomi Long said “This is concerning news, especially following similar closures in the East Belfast area lately".[41]
In 2000, Ewart Properties had purchased the site from Howden Sirocco for £23m. Ewarts proposed to develop 129,000ft2 of office space, 98no. apartments, a 90,000ft2 retail store and 50,000ft2 of additional retail space.[42]
In 2006, following minimal progress, Ewart Properties sold the Sirocco Works site for £40m to Carvill Group.[43] The new ownership tasked Llewelyn Davies Yeang, for a new proposal to be sent to DoE Planning. In March 2008, the proposal comprised 2,400apartments (175,600m2), 4 starhotel (5,000m2),supermarket, and additionalretail space (15,500m2), commercial space (10,600m2), leisure facilities (430m2), care home (2,000m2),GP surgery and 1,770 basementparking lot. Reworks from variousarchitects had taken place, which none of them were actioned.[44]
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In 2009, Carvill Group had developed a three-story marketing suite to contain temporary show apartments for perspective purchasers of the new proposal. The building was never fully finished, and was demolished ten years later in July 2019.[45]
In August 2016, Swinford (Sirocco) Ltd (owned by Gulf Resources Development & Investment, Corbally Group and Graftongate) acquired the Sirocco site. Swinford (Sirocco) Ltd (Osborne and Co.) was set up by St Francis Group as an affiliate company for the project.[46]
The affiliate group Swinford (Sirocco) Ltd is also known as Osborne and Co.[47][48][49] A £450 million proposal to regenerate the former Sirocco Works site was created by Osborne and Co. They securedplanning permission July 2020 following the greenlight fromBelfast City Council in 2019.[50][51] It is known as The Waterside project.[52]
The proposal includes 800,000 sq ft of office space, a 70,000 sq ft hotel, 60,000 sq ft of retail space and 800 homes.[53] It is named The Waterside Project.[54][55] As on 2025, no developments on the site have been delivered.[56] The 16-acre site of Sirocco Works remains derelict and has rampant vegetation and neglected foliage.[57]
In Sirocco Quays, amemorial walk along theRiver Lagan, known as Sirocco Walk was marked on paving stones. It spans from Bridge End toAlbert Bridge[58]
Sirocco Engineering Works established afootball club,Sirocco Works Football Club, established in 1924. Despite the dissolution of the company, the intermediate football club is still active playing inNorthern Amateur Football League in Dixon Park.[59][60]