Boundary Post, Meadows park - Lagan Meadows, Belfast

A cast iron boundary marker dated 1918, erected in its original location and unaltered, marking the outer administrative extent of Belfast Corporation and Cromac District Electoral Division and Ward. The post stands embedded in the towpath verge close to the north bank of the River Lagan, approximately 1.5 kilometres from Shaw's Bridge.

The post has a slightly tapered cylindrical profile, measuring 3 feet high by 1 foot in diameter. It features a banded octagonal base with an oversailing octagonal collar supported on a splayed dentil casting and a slightly smaller spoked cap. The front bears the shield of Belfast Corporation's coat of arms, below which is an attached plaque secured with four countersunk screws, reading: "PARLIAMENTARY AND MUNICIPAL BOUNDARY OF BELFAST CROMAC DIVISION CROMAC WARD 1918".

The post was erected in 1918, first appearing on the 1920 six-inch Ordnance Survey map. The design is consistent with other surviving Belfast boundary posts, including a similar post dated 1858 on High Street in Holywood, County Down, suggesting continuity of local design practices.

The County of the Borough of Belfast was created under the Local Government Act 1898, enacted in 1899, and initially divided into four parliamentary constituencies: North, East, West and South. Under the Redistribution of Seats (Ireland) Act 1918, these four constituencies were abolished and replaced with nine new divisions: Cromac, Duncairn, Falls, Ormeau, Pottinger, St Anne's, Shankill, Victoria, and Woodvale. Each division had its own Member of Parliament and encompassed one or several municipal wards used for Belfast Corporation elections. This particular post marks the boundary of the parliamentary division of Cromac and of Cromac Ward within it.

The post commemorates the General Election of 14 December 1918, held under the Representation of the People Act 1918 (the Fourth Reform Act), just over a month after the cessation of the First World War. This election was historically significant as the first in which all men over 21 years of age and all women over 30 could vote. It was also the first election to be completed within a single day; previously only male property owners could vote and elections extended over several weeks.

With the inception of the devolved parliament for Northern Ireland in 1922, the number of Westminster MPs was greatly reduced. The Cromac parliamentary constituency, created only four years earlier, was abolished and the previous Belfast seats restored. The municipal wards continued in use for local elections thereafter. Belfast Corporation was superseded by Belfast City Council in 1973, with its jurisdiction extended beyond the former borough boundary.

Surviving boundary posts of this type are relatively rare due to removal and road widening. This post has group value with three other similar boundary posts on the banks of the River Lagan.