In the late 1700s, the Belfast area was owned by the 3^rd Earl of Donegall (Arthur Chichester, 1666-1706).  Cromac Woods was an area surrounding the modern day Donegall Pass - and, to ensure that the ‘nobility’ could get to the River Lagan with little fuss, a carriageway was cut through the woods. This was to become known as ‘The Pass’.

At this time, it was little more than a passage to take the more affluent people through the woods to the Malone. Between the 1830s and 1900s, however, the area began to be built up.  Many of the ‘upper classes’ lived in the locality during this period - in large terraced houses.

Gradually, more houses were built in the Pass - in side streets. These houses were smaller and less ‘grand’ and, so, many of the ‘upper class’ families found this situation less convivial and fashionable; consequently they began to move to localities such as the Malone and surrounding areas.

The foundation stone of the Saint Mary Magdalene Church was laid in 1838 and the church was opened the following year.  A fire broke out in the church belfry in 1893 and it destroyed the whole building. A new church was then built and this was opened in 1900.

Montgomery’s National School was built in 1882, by the Presbyterian Church, and was erected at the corner of Conduit Street and Donegall Pass; most recently, this school was home to Donegall Pass Youth Club.

M^cQuiston School, now the School of Music, was constructed in 1889 - this original school being demolished and rebuilt in 1936.  When M^cQuiston School was closed in 1964 the children and staff were transferred to Porter’s Memorial, located just off Apsley Street.  Porter’s Memorial School was closed in 1998.

It is salutary to note that, at one point in time, the children of the Pass had the option of attending one of 5 different schools and that, today, no local school exists.

The old terraced houses of the Pass were pulled down during the redevelopment, circa the 1980s, to make way for the Pass that is in existence today.