Press Release

New publications establish Derry on Map of Europe

Monday, December 05

Two new publications based on the topography of the city and its surrounding area over the past four centuries will be officially launched in the Guildhall tomorrow evening, Tuesday December 06, by Edward Montgomery of The Honourable Irish Society and the Mayor, Councillor Lynn Fleming.

The Irish Historic Towns Atlas (number 15), Derry-Londonderry, edited by Avril Thomas; and Maps and Views of Derry 1600-1914, a catalogue
by W.S Ferguson, have been produced by the Dublin-based Royal Irish Academy.

The Atlas is part of a wider European project, and complies with the general specifications for the series as a whole.

The Mayor welcoming the initiative said: “I am delighted the Council’s Heritage and Museum Service is working so closely with the Royal Irish Academy to carry out archive research and assist with the financial backing for what must be seen as another key step in The Signature Project-Derry’s bid for World Heritage Status.”

Bernadette Walsh, archivist with the Museum Services explained that the text of the atlas includes selected documentary and literary references, a bibliography, and a chronological history of urban development in relation to the accompanying maps.

“It also touches on the political and social-economic development of the area. As all the European atlases contain broadly similar information, cities like Derry can now be studied in their European context encouraging a better understanding of common European roots. This will undoubtedly help to establish Derry firmly on the European map,” she said.

Pat Wallace, Director of National Museum of Ireland commented: "This book will draw you to its pages, and its beautifully drawn four-colour maps as well as its tables and concentrated digests of statistical information - which together constitute goldmines from which students will quarry for years to come."

Maps and Views of Derry has its origins some 30 years ago when a former principal of Foyle College, W.S. Ferguson, produced a draft catalogue of maps and illustrations. It eventually arrived with the Royal Irish Academy, who decided to publish it as a companion to the Irish Historic Towns Atlas.

Bernadette Walsh said it is a fine accompanying volume. “We are delighted to have been able to assist the Academy in producing such quality and useful publications relevant to such an historic city as Derry. Both publications are great educational tools for schools, community groups, and visitors. They also provide an invaluable archive resource for researchers and authors who want to understand the topographical history of the city. The Atlas also provides a sample of Derry City Council’s archive collection and the fascinating maps and drawings available for consultation.”

Photo Opportunity

Edward Montgomery, of the Honourable Irish Society and The Mayor, Cllr Lynn Fleming will officially launch the project at the Guildhall tomorrow, Tuesday 06 December at 7.00pm.

Notes to Editor:

Background

In 1955 the International Commission for the History of Towns recommended the publication of a series of European national historic atlases to encourage a better understanding of common European roots. Since then fascicles for over 360 towns and cities in sixteen European countries have been published.
The idea of an Irish historic towns atlas was first discussed in Dublin in 1978. The Royal Irish Academy, Dublin, agreed to publish the Irish Historic Towns Atlas, three years later. The aim of the project is to record the topographical development of a selection of towns. Each town is published separately as a fascicle or folder and comprises a series of maps, an essay explaining historical development, and a body of classified topographical information.

Text

The text includes an introductory essay, topographical information on the town as a whole and its component parts, selected documentary and literary extracts where appropriate, and a bibliography. Readers are also given an interpretation of the sources, in an introductory essay. Each town is described in relation to its physical setting, and its development is reviewed in chronological sequence from the beginning of urban life to the end of the nineteenth century, with a brief indication of its twentieth century history. The essay is intended to deal with the form and layout of the town as expressed in the accompanying maps. Whilst individual buildings may receive some attention it is not intended to be an archaeological or architectural survey. Political and socio-economic factors are introduced in so far as they seem relevant to an understanding of the townscape.

Maps

The maps and topographical information are derived directly from primary sources and to that extent are less likely to become out of date. Large-scale town plans constitute the best kind of source material for a comparative analysis of the topography of European towns. An early nineteenth century plan at the scale of 1:2500 is produced for each town; the merit of this map is that it shows the pattern of house plots before industrialisation and mid-nineteenth century development. Smaller scale maps showing the surroundings and the modern town and facsimiles of early maps, views and prints are also produced. All this illustrative material is reproduced to the highest standard, in colour, in large format and on loose sheets. Hence, each sheet is of value in itself and ideal for framing.

Further press information can be obtained by contacting the Marketing and Communications Section, Derry City Council, Tel. 028 7137 6504.

For additional information contact:

Press Office

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