1783 Taylor & Skinner Garvagh, Kilrea, Aghadowey, Swatragh, River Bann Ireland Road Map
Published in 1783, this hand-coloured antique Ireland road map is Map 29 from the second revised edition of Taylor & Skinner’s Maps of the Roads of Ireland. The survey was undertaken in 1777, first published in 1778 and corrected for the 1783 edition.
The engraved heading, “To Coleraine & Portrush by Charlemont,” identifies the wider journey represented by this sheet. Although Coleraine and Portrush lie farther along the continuing route, this section records the inland roads approaching them through northern County Londonderry.
Prominent places shown include Garvagh, Kilrea, Aghadowey and Swatragh, together with the River Bann and its surrounding road network. Roads also connect towards Ballymoney, Newferry, Dungiven and neighbouring settlements.
Garvagh is shown as an important road junction, with routes towards Dungiven, Newtown and the surrounding countryside. Nearby churches, estates and country houses illustrate the settled rural landscape around the town.
Further north, Aghadowey appears beside the Aghadowey River with its church and nearby properties. Cross Ferry is marked at the River Bann crossing, linking the road network with routes towards Ballymoney and the eastern side of the river.
Kilrea is clearly shown beside the Bann, with roads towards Newferry and neighbouring districts. Nearby places and properties include Banville, Bovagh and Vow Ferry, together with churches and minor roads.
To the south and west, Swatragh appears along the continuing road, while Tamlaght Church and roads towards Newferry add further local detail. The sheet also records Desert Church, estates, river crossings and wooded or hilly ground.
The combination of towns, ferries, rivers and named properties makes this map particularly interesting for County Derry / Londonderry local history, Irish genealogy and family-history research.
Identified as Map 29 in Taylor & Skinner’s Maps of the Roads of Ireland, it forms part of their extensive late-18th-century survey of Ireland’s principal roads.