1783 Taylor & Skinner Londonderry, Letterkenny, Raphoe, Lifford, St Johnston, Donegal Ireland Road Map
Published in 1783, this antique road map is Map 37 from the second revised edition of Taylor & Skinner’s Maps of the Roads of Ireland, surveyed in 1777 and corrected down to 1783. The engraving records the historic routes between Londonderry, Letterkenny, Raphoe and Lifford, together with St Johnston and numerous estates, churches and smaller settlements along the River Foyle and through County Donegal.
The original heading, “To L. Derry & Letterkenny,” identifies the two principal destinations represented on the sheet. The map is arranged as two adjoining strip sections, allowing the roads through the Londonderry and Donegal border region to be shown together on a single engraved page.
The left-hand strip centres on Londonderry, prominently depicted beside the broad River Foyle. Roads towards Malin, Coleraine, Dungiven and Letterkenny branch from the city, illustrating its importance as a major regional road centre during the late 18th century.
From Londonderry the road follows the River Foyle, passing Prehen and a succession of named residences and estates. The river dominates this portion of the engraving and demonstrates how closely the road network followed the Foyle valley.
Further along the river appears Carrigans Ferry, an important crossing point on the route. Nearby roads and properties are recorded on both sides of the Foyle, providing a detailed picture of the communications network surrounding the crossing.
St Johnston is prominently marked farther along the river, with the settlement positioned close to the Foyle. Nearby Magavlin, Grange Church and several country houses and estates illustrate the density of settlement along this fertile river corridor.
The right-hand strip begins at Letterkenny, where several roads converge around the town. Connections towards Mountfanaghy, Ramelton and Londonderry are identified, while the River Swilly is shown beside the settlement.
From Letterkenny the principal road continues through the County Donegal countryside towards Raphoe. Convoy Road and neighbouring estates are marked along the route, together with churches, hills and numerous named properties.
Raphoe appears as another significant road junction, with several roads radiating from the town. The engraving identifies routes towards Manor Cunningham, Letterkenny and Londonderry and records nearby Oakfield and other prominent estates.
Continuing onward, the road passes Ballindrait before reaching Lifford near the River Finn. Lifford is clearly shown as an important crossing and junction point, with roads towards Donegal and Londonderry meeting close to the river.
The combination of Londonderry, Letterkenny, Raphoe, Lifford and St Johnston makes this sheet a particularly useful record of the historic road connections between County Londonderry and County Donegal during the late 18th century.
As throughout Taylor & Skinner’s survey, numerous named estates, country houses, churches, rivers, ferries and contemporary landowners appear beside the roads, giving the engraving additional interest for Irish local history, genealogy and family-history research.
Identified as Map 37 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.