1783 Taylor & Skinner Londonderry, Limavady, Dungiven, Clady, River Roe Ireland Road Map
Published in 1783, this hand-coloured antique Ireland road map is Map 32 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, “From Dublin to Newtown-Limavady by Dungiven,” identifies the principal journey represented on the sheet. The mileage table records Dungiven at 99 miles from Dublin and Newtown-Limavady a further 7 miles 5 furlongs along the route. The historic name Newtown-Limavady refers to modern Limavady.
The map is arranged as two adjoining road strips. One follows the road between Dungiven and Limavady through the River Roe valley, while the adjoining section records the road through Clady and the countryside approaching Londonderry.
Londonderry is prominently shown beside the River Foyle, with the walled town represented by its compact street plan. Roads towards Strabane and Malin are marked around the city, together with the principal route continuing through the surrounding countryside.
Leaving Londonderry, the engraving records named residences and estates including Ashbrook and Beech Hill before the road continues through hills, rivers and smaller settlements. The River Faughan forms an important geographical feature along this part of the route.
Burntollet appears beside the road, followed by further estates and river crossings before the route reaches Clady, which is clearly marked with nearby churches, houses and connecting roads.
The adjoining strip begins at Dungiven, where several roads converge around the settlement. Dungiven Castle and the River Roe are shown nearby, while connecting roads lead towards Londonderry and other parts of the regional road network.
From Dungiven the road follows the River Roe valley through a succession of named estates, churches and residences. Boveagh Church, Derryyard and other properties appear beside the road, illustrating the settled landscape along this important route.
Limavady, engraved as “Newtown-Limavady,” forms the principal destination on this section of the sheet. Roads towards Londonderry, Coleraine and Garvagh branch from the town, demonstrating its importance as a junction within the late-18th-century road network.
The combination of Londonderry, Limavady, Dungiven, Clady, the River Foyle, River Faughan and River Roe makes this sheet particularly useful for County Derry / Londonderry local history, Irish genealogy and family-history research.
Identified as Map 32 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.