Description:

Antique map - FULL TITLE: Taylor & Skinner's Maps of the Roads of Ireland, surveyed 1777. Published for the Authors as the Act directs, 14th November 1778. Sold by G. Nicol, Strand; I. Murray, Fleet Street, London, and by W. Wilson, No. 6, Dame Street, Dublin.

Page 223 shows the Roads from (i) Foxford to Castlebar (Caislean an Bharraigh), (ii) Castlebar to Westport (Cathair na Mart).

Page 224 shows the Road from Sligo (Sligeach) via Ballisdere (Ballysadare) and Baltra (Beltra) to Ardnagless (Aughris?).

These antique strip maps show the main roads and crossroads leading to various towns along the way. The engravings detail the surrounding topography including noblemen & gentlemen’s seats, castles, churches, rivers, bridges, pastures, woods, forests and hills. On each strip is a compass rose showing the direction of travel as well as the distance, in miles, from the start point.

‘’The roads leading from Dublin are measured from His Majesty’s Castle Gate, to the Market House of every Town; and the Cross Roads from the Market House of one Town to another. The lists of stages at the top of the pages show the distance from one stage to another; also the distance from Dublin, or the other place, where the Road is measured from. … with the distances in Irish miles. Eleven Irish miles are equal to fourteen British.’’

From the first edition of this handsome atlas, produced by Scottish surveyors George Taylor and Andrew Skinner. As the earliest published collection of Irish road maps, this work is often consulted today for information on pre-famine Ireland: Castles, churches, notable houses, and estates are identified on the map, as are those in ruins. The maps were engraved by G. Terry of London.

Rare

Condition: The pages have been washed, de-acidified & pressed and are in excellent condition. The pages have wide margins although the images have been cropped to better present the maps. The map sizes are approximate, measured along the neat line, and may vary upwards by up to 5mm. The sheets measure approximately 27 x 15.5. The pages are double sided.

Conditon: GG

Cartographer: Taylor and Skinner

Date: 1778

Technique: Copper Engraving

Colour: Uncoloured

Width (cms) x Height (cms): 11.0 x 21.0

Ref: JJB1856