Download A Guide to the Historic City Walls of Derry~Londonderry

Derry~Londonderry: a guide to the historic city wallsDerry~Londonderry has the most complete circuit ofhistoric walls of any town in Ireland: they stand up to8 metres high and measure almost one mile around.The walls were constructed between1613 and 1618 to protect the Englishand Scots settlers of the new townthat was established here as partof the Plantation of Ulster. James Iordered this colonisation with loyal,Protestant subjects in order to bringthe rebellious Gaelic region firmlyunder the control of the Englishcrown in 1611.The Honourable The Irish Societywas founded to take charge of theplantation, and finance was obtainedfrom the City of London to build thewalls. The new City of Londonderrywas laid out as the defensive wallswere being constructed. Still seentoday, the street pattern was regular,with four main streets crossing at acentral square, later called‘The Diamond’, leading straight to thefour gates in the walls. In 1689 theCatholic King James II and hissupporters (Jacobites) laid siege tothe city for 105 days, as part of hiscampaign to reclaim the Englishthrone from the Protestant KingWilliam. Thirteen apprentices famouslyshut the city gates against theadvancing Jacobite troops and despitefierce fighting over the weeks, the citysuccessfully withstood the attack.The walls are still owned by TheHonourable The Irish Society today,although they are now managed andconserved by the Northern IrelandEnvironment Agency.The HonourableThe Irish SocietyAerial view of the historic city walls (Esler Crawford Photography)Other sites caredfor by NIEADerry~LondonderryDonegalMagilliganMartello TowerMagilligan NationalNature ReservePortrushPortstewartDunluce CastleBushmillsA guide to the historic city wallsBinevenaghNature ReserveColeraineMount SandelFortBallymoneyLimavadyCity WallsRoe Valley Country ParkDerry~LondonderryBallygrollPrehistoric ComplexBovevagh Old ChruchNess Country ParkBrackfield BawnPrehistoric MonumentsClaudyPlantation MonumentsHistoric MonumentsCountry Park/Nature ReserveDungivenDungiven PrioryBanagher Old ChurchBanagher Glen Nature ReserveTamnyrankinCourt TombTirkane Sweat HouseNorthern Ireland Environment AgencyCreate prosperity and well being throughenvironment and heritage excellenceOpening hours and accessFor opening hours please visitwww.discovernorthernireland.com/nieaor telephone +44 028 9054 3030Get in touchNorthern Ireland Environment AgencyBuilt Heritage, Waterman House5-33 Hill Street, Belfast, BT1 2LATelephone: +44 028 9054 3030Web: www.doeni.gov.uk/niea©NITB

1A Tour of the City Walls11The BogsideD10Magazine GateThis gate was built in 1865.Recently restored cannon aremounted on replicas of mid-17th-century block carriages.The two cannon closest toShipquay Gate bear the Tudorrose-and-crown emblem; onehas a date stamp of 1590.9Free Derry Corner120 metres1008The Fountain1413Bishop Street WithinThe best way to experience these magnificent 400 yearold walls is by taking a stroll along the rampart walkway.To really appreciate them, however, you should also usesome of the many access steps or ramps to come downand walk around the walls at ground level. We have usedthe current names of gates and bastions around the walls,but many of them had earlier names.2Shipquay GateThis was one of the four originalgates into the 17th-century city,although the structure we seehere today was built in 1805.The River Foyle originally flowedup to the foot of the city wallshere and ships that enteredLough Foyle moored closeby for people and goods tobe unloaded.37Water BastionMost of this bastion wasdemolished around 1850and all that now remains is asmall platform. Outside theMillennium Forum theatre isa sculpture by the artistAntony Gormley.E156C16 17The Diamond45New Gate Bastion4Two demi-culverin cannon aremounted on replicas of 17thcenturyfield carriages. Fourembrasures (openings) wouldhave allowed artillery to providecovering fire along the adjacentwall face.5Ferryquay Street Butcher StreetGSite ofGunner’sBastionFerryquay GateSt Eugene’sCathedral18Shipquay StreetFerryquay Gate is located on thesite of one of the four originalgates. It probably led down tothe ferry and later, to the firstcity bridge. It was this gate thaton December 7th 1688 wasclosed by the 13 apprentices toprevent Jacobite troops enteringthe city, leading to the siege of1689. The present gate was builtin 1866, and the carved headsrepresent the Revs GeorgeWalker and James Gordon.619Artillery BastionWithin Artillery Bastion are twocannon. The first is an Englishsaker with a City of Londonshield on it, one of a batch sentby the City in 1620. The secondis a demi-culverin sent to thecity in 1642 by the LondonSalters Company, one of a groupof 15 gifted by the LondonCompanies to strengthenthe defences.7BSt Columb’s CathedralSt Columb’s Cathedral was builtbetween 1628 and 1633. Duringthe 1689 siege the lead from thespire was used for artillery, andtwo cannon were mounted onthe tower for defence. As youwalk along the ramparts, notethe sentry box. A firing platformfor musketeers (banquette) mayhave been positioned here.220Site of1 Coward’sBastionBased upon ©Crown Copyrightand database right 2013 EMOU 206.2New Gate3Site ofWater BastionShipquay SquareNew Gate was first opened in1787 and was later replaced bythe present gate in 1866.8FA9Church BastionIt was from Church Bastion thatKing James II was fired uponas he approached the city onApril 18th 1689, when the siegebegan in earnest. In the bastionyou can see two demi-culverincannon. Along the outer wallface is a small gateway, knownas a ‘sallyport’. Tradition hasit that this gateway was usedduring the siege, and that itleads into St Columb’s Cathedral.10Bishop’s GateBishop’s Gate was one of thefour original entrances tothe city. The current gatewas erected in 1789 incommemoration of the 1689siege. The carved keystonesrepresent the Rivers Boyneand Foyle.11Double BastionThe Double Bastion holds twodemi-culverin cannon, one ofwhich is the famous RoaringMeg. There is a fine panoramicview over the Bogside and theslopes above, where Jacobiteguns were positioned duringthe 1689 siege.12Grand ParadeGrand Parade was used asa promenade in the 19thcentury. The sycamore treescommemorate the 13apprentices who closed thegates on King James’ soldiersduring the 1689 siege: the fruitof the sycamore tree resemblesa bunch of keys; symbolic ofthe locked gates. One of thecannon sent over in 1620bears a City of London shield.13St Augustine’s ChurchIt is likely that this church wasbuilt upon the site of a ruinedmedieval church known as theDubh Regles (Black Church).14Royal BastionThe Governor Walker memorialpillar was erected in 1828 tocommemorate the shutting ofthe city gates by the ApprenticeBoys of Derry during the1689 siege. The pillar wassurmounted by a statue of theRev George Walker, Governor ofthe city throughout the siege.It was blown up in 1973.There are also two late-18thcentury6-pounder cannonwithin the bastion.15The PlatformA long rectangular gun platformprotrudes out from the wallshere. Just opposite the Platformstands the Memorial Hall of theApprentice Boys of Derry, andnearby is First Derry PresbyterianChurch, built before 1780 on thesite of an earlier church foundedin 1690. The pediment wasadded in 1828.16Butcher’s GateButcher’s Gate was one of thefour original city gates, but thestructure you see here todaywas rebuilt in 1810.17Gunner’s BastionNot far past Butcher’s Gatewas a demi-bastion, knownas the Gunner’s Bastion. It wasremoved sometime between1843 and 1873.18Castle GateCastle Gate is the smallest andone of the least elaborate ofthe city’s gates. It was openedthrough the walls in 1802.19Hangman’s BastionHangman’s Bastion took itsname from an incident duringthe 1689 siege when a man,trying to escape over thewalls, got caught in the ropehe was using and almosthanged. Further along, the wallkinks outwards, probably toincorporate the late medievalO’Donnell tower house whichonce stood here.20Coward’s BastionAt the corner was the last ofthe bastions, removed duringthe first half of the 19th century.This area was attacked leastduring the 1689 siege and sowas a popular posting for somemembers of the garrison, givingthe bastion its name.©NITBOther places of interestclose to the city wallsA GuildhallB Millennium ForumC PlayhouseVerbal Arts CentreE Apprentice Boys Memorial HallF Tower MuseumG Diamond War MemorialTo enhance your tour youcan also take advantageof the free apps that areavailable to download,filled with unique featuresand historical images.Walk the WallsBlending CGI, videos, photosand 3D animations, this appprovides a unique guide to thehistory of the city, ‘Before andAfter’ visualisations show howparts of the walls might haveoriginally looked, while a photolibrary displays photographs,illustrations and historical mapsof each location.Siege of DerryThis app uses contemporary,real-life accounts and reactionsof townspeople to bring the1689 siege to life. Survive thesiege as a Jacobite spy and listento accounts of the siege as youwalk around the walls.These Apps can be downloadedfree at the Google Play, Android orApple App stores or alternativelyfrom discovernorthernireland.comThis historic city and itsimpressive walls have along and varied history.This is celebrated in abooklet published bythe NIEA.Derry~LondonderryA History and Tourof the City WallsIncorporating a moreindepth version of thistour and a brief historyof the settlement ofDerry~Londonderry.The booklet is availableto purchase at variouslocations around the city.