The Ordnance Survey Memoirs are a uniquely detailed source for the history of the northern half of Ireland immediately before the Great Famine. They were written in the 1830s to accompany the 6" Ordnance Survey maps, but with one exception were not published at the time. In this new edition they act as a nineteenth-century Domesday book and are essential to the understanding of the cultural heritage of our communities. The Memoirs document the landscape and situation, buildings and antiquities, land-holdings and population, employment and livelihood of the parishes.
This volume contains the Memoirs for four parishes in the north-east of the country, including the major centre of Coleraine and towns of Portrush and Portstewart, as well as the mouth of the Bann. We see a landscape dotted with gentlemen's seats, mills and remains of antiquity, while the towns present a large number of public buildings and impressive streets.
The material paints a wonderful picture of economic life in this costal area, where the people enjoyed a high degree of prosperity, evidenced by the building of a new harbour at Portrush and the consequent influx of shipping. A variety of trades and occupations also testifies to the vibrant nature of this region.