Dublin City Surveyors – Book of Maps 1695 - 1827
Dublin City Assembly acted as one of a number of landlords with estates in the city following a policy of leasing its lands to improving tenants. The City Estate was leased to Dublin’s merchant class who built houses, stables, ware-houses and out-buildings on their holdings.
The post of the City Surveyor was established in the late 17th century when there was no overall planning authority for the city. The role of the City Surveyor was to record rather than to plan such development. His involvement in planning was confined to dividing ground in lots for setting. The collection is an example of urban cartography and documents the development of the ancient Dublin City Estate within the original walled city.
Wide Streets Commissioners 1758 – 1851
The Commissioners for making Wide and Convenient Ways, Streets and Passages in the City of Dublin was established by an Act of Parliament in 1757. The Commission had extensive powers with the authority to acquire property by compulsory purchase, demolish it, lay down new streets and set lots along the new streets to builders for development.
The Commission created Parliament Street, Westmoreland Street and D’Olier Street, widened Dame Street, built Carlisle Bridge (now O’Connell bridge), and extended lower Sackville Street (O’Connell) down to the river Liffey.
The Commission was abolished under the Dublin Improvement Act of 1849 with the final completion of its work in 1851. The Collection contains a complete set of minute books; architectural drawings by leading architects; series of Jury Books and inquisitions containing valuations of properties purchased by the Commission; legal documents; series of leases to Henry Ottiwell; 800 manuscripts maps documenting the city before, during and after the work of the commission.
View a sample of conserved Wide Street Commission Maps.
Learn more about the Wide Street Commission and the ongoing map conservation project at Dublin City Library and Archive.