Paul Walsh, 'George Petrie's "Topographical Department" 1835-42'. 15-10-2014

George Petrie’s

“Topographical Department”

1835 - 1842

Paul Walsh

THE REMIT

In 1824 the Ordnance Survey (est. 1791) was directed to map the entire island of Ireland (as a

prelude to a nationwide valuation of land and buildings) as quickly as possible on the large

scale of six inches to one mile.

The first maps were published in 1833.The project was completed in 1846.

Mountjoy HouseHeadquarters of the Ordnance Survey

The success of the Survey was effected ‘through the instrumentality of that superior mind and

powerful will, which presided over and controlled the whole work.’

J.E. Portlock, Memoir of the life of Major-General Colby (1869).

‘A map is in its nature but a part of a Survey, and that much of the information connected with it,

can only be advantageously embodied in a memoir, to which the map then serves us a

graphical index.’ Thomas A. Larcom

Colonel Thomas Colby

Preface to the memoir of Templemore Parish, Co. Derry (published 1837)

‘Lieutenant Larcom conceived the idea, that with such opportunities, a small additional cost would enable him, without retarding the execution of the maps, to draw together a work embracing every species of local information relating to Ireland.

He submitted this idea to me, and I obtained the sanction of the Irish Government for carrying it into effect. To him I entrusted the execution . . . .’

'MAN by his reason devises ARTIFICIAL means, for improving to

his uses the productions of NATURE' (Preface to the Templemore Memoir, 1837)

1. The Natural State (i.e. the natural features and natural history, geology, botany etc.);

2. The Artificial State comprising the modern state (towns, gentleman's seats, manufacture, etc.) and the ancient state (townland history, antiquities etc.); and

3. The General State (social economy, productive economy).

‘MEMOIR’

Natural StateGeology and Botany

Artificial StateModern and Ancient

General StateSocial and Productive

economies

GeologyCapt. J.E. Portlock

BotanyDavid Moore

ModernGeorge Downes

AncientGeorge Petrie

Social EconomyGeorge Downes

Productive EconomyCapt. J.E. Portlock

‘Field officers’

The first home of the

Royal Irish Academy

___________

114 Grafton Street

‘Orthography being the part which we are alone authorised in strictness to do & being authorised we are bound to do it come what

may of all else. First then in order of necessity is orthography because it is ordered,

antiquities because they exist upon the ground, therefore are topography, history etc.

as much as possible . . .’(Larcom to Petrie – 6th March 1838)

Year1829183018311832183318341835183618371838183918401841

County survey initiatedAntrimDerry TyroneDownDonegal, Fermanagh, Armagh, MonaghanLeitrim, Louth, CavanLongford, MeathDublin, Roscommon North, Mayo, Kildare, Sligo, WestmeathGalway, Laois, Wicklow, OffalyKilkenny, Wexford, CarlowClare, Limerick, Tipperary, WaterfordKerry, Cork

‘Orthography’111459

1113141416114

Grade Name Day rate (shillings/pence)

‘Department Head’

George Petrie

George Downes

10/- (1835-42)

10/- (1835-41)

Orthographer I J. O’Donovan

E. Curry

T. O’Conor

P. O’Keeffe

9/6 (1839-42)

7/- (1839-42)

7/- (1839-42)

6/6 (1838-41)

Orthographer II J. Mangan

P. Kenny

A. Curry

5/- (1838-41)

5/- (1839-40)

4/6 (1840-41)

Senior Clerk G. O’Lawlor 5/- (1839-41)

Inferior assistants W. Hayes, A. Henry,

J. Cunningham,

W. Wotton, W. Parker,

A. Russell, J. O'Sullivan,

H. Petty, J. Duffy

1/6 – 3/6 (1833-42)

Artist G. du Noyer

W. Wakeman

1/6 – 3/6 (1833-42)

Personnel employed on ‘Orthography and Etymology’ 1833-42

Thomas Larcom (‘Officer in Charge’, Mountjoy House, Phoenix Park)

John Sharkey (First Clerk)

George Petrie (1835-42)

OrthographersGrade I

J. O’DonovanT. O’ConnorP. O’KeeffeE. O’Curry

George Downes (1834-40)

OrthographersGrade IIP. Kenny

J. ManganA. O’Curry

Senior ClerkG. O’Lawlor

Inferior AssistantsW. HayesA. Henry

J. CunninghamW. WottonW. ParkerA. O’CurryA. Russell

J. O’SullivanH. PettyJ. Duffy

ArtistsG. du Noyer

W. Wakeman

21 Great Charles Street

The home of George Petrie

Headquarters of the so-called

‘Topographical Department’‘The Topographical Department.’

‘Tee Petrie’

Year County J. O’Donovan T. O’Conor P. O’Keeffe E. O’Curry A. O’Curry1829-33 Antrim1832-4 Tyrone1834 Down

Derry

Fermanagh

Armagh

Monaghan

1835 Donegal

Louth

1836 Cavan

Leitrim

Meath

Sligo

1837 Dublin

Longford

Roscommon

Westmeath

Kildare

Offaly

1838 Mayo

Galway

Laois

Wicklow

1839 Carlow

Kilkenny

Clare

1840 Wexford

Limerick

Tipperary

1841 Waterford

Kerry

Cork

GEORGE PETRIE(1790 – 1866)

– Artist –

– Antiquarian –

– Musician –

– Numismatist –Portrait from the

Dublin University Magazine (1839)

Thomas Spring Rice, Chancellor of the Exchequer.(April 1838)

‘That the ordnance officers should collect and be encouraged to collect much valuable information which cannot be given to the world in the shape of a map is quite true. That this should be published in the shape of a memoir or of pièces justificatives I admit. That we should pay for this I agree. But that we should undertake to compile regular county and city histories of all Ireland I cannot assent to.’

Letter to Sir Henry Goulburn(May 1842)

‘Of all the abuses and misapplications of the public funds which have taken place

for a considerable time past, I know not a more palpable instance than in the Topographical Department of the

Ordnance Survey of Ireland.’

(Signed: A Protestant Conservative)

94 Eaton Square

The London home of Lord Adare

‘Orthography Output’

c. 144,000 names on the mapsincluding

• 316 Barony names• 2,422 Civil Parish names• Over 60,000 Townland names

All contained with 3,289 name books.

‘A map is in its nature but a part of a Survey, and that much of the information

connected with it, can only be advantageously embodied in a memoir, to which the map then serves us a graphical

index.’

MAP + Memoir = GIS