John Speed's Map of Dublin (1610) was one of the first detailed maps of Dublin and the first published map of Dublin produced by cartographer John Speed around 1610 and printed first in London in 1611.
It appeared as an inset in a map of the Province of Leinster in Speed's atlas The Theatre of the Empire of Great Britaine and features 69 placenames and other locations annotated at the side by symbols, geographic features or crude illustratrations. Speed's map combines information borrowed from other maps but also appears to have mapped most of the town plans himself.
It is the oldest surviving map of the city of Dublin. The next authoritative map of Dublin wasn't until Herman Moll's map of 1714, which drew heavily on Speed's map, Charles Brooking's map of Dublin (1728) and John Rocque's maps from 1756 onwards.
List of annotated locations
Number Name (sic)NameDetails1S. Mihans churchSt. Michan's Church, DublinThe church also gives its name to Church Street which is also detailed on the map, although not annotated, as one of the main thoroughfares heading northwards from the River Liffey.2S. Maryes AbbeySt. Mary's Abbey, Dublin3The InnesKing's InnsLater to become the site of the Four Courts.4OrmuntonOxmantown5The BridgeFather Mathew Bridge6Newmans tourNewman’s (or Isolde’s) Tower which were rediscovered and excavated in 1993. See List of gates of Dublin.7Fians CastleReferred to since at least 1305 as Fyan's Castle and later sometimes referred to as Proudfoot's Castle on later maps.8Wood KeyWood Quay9Marchants KeyMerchant's Quay10The HospitallChichester HouseLater the site of Parliament House, Dublin.11S. AugustinesAugustinian Friary of the Most Holy Trinity, Dublin12The ColledgeTrinity College Dublin13BridewellAn archaic term for a prison or house for the homeless, named for a prison beside St Bride's Well in the City of London, near which such a building stood.14Damas StretDame StreetNamed for St. Mary del Dam15Damas GateDame StreetSee List of gates of Dublin.16S. Andrews church St Andrew's Church, Dublin (Church of Ireland)17S. Georges laneSouth Great George's Street18S. Stevens StretStephen Street, DublinTakes its name from St Stephen's Church19S. Stevens churchTakes its name from St Stephen's Church20S. Peters churchSt. Peter's Church, Aungier Street, Dublin21White friersWhitefriar Street Carmelite Church22Sheepe StreteShip Street Little23The CastleDublin Castle24Fish ShamblesFishamble Street25Wine Tavern StretWinetavern Street26Woodstock laneReferred to since at least 1270 as Woodstock Lane and later and sometimes earlier as Rosemary lane. It connected Cook Street with Merchants Quay.27Rame LaneReferred to since medieval times as Skippers Alley and later as Rame Lane. It connected Cook Street with Merchants Quay and Ushers Quay.28Cocke StreteCook Street, Dublin29Ormonds GateSee List of gates of Dublin. Also referred to as Wormwood Gate and Gormund Gate.30Kaysars LaneKeyser's LaneIt connected Cook Street to Newgate Street (Cornmarket). It was a common Norse era name used in other Viking cities and towns across Ireland and corrupted versions of the name include Kishers Lane and Kaysers Lane.31S. Owens laneSt. Audoen's Church, Dublin (Church of Ireland)32S. Michaels laneSt. Michael's Church, Dublin33Christchurch laneChrist Church Cathedral, Dublin34S. Owens churchSt. Audoen's Church, Dublin (Church of Ireland)35ChristchurchChrist Church Cathedral, Dublin36Schoolhouse laneA reference to a nearby schoolhouse.37S. Johns churcheChurch of St. John the Evangelist, Dublin38Castle StreteA reference to Dublin Castle.39Pole GateA reference to the nearby Church of St Michael le Pole which partially took its name from the nearby pool of Dublin created by the River Poddle to the rear of Dublin Castle. See List of gates of Dublin.40S. Warbers StretWerburgh Street41S. Warbers churchSt. Werburgh's Church, Dublin42Skinners RoweSkinners Row43S. Nicholas churchChurch of St. Nicholas Within, Dublin44S. Nicholas StreteA reference to the Church of St. Nicholas Within, Dublin.45S. Nicholas GateA reference to the Church of St Nicholas. See List of gates of Dublin.46The TolsellThe Tholsel, Dublin47S Michaels ChurchSt. Michael's Church, Dublin48Highe StreteHigh Street, Dublin49Back laneThe street later famously held the back lane parliament and still contains Tailors' Hall.50New GateSee List of gates of Dublin and Newgate Prison, Dublin51S. Thomas StreteThomas Street, Dublin52New RoweStill extant as New Row +The millsMill complex on the map which isn't numbered.53Tennis court laneA reference presumably to a nearby tennis court, one of the first references to organised sport in the city.54Johns HouseClose to present day John's Lane Church.55S. James StreteA reference to St James' Church, Dublin (Church of Ireland).56S. James GateSt. James's GateSee List of gates of Dublin.57S. Cathren churchSt Catherine's Church, Dublin (Church of Ireland)58S. Thomas courtAbbey of St Thomas the Martyr59The ComeThe Coombe, Dublin60New StreeteStill extant as New Street61S. Francis StretStill extant as Francis Street62S. Patricks StretPatrick Street, Dublin63S. Patricks churchSt Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin64S. Brides churchSt. Bride's Church, Dublin65S. Brides StretBride Street66S. SepulchersSt. Sepulchre's PalaceA reference to the Palace of the Manor of St. Sepulchre which is still extant and forms a police station.67S. Kevan StretSt. Kevin's Church, Camden Row, DublinBeside present day Wexford Street.68Cross laneGolden Lane, Dublin69Church on Pauls Church of St Michael le PoleLikely meant to be "Church on Pool", the pool being the pool created by the Poddle nearby from which Dublin gets its name. The actual number 69 does not appear annotated on the map itself and only appears in the reference schedule. +Market CrossFeatured on the map between Christchurch and St Michaels church. A drawing of the cross was recorded by John Simmons as late as 1776 but it was likely removed soon after this point.
See also Charles Brooking's map of Dublin (1728) Cartography of Dublin Bernard de Gomme Herman Moll Joseph Tudor James Malton
External links
Irish Historic Towns Atlas (IHTA), no. 11, Dublin, Part I, to 1610
References