important portsandbecameeconomicsuccesses.By1630theyhadpopulations of about 1,000 people each. These townswere regarded as important defences in Ulster from foreign attackers.
Fig 8.8 The plan of the city of Derry.
The layout
The new plantation towns were designed with streets and squares. Many towns had a ‘diamond’ or central square at the centre (see the plan of Derry city above). This diamond usually had an army barracks or was used as a marketplace. Other buildings included a courthouse, the jail and town hall. The towns either hadwalls for protection or access to a bawn. The houses had gardens and therewere plots of land on the edge of the town for growing food and grazing animals.