Each town also had a water supply, a church and a mill. The plans for the towns usually followed a ‘grid’ pattern (as seen in the three images here). These towns slowly became centres for trade and producing goods. The city of Derry and County Londonderrywere particularly suited to developing these trades and business. To help with this, newroadswere built linking the newplantation towns.
Fig 8.9 The illlustration shows the grid pattern of Bellaghy, County Londonderry.
The Siege of Derry
The city of Derry became a strongly Protestant town in the midst of a largely Catholic hinterland. This was most obvious when conflict broke out in 1688 in England between the Catholic King James II and the Protestant William of Orange whowas invited to overthrowJames by a group of English Parliamentarians. During the war that followed between the two kings, James’ troops attempted to capture the city of Derry. As his troops approached the city, the gates were closed by 13 apprentice boys (young menlearning the trade of the various guilds in the county). Despite King James’ request that the city surrender, those within the city refused. A three-month siege was finally broken by two merchant ships that rammed the blockage which had prevented ships from reaching the city. It is estimated that half of the Protestant population of 8,000 in Derry died of starvation and disease during the siege. Despite the numbers who died, the successful lifting of the siege was an important contribution to the ultimate victory of William over James at the Battle of the Boyne in 1690.
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Fig 8.10 Magherafelt, County Londonderry, built by the Salters company of London.
Fig 8.11 Moneymore, County Londonderry, a plantation town built by the Drapers company of London.