CITY OF LONDONDERRY. 
Mounted on a carriage at the Court House, and in good condition, stands “ Roaring Meg, so 
called from the loudness of her utterance during the siege. This cannon is inscribed:— 
Fishmongers, London, 1642. 
The total number of cannon remaining in the city and suburbs is nearly 50. 
The Gates. —The four original gates of the city were called Bishop s gate, New gate, 
(now Butcher’s gate), Ferry-port gate, (now Ferry-quay gate), and Ship-quay gate. I n jFB 
dition to these gates, two others have been subsequently added, and all of them rebuilt. The 
only gates which have any embellishment are, the Bishop’s gate, and the Ship-quay gate. 
The former is a triumphal arch, with a lateral passage on each side. The crown of the arch 
is surmounted, both on the inside and outside, with the head of a warrior in relief on the key 
stone, and over each passage is a tablet exhibiting military devices. The western front of the 
latter gate is adorned on each side with a circular frame, one of which exhibits a cornucopia ., 
the other a caduceus, each combined with other devices. On the eastern front there are 
similar frames, which, however, contain no ornaments. This gate was erected by public sub¬ 
scription in 1788-9, to commemorate the centenary of the siege. It is a chaste architectural 
work, designed by H. A. Baker, Esq. R. H. A., and the sculpture executed by the celebrated 
Edward Smyth. , 
Streets.— From a comparison of Raven’s plan with that of the present town it will be seen, 
that within the walls, the streets have undergone but little change either in form or name since 
they were originally laid out. Their plan may be described as that of a cential square, called 
the Diamond, or market place, and occupied by the corporation hall, from which four principal 
streets radiate at right angles towards the four original gates. These streets give name to the 
four wards of the city, and are called:— . 
1. Queen’s-street, now popularly Bishop-street, which name is also applied to its con¬ 
tinuation outside the wall. This street contains the palace, deanery, court-house, and outside 
the gate_the gaol. The principal approach to the cathedral also is from this street through 
St. Columb’s-Place. . , „ ~ , 
2. Silver-street, or now, popularly, Ship-quay-street, which descends from the Diamond 
to Ship-quay gate, and is so steep as to be scarcely accessible to carriages. Its appearance too, 
although other wise rather ? imposing, is marred by the broken line of the roofs, which 
descend like the steps of a staircase. It contains the National Bank, the Provincial Bank, 
Gwyn’s Charitable Institution, and several of the chief private residences. The Public 
Library and Reading-rooms are also connected with this street, though its front opens into 
Q 3,S tiO* str66t 
3. Gracious-street, or now more popularly Ferry-quay-street, which is exclusively occu¬ 
pied with shops. The part without the gate is also called Bridge-street. 
4. Shambles-street, or Butcher-street, which is similarly occupied. 
Besides these principal streets, there are several of a subordinate character, which 
branch off from them at right angles, the only one worthy of particular notice is Pump- 
street, which connects Gracious or Ferry-quay-street with a se'qpnd entrance to the cathedral. 
It contains the King’s-Arms Hotel, and the residences of several of the most respectable 
citizens. 
The names of the principal streets have been changed at different periods, as will appear 
from the various plans of the city. In 1818 and 1819, during the mayoralty of the late Dr. 
William Scott, a further alteration was made by the corporation; but after two years the 
former names were restored by the Irish Society. In the interim the new nomenclature was 
adopted in leases, and, other documents, wherein, for example, the Diamond is termed 
King William’s-Square. 
Buildings. —By an atticle in the original agreement between the crown and the cor¬ 
poration of London in 1609, the latter were bound to build 200 houses (and room to be left 
for 300 more); “ and that of these 60 houses should be finished by the 1st November next fol¬ 
lowing, with convenient fortifications, and the rest of the houses with the fortifications should 
be built and perfected by the 1st November, 1611.” 
The corporation of London neglected, notwithstanding, to fulfil their contract. According 
to Pynnar, the number of houses in the town in 1618-19, was but 92 ; and Sir Thomas 
Phillips states the number built by them up to 1626, to have been but 102 houses of lime and 
stone in addition to which there were 26 houses of lime and stone built at piivate men s 
charges, and 12 cabins. The default of the corporation in this particular was one of the chief 
articles of complaint which led to the several sequestrations of the city and county preceding 
the year 1628, and to the appointment of commissioners by the king in that year to inquire 
concerning the plantations made, or intended to have been made, in the county of London¬ 
derry, and the city of Londonderry and town of Coleraine. In answer to the first article lor 
inquiry, namely, that 200 houses were to have been built in the city of Londonderry, and 
room left for 300 more,—these commissioners reported, that, “If every single house, that is 
