Historical Maps

Historical Maps of Ballyoughter

A map does not just chart, it unlocks and formulates meaning; it forms bridges between here and there, between disparate ideas that we did not know were previously connected.

Reif Larsen, American author

Map-making is a Science and Art that has  long been recognised by people to be of great value in understanding the world they inhabit and for recording history. It has been around for more than 5,000 years, from the period when Babylonians drew simple sketches on clay tablets through to today’s ultra accurate and high precision mapping using satellite systems.

Modern maps may be detailed and near flawless. However, they must be used in conjunction with historical maps to learn about the past and and appreciate what life might have been like for our ancestors.

Below are a series of maps which unlock a treasure chest of information about Ballyoughter which may, for many people, have been long forgotten. I hope you enjoy the hunt.

Down Survey of Ireland Maps - 1656 to 1658

These maps are historically important in that they were the first set of maps produced by a national survey of a country. The survey was conducted by Sir William Petty and its purpose was to measure all land in the country which was to be forfeited by Catholics to ‘Adventurers’ and English soldiers. It was based on the Civil Survey (1654-1656) records but was much more accurate in its findings using a standardised measuring device, a chain, and a map scale.

Check out the maps related to the Ballyoughter area at The Past/Historical Land Surveys/Down Survey of Ireland 1656-1658.

Valentine Gill Map 1811

Permission courtesy of Wexford County Council Archives.

Entitled ‘A new map of the County of Wexford from actual survey by Valentine Gill’, it was published by Gill, a surveyor of lands from Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford, in August 1811 and concentrated primarily on showing the location of people connected with the 1798 rebellion.  A list of subscribers to the map was published in the Wexford Herald of 7 September 1807.  The coat of arms for each subscriber was to be engraved on their copy of the map, the subscription per copy being £2.5s.6d.

Points to note:

  1. There was a Chapel at Ballyoughter in 1811, long before the Church of the Sacred Heart was built in 1874.
  2.  The depiction of the battle of Tubberneering is annotated with the text ‘Colonel Walpole killed’.
  3.  At Ballyoughter crossroads, you will note there is no route to Camolin. This road was not built until the railway was extended through the area in the early 1860s. There is a route (pathway) from Tubberneering leading to Ballygullen and Ballydaniel but it does not appear to continue to Camolin at his time. This leaves the main route from Ballyoughter to Camolin through Meadowpaul (Medophall) and Norrismount. There is also a pathway from Tubberneering to the Braccina (Brackernagh), a route that no longer exists.
  4.  The road to Ballycannow (Ballycanew) passed though Tomcoyle, Corrancroer (Cranacrower) and Tomgarron (Tomgar). There was no route through the Braccina where the road is today.
  5. The road to Carrigrew was through the estate of Mr Donovan as the ‘New Road’ had yet to be built.
  6. At Meadowpaul, the estate of Major General Thomas Brownrigg of the honourable East India Company service , Bombay (died 3rd of February 1808) is noted.
  7.  Toome is shown as Toomb on the map and indicates the site of Ballinclare Church, Parish of Toome.
  8. The camp of the Earl of Wessex in 1599 is shown at Springmount (Essex Bridge). This camp was a brief resting place for the army of Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex, returning to Dublin from his southern campaign during the Nine Years War.

Ballyoughter on 'OSI'

Ballyoughter Neighbouring Townlands on Ordnance Survey Ireland (OSI)

The link above to the OSI maps on the ‘National Townland and Historic Environment Viewer’ site allows you to search for Ballyoughter, Co Wexford and view the area on Historic Maps.

  1. Accept the terms and conditions of use for the site
  2. Type Balloughter (not Ballyoughter) in the search bar
  3. Select Balloughter, Wexford under ‘National Townlands’
  4. In the top right of the screen, select the first icon with the 4 white square boxes (Basemap Gallery) and choose the map of your choice to view the area. Each map tells a different story.
    1. Historic Map 25 inch (1888-1913)
    2. Historic Map 6 inch (1837-1842) B/W and Colour
    3. 6 inch Cassini (1830s to 1930s)
    4. Wide variety of maps based on Population and Economy, Nature and Environment, Aerial (various years 1995-2018)
The link to the GeoHive maps site (Initiative of OSI) is provided in line with its site Usage Policy.

British Geological Society Map 1862

Best viewed in full screen and using Zoom-in feature or using link to the BGS site below.

Geological Survey of Ireland 1:63,360 geological map series, Sheet Number: 149, Sheet Title: Gorey. Surveyed by W.L. Willson and J. Beete Jukes. The Trappean rocks re-surveyed by Geo. V. Du Noyer, 1861-62. Published 1862.

Permission courtesy of the British Geological Survey © UKRI [year] Original Source: Map 1002104

Points to note:

  1. The townland name is shown as ‘Balloughter’.
  2. The Roman Catholic Church is noted.
  3.  There are two routes to Camolin from Ballyoughter in 1862, via Medophall or via Toberanierin. The road to Camolin from Ballyoughter crossroads is built after the railroad and bridge are completed in 1863 and is, therefore, not shown on this map.
  4. The Pottle is shown as The Cross Pottle. You will note that the route to Ballymore and Clologue is no longer through Ballymore Demesne (Mr Donovan’s estate). The route taken from Ballyoughter is towards the Cross Pottle, taking a right towards Camolin, then turning left at Ballyeden along a newly built road at Medophall.
  5. The road to Ballycanew is still the same as in 1811, via Cranacrower and Tomgar.

Ordnance Suvey of Ireland Map 1904

Best viewed in full screen and using Zoom-in feature.

Permission courtesy of “David Rumsey Map Collection, David Rumsey Map Center, Stanford Libraries”

Points to note:

  1. Ballyoughter National School is shown on the map beside the Church.
  2. The roads to Camolin (via Ballyoughter railway bridge) and Ballycanew (via the Brackernagh) as we know them today are shown on the map.
  3.  Smith’s crossroads is a standard 4 road junction at this time. It is not until 1958 that the roads are staggered to reduce the number of accidents caused by the increase in the number of motorised vehicles on the roads.
  4. The route of the Bracken River is shown on the map.