Towns in the eighteenth century
The eighteenth-century town was closely associated with large landlords, or as in the case of Georgian Dublin, a number of them, who laid out streets and squares for middle class and gentry families. They were intended to be aesthetically pleasing and were steered by the interest and resources of the local landlord. Some towns were entirely transformed while others were extended by new urban quarters.
To further explore the concept of towns in the eighteenth century, see the excerpt from Reading the maps which gives examples from Ireland.
To read Colm Lennon's short essay on his take on the town in the eighteenth century click here.