Hidden in plain sight? Mapping medieval urban landscapes in Ireland

Looking at historic urban landscapes of Ireland today, much of what is visible to us appears to be relatively recent in origin. The last few centuries especially have left their mark on our historic towns and cities. There are, however, clues that take us back to much earlier times, to the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. This period of European history saw hundreds, if not thousands, of ‘new towns’ being created, as well as old-established cities being expanded. Ireland was not immune from this ‘urbanisation of the Middle Ages’, but the physical trace in the urban landscape is often difficult to discern. This lecture will reveal the medieval antecedents of our towns and cities, looking particularly at examples in the north-east of Ireland, in the Earldom of Ulster. Places including Newtownards and Belfast are among those that had medieval urban origins. Professor Lilley will use historic maps as a way of revealing these medieval urban landscapes that are ‘hidden in plain sight’. Doing so yields new and exciting insights into how our towns and cities were shaped on the ground over eight-hundred years ago, and their landscape legacies, adding to the important archaeological, historical and heritage value of these places today.