24th December 1654
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The Down Survey of Ireland, conducted by Sir William Petty (1623-1687) was the first British imperial survey of an entire conquered nation and the first survey of land on a national scale anywhere in the world.

Taken in the years 1656-58, the Down Survey of Ireland set out to measure all the land that would ultimately be forfeited by Catholic Irish and redistributed to Cromwell's merchant adventurers and English soldiers. 

As part of this survey, the Cromwellians created a beautiful set of maps county barony and parish maps. It was believed to have been lost in a fire in 1711. Recently, Trinity College Dublin has made them available as a public online resource. 

ABOUT the Down Survey

EXPLORE the Down Survey Maps

SEARCH for landowners in 17th Century Ireland

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Down Survey LINK for your parish or county 

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