Abstract

This thesis explores and documents the profession of land surveying in Dublin, Ireland, during the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries until 1810. It aims to present the many aspects of land surveying in Dublin during this period. As such, it is the history of a skilled, varied and complex craft practiced by both professionals and amateurs. It establishes a definition for the career title land surveyor, examines the viability of the profession in eighteenth-century Dublin and how the elements of surveying science, art, technology and business integrated together to create a feasible career. The science and technology of surveying, established primarily from period treatises and manuals, is evaluated, compared and investigated with specific focus on surveying instrumentation and associated methodology. The practical application of surveying technology and techniques is examined through a series of case studies to demonstrate both the diversity of period surveying work and the individuals who practiced it. The cartographic output from such projects, the various artistic styles, strengths, weaknesses and trends additionally reflect this diversity.