Description:
Dating from 1613, the present Londonderry was the first formally planned city built in Ireland and one of the last new fortified cities built in Europe. The original core, unique in retaining its unbroken 1700m circuit of City walls, and the subsequent 19th century extension form an historic city centre of exceptional urban quality and townscape interest. Up to 1960 Londonderry had changed little and by then it was facing pressure for renewal of its building fabric. In the 1970's the centre of Londonderry was damaged or destroyed over several years by terrorist bombs. Cultural and social life became paralyzed and the city centre declined rapidly. In a determined move to reverse the decline, the United Kingdom Government, acting through its Northern Ireland Dept. of the Environment, resolved to stimulate regeneration. It bought up dilapidated land in the city centre and in 1984 built Londonderry's first major shopping centre. The decision paid off, the complex prospered and since then an intensive campaign of restoration and renewal of the historic city centre has been initiated, funded and administered by the Londonderry Development Office in partnership with the private sector, community groups and Derry City council.