Editing Derry (section)

==City walls==
{{main|Derry city walls}}
{{anchor|Walls}}<!-- [[Derry walls]] and [[Walls of Derry]] redirect here-->
[[File:Cannon on Derry City Walls SMC 2007.jpg|thumb|right|A portion of the city walls of Derry]]
[[File:Bishops Street Gate Derry SMC 2007.jpg|thumb|right|Bishops Street Gate]]
Derry is the only remaining city in Ireland with completely intact city walls, some of the finest in Europe.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.brilliantireland.com/products/inc_productdetails.cfm/product_key/46 |title=Web Development Belfast &#124; Web solutions Ireland &#124; Biznet IIS Northern Ireland |work=BrilliantIreland.com |access-date=20 June 2010 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080821103657/http://www.brilliantireland.com//products/inc_productdetails.cfm/product_key/46 |archive-date=21 August 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.roughguides.com/website/Travel/Destination/content/default.aspx?titleid=160&xid=idh168000912_0583 |title=Antrim and Derry |work=RoughGuides.com |publisher=[[Rough Guides]] |access-date=20 June 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100722050711/http://www.roughguides.com/website/Travel/Destination/content/default.aspx?titleid=160&xid=idh168000912_0583 |archive-date=22 July 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.irelandwide.com/regional/ulster/county_derry/index.htm |title=County Derry, Northern Ireland – Londonderry |work=IrelandWide.com |access-date=20 June 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100924101014/http://irelandwide.com/regional/ulster/county_derry/index.htm |archive-date=24 September 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref> The walls constitute the largest monument in State care in Northern Ireland and, as part of the last walled city to be built in Europe, stand as the most complete and spectacular.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ni-environment.gov.uk/derry-lowres.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120422124531/http://www.ni-environment.gov.uk/derry-lowres.pdf |archive-date=22 April 2012 |url-status=live |title=Derry City Walls Conservation Plan. pdf doc. p19}}</ref>

The Walls were built in 1613–1619 by [[The Honourable The Irish Society]] as defences for early 17th-century settlers from England and Scotland. The Walls, which are approximately {{convert|1|mi|km|round=0.5|abbr=off|spell=in}} in circumference and which vary in height and width between {{convert|12|and|35|ft|m|abbr=off|order=flip}}, are completely intact and form a walkway around the inner city. They provide a unique promenade to view the layout of the original town which still preserves its Renaissance-style street plan. The four original gates to the Walled City are Bishop's Gate, Ferryquay Gate, Butcher Gate and Shipquay Gate. Three further gates were added later, Magazine Gate, Castle Gate and New Gate, making seven gates in total. The architect was [[Peter Benson (architect)|Peter Benson]], a London-born builder, who was rewarded with several grants of land.

It is one of the few cities in Europe that never saw its fortifications breached, withstanding several sieges, including the famous [[Siege of Derry]] in 1689 which lasted 105 days; hence the city's nickname, ''The Maiden City''.<ref>[http://www.discovernorthernireland.com/Historic-Walls-of-Derry-Londonderry-Derry-P7097 Historic Walls of Derry] {{webarchive |url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140927112632/http://www.discovernorthernireland.com/Historic-Walls-of-Derry-Londonderry-Derry-P7097 |date=27 September 2014}} Discover Northern Ireland website</ref>