Section 2: Settlement Site, Section 2: Settlement Site, Function and Hierarchy Function and Hierarchy

A settlement is place where people A settlement is place where people live and work. It can be large, small, live and work. It can be large, small,

permanent or temporary permanent or temporary

Part 1: Distinguish between site Part 1: Distinguish between site and location of a settlement and location of a settlement

Settlements have developed over time Settlements have developed over time

Location and growth of settlements are related to Location and growth of settlements are related to physical and human factors physical and human factors

The first consideration about any settlement is its The first consideration about any settlement is its location. Why is a settlement found in a particular location. Why is a settlement found in a particular place? What are the reasons why this SITE was place? What are the reasons why this SITE was chosen as opposed to another place? chosen as opposed to another place?

The Site of a settlement The Site of a settlement

The site of a settlement is

The point at which the town (or hamlet, village or city) is located. The town is located at this place (its ‘building site’) because they have one or more

advantages.

What are the main factors?

The Situation of a settlement The Situation of a settlement

The situation of a settlement helps to describe where the settlement is located with reference to other

features like other settlements, mountains, rivers and communications – it is situation that determines

whether the place will continue to grow

Location Advantages Location Advantages

Wet point site Wet point site Drinking water supply Drinking water supply

Dry point site Dry point site High ground to avoid flooding High ground to avoid flooding

Building materials Building materials Wood and stone Wood and stone

Defence Defence Views, rivers and slopes Views, rivers and slopes

Fuel Supply Fuel Supply Heating and cookingHeating and cooking

Food supplies Food supplies Farming land – good soil Farming land – good soil

Nodal points Nodal points Where 2 routes meet Where 2 routes meet

Bridging points Bridging points Ford – river crossing pointFord – river crossing point

Shelter and aspect Shelter and aspect South Facing slopes South Facing slopes

The thing to remember . . .The thing to remember . . .

. . . . Is that most cities, towns and villages grew . . . . Is that most cities, towns and villages grew up many years ago. As the places grew into up many years ago. As the places grew into villages and then onto towns and eventually into villages and then onto towns and eventually into cities they changed and many forgot the actual cities they changed and many forgot the actual ‘site’ reasons – in the 19‘site’ reasons – in the 19thth and 20 and 20thth centuries many centuries many of the physical advantages were replaced by of the physical advantages were replaced by human factors human factors

Question – what factors are important for the Question – what factors are important for the development of settlements today?development of settlements today?

Location Advantages Location Advantages Wet point site Wet point site Water is piped – not important Water is piped – not important

Dry point site Dry point site River banks are built up River banks are built up

Building materials Building materials Cement shipped in Cement shipped in

Defence Defence Not important Not important

Fuel Supply Fuel Supply Fuel shipped in Fuel shipped in

Food supplies Food supplies Food shipped in Food shipped in

Nodal points Nodal points Possibly more important?Possibly more important?

Bridging points Bridging points Rivers crossed anywhere Rivers crossed anywhere

Shelter and aspect Shelter and aspect Not important Not important

Political factors Political factors Government policy/planning Government policy/planning

Economic factors Economic factors Are some parts rich/poor Are some parts rich/poor

The Site of Belfast The Site of Belfast

Belfast was a river crossing point (or ford). Belfast was a river crossing point (or ford). In fact it was almost an accident that Belfast In fact it was almost an accident that Belfast grew at all as Carrickfergus was more grew at all as Carrickfergus was more important until the 18important until the 18thth Century when Century when Belfast’s position (and function) allowed it Belfast’s position (and function) allowed it to grow into the main industrialised city in to grow into the main industrialised city in IrelandIreland

So what about Ballymena then?So what about Ballymena then?

What are the different reasons for the What are the different reasons for the growth of Ballymena?growth of Ballymena?

What is a Settlement Function?What is a Settlement Function?

The function of a settlement is the main The function of a settlement is the main activity that a settlement has. It relates to activity that a settlement has. It relates to the main job that a place has - for example the main job that a place has - for example the main function of Belfast would be . . .the main function of Belfast would be . . .

What are the main functions?What are the main functions?

Market Towns Market Towns Mining Towns Mining Towns Industrial Towns Industrial Towns Ports Ports Route Centres Route Centres Service Centres Service Centres Cultural/Religious centres Cultural/Religious centres Administrative Centres Administrative Centres Residential Towns Residential Towns Tourist Resorts Tourist Resorts

Can you think of an example for Can you think of an example for each of these in Northern Ireland each of these in Northern Ireland Market Towns Market Towns Mining Towns Mining Towns Industrial Towns Industrial Towns Ports Ports Route Centres Route Centres Service Centres Service Centres Culutral/Religious centres Culutral/Religious centres Administrative Centres Administrative Centres Residential Towns Residential Towns Tourist Resorts Tourist Resorts

Do Settlements have different Do Settlements have different Patterns?Patterns?

The notes from Page 20 and 21 are taken The notes from Page 20 and 21 are taken from ‘The wider world’ and they explain from ‘The wider world’ and they explain the relationship between the function and the relationship between the function and settlement patterns.settlement patterns.

Basically, settlements are shaped in Basically, settlements are shaped in different ways different ways

Threshold Population Threshold Population

This is the number of people that are needed to This is the number of people that are needed to make sure that there is enough demand for a make sure that there is enough demand for a particular service particular service

For example – 350 people are needed for a village For example – 350 people are needed for a village shop shop

2,500 people are needed for a doctor 2,500 people are needed for a doctor 10,000 people are needed for a secondary school 10,000 people are needed for a secondary school 50,000 people are needed for a Marks and Spencer50,000 people are needed for a Marks and Spencer 60,000 people are needed for a Sainsbury’s 60,000 people are needed for a Sainsbury’s

Range Range

This is the maximum distance that people This is the maximum distance that people are prepared to travel in order to get or use are prepared to travel in order to get or use a service. People are not prepared to travel a service. People are not prepared to travel far to a corner shop but will travel longer far to a corner shop but will travel longer distances to shop in supermarket or a distances to shop in supermarket or a furniture store furniture store