52 



OLD MAPS OF HAMPSHIRE, DORSET and 

 WILTSHIRE. 



Report of a lecture by 

 Hey wood Sumner, F.S.A. 



(Given before the Archaeological and Historial Section, November 



14, 1918.) 



rpHE lecturer gave a brief history of English County Maps 

 from A.D. 1579 onwards and an account of the methods 

 adopted by the old map-makers for indicating hills, forests, 

 castles, churches, houses and other natural and artificial features. 

 He also spoke of the curious inscriptions placed in vacant spaces 

 on the maps. Comparing old time maps with those of the present 

 day, he pointed out that thq former, with their beautiful lettering, 

 varied and ingenious borders, heraldic emblems and numerous 

 quaint conceits imparted in a delightful manner such history and 

 geography as were then, known. Modern maps, on the other hand, 

 are far superior in accuracy and, by means of contour lines, con- 

 trasting colours and other devices, convey a vast amount of defi- 

 nite and detailed information to those able to read them intelli- 

 gently. 



Mr. Heywood Sumner then gave the list of maps printed 

 below and concluded with some observations summarised in the 

 " Note " which follows the list. 



CHRISTOPHER SAXTON. The original edition of his Atlas of England, 

 folio, was published in 1579, nnder the patronage of Mr. Seckford, and 

 with the authority of Queen Elizabeth. The survey took nine years 

 (1565-1574) (Bartholomew). It contained 35 maps, including Southamp- 

 tonia, Dorcestria, and Wiltonia. A later edition was published in 

 1689, entitled, " The Shires of England and Wales defcribed by Christo- 

 pher Saxton. Being the Beft and Original Mapps with many Addi- 

 tions and Corrections by Philip Lea/'' These additions to Saxton's 

 plates were plans of county towns, high roads and coats-of-arms, 

 besides nine new maps, four by John Seller, one by W. Morgan, one by 

 Jonas Moore, and three unsigned. 



JOHN NORDEN. " Hamshire olim pars Belgarum/' " Weighte/' 1595. 

 There are three maps of Hampshire by Norden, one drawn to the 

 scale of ^ inch to 1 mile, another to the scale of \ inch to 1 mile and 

 engraved by W. Hole. No date. The third (to the same scale as num- 

 ber 1) is inscribed " Hamshire." " Jno. Norden descripsit. Printed 

 and sold by John Overton." This map is embellished with heraldic 

 ornament. There is a copy of the last in the Central Public Library, 

 Bournemouth. 



WILLIAM KIPP. " Dorcestriae, commitatis vulgo Dorf ett ubi olim Duro- 

 triges infederunt," 1607. 



JOHN SPEED. " Hantfshire defcribed and devided/' Signed " Jodocus 

 Hondius (*), ccelavit." No date. "Wight Island defcribed by William 



(*) Jodocus Hondius, of Amsterdam, followed various pursuits. He 

 studied mathematics and made mathematical instruments and types for 

 printing, besides engraving portraits and maps. Born 1563, died 1611. 



