H. G. FORDHAM-HERTFORDSHIRE MAPS. 
7 
course of the main streams of the rivers ; the rest of the space 
is filled in with outlines of hills and figures of trees somewhat 
arbitrarily distributed. 
The second period is marked by more success from a cartographic 
point of view, more detail, especially in respect to ways of 
communication, and less adventitious ornament, and ultimately 
large-scale county maps showing the parish boundaries and other 
minor features were attempted. Eoads, with particulars of their 
state of repair and the distances marked upon them, became an 
important feature, and much information was printed in the form 
of notes on the face of the map itself. The following are specimens 
of these notes:— 
‘‘Hartford was a place of note before the Roman Invasion, and 
long after was a principal City and Royal Seat of the East Saxons. 
Alfred first built a Castle here, to protect it from the devouring 
Danes. Here are two Churches, St Andrew and All Saints. The 
People deal largely in Wheat, Malt and Wool. ’Tis said that this 
Town and Ware send above 5000 Quarters of Malt to London 
Weekly by Water.” 
“ St Albans the Antient Verulam, 21 miles from London, 
derives its Hame from Alban, the first British Martyr; who suffer’d 
in y e persecution under Dioclesion. There are 3 Churches here, 
besides that call’d S e Albans. The Market is one of y e best for 
Wheat in England.” 
“Ware 20 miles from London; Great quantities of Malt and 
Corn are sent to London from this Town Weekly in Barges by the 
River Lee. At Amwell within a mile of this Town, is the Source 
of the Hew River, which supplies London and great part of 
Westminster with Water.” 
“ Bishop Stortford is a well built Town, in the form of a Cross, 
with four Streets answering to the four Cardinal Points of the 
Compass. It is Situate in a dry Soil, and in a pleasant healthy 
Air. Here are many good Inns ; the Church has a handsome 
Tower with a Ring of 8 bells, but the chief Ornament of the 
Place is its Grammar School. On y e East side of the River 
is S fc Osyth’s Well, whose Water was held in great esteem for 
sore Eyes.” 
(All from the map of Hartfordshire by Eman: Bowen, in the 
‘ Atlas Anglicanus, Or a Complete Sett of Maps of the Counties of 
South Britain; ... By the late Emanuel Bowen, Geographer 
to His Majesty George II d , and Thomas Bowen.’ London, folio, 
n.d., but published about 1770.) 
“Hitchin is reputed the second Town in the County for number 
of Houses, Streets and Inhabitants, it was formerly a place of 
great note for the Woolen Manufacture, but now that Trade is 
quite lost, however, their Market for Grain, especially malt is still 
much frequented.” 
(Erom ‘A Hew Improved Map of Hartfordshire,’ by Thomas 
Kitchin, from Kitchin’s large atlas, London, large folio, n.d., but 
published about 1763.) 
